Went deer hunting on the closing weekend of D9. Saw too many doe to count and two little spikes. We did see a nice big old bear crossing the road as we were pulling up to out hunting spot. I somehow lost the pictures, but his track was bigger than my size 11's. Tracked him for over a mile and I eventually lost him in a rock field.
Went back up the next day to look for the bear and about 1/4 mile away I look up the hillside and see white spots sitting on a stump. Pull out the rangefinder and it says 39 yards. Now I'm torn, do I waste time putting on my release and knocking an arrow or do I jump out behind this rock pile an grab the 12 gauge out of the bed....I decide the shotgun is quicker so I drop out of the truck. Grab the gun and make a run up behind these rocks. The whole time she is just watching me from the stump. The only shells in my pocket are 7 1/2's that I had used when I popped a few mountain quail earlier in the day. I load up and put the bead right at the base of her neck. First shot hit her square and she stumbled off hurt but not dead. So I run up a few more yards and finish her off.
Didn't end up seeing any more bear or bucks. 3 Mountain Quail, 2 Valley Quail and the cat. Not a bad day of hunting.
She's stretched and drying out back now. She stretched out to 37 inches. Pretty big female. Getting the skull cleaned as I type this and hopefully dipped in the next few weeks.
Went back up the next day to look for the bear and about 1/4 mile away I look up the hillside and see white spots sitting on a stump. Pull out the rangefinder and it says 39 yards. Now I'm torn, do I waste time putting on my release and knocking an arrow or do I jump out behind this rock pile an grab the 12 gauge out of the bed....I decide the shotgun is quicker so I drop out of the truck. Grab the gun and make a run up behind these rocks. The whole time she is just watching me from the stump. The only shells in my pocket are 7 1/2's that I had used when I popped a few mountain quail earlier in the day. I load up and put the bead right at the base of her neck. First shot hit her square and she stumbled off hurt but not dead. So I run up a few more yards and finish her off.
Didn't end up seeing any more bear or bucks. 3 Mountain Quail, 2 Valley Quail and the cat. Not a bad day of hunting.
She's stretched and drying out back now. She stretched out to 37 inches. Pretty big female. Getting the skull cleaned as I type this and hopefully dipped in the next few weeks.
