2012 Spring Bear Hunt Thread

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

So now all the 2nd guessing began. Was the shot good ? It looked good. Maybe a bit too far back? But he was quartering away so I knew I drove it in to the off lung for sure. But it looked like it didn't go completely thru as I could still see my feathers sticking out of him at impact.

I listened for the death moan. The wind blew, the creek roared the snow picked up! I could hear nothing. I climbed down and checked the spot he was standing when I shot him. His feet had torn up the earth when he bolted but I could see no blood. It was now snowing even harder. Not wanting to screw up I back off. looped around his exit trail and got on the quad trail to walk out. The bear had run the opposite way I had to go. I looked in the direction he went and could see nothing. So I started the walk back

This shot over my should is at the intersection of the quad trail i was on and a better road I had to walk a mile or so on to meet the guys. Can you believe from how light it is that it is 10 pm at night?
   

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

Walking the mile out I saw fresh wolf track, fresh moose track and of course more big bear track!!

It was 11 pm by the time I saw headlights approaching, I was completely covered in wet sticky snow. Tino knew from the look on my face I was happy. I told Ryan I had shot a tank and he said " what?" I said i shot a tank! He said ok but there is noway we can track in this storm we would have to return 1st thing in the morning.

[coaster500]

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

We returned at first light and with only one quad on the trailer Ryan and Dave went in first, Dave dropped Ryan off and then returned to get me. When we got to the bait site, Ryan was on the quad trail waiting for us. Dave suggested we take a GPS reading at the last spot I saw the bear. Ryan said not necessary cause he is laying right over there! The bear had collapsed where I lost sight of him!

Ryan looked at me and said "Jim before you look at him , you need to know that you will most likely never shoot a bigger black bear." He was serious and I was dumbfounded. How big is he?
 

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

Ryan and Dave trying to figure out how we are going to move him!

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

we took some photos and them gave our selves hernias trying to get him in the trailer

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

back at camp he weighed 395 ( guts in) and measured 6 foot 6 nose to tail  and 7 foot 2 across the back. He squares  6 foot 9 which surprised both guides as they expected him to square over 7 feet. But I am not complaining! His skull will measure between 19 and 20. So he will be over P&Y and Short of B&C.

here are some more photos of him

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

My arrow actually did make it all the way thru here is a picture of the off side.
 

I was shooting a 43 lb  black widow, 150 CX carbons with 100 grain inserts and 145 grain Eclipse Were wolves single bevel heads. Total arrow weight 580. the shot took both lungs and he was dead in seconds

[Coonbait]

WOW, What a great bear! Congratulations!  Don't think you'd see to many that big at Kevin's place in New Brunswick. Great Job Again!!
Glenn

[doug77]

Nice bear

doug77

[PaPaFrank]

WOW! What a Great Bear!...Congrats!

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

happy hunter and happy guide

[JB]

WoW Awsome Bear! thanks for sharing. going to be a long two years wait.

[Shedrock]

Congrats! What a bruiser!

[smokin joe]

Wow. Well done. Thanks for the story and photos.
Congratulations.

[bohuntr]

Congratulations on an awesome bear!!! Great story and pictures as well!  

[zipper bowss]

 Congrats on a great story and even better bear!
Bill

[Dirtybird]

Nice big near, congrats!

[KSdan]

Wow!

[JimB]

Nice job Littlebigman.That's a brute.