gbear
06-07-2009, 10:13 PM
I had some posts on the first few days of my adventure for my Grizzly this spring. Days 4 through 7 came and went with only 1 grizzly being sighted, and still couldn't get into the areas I wanted to hunt due to snow.
Then came days 8 and 9 this past Thursday and Friday. I took friday off work, and because it was a work day, I had no back up coming with me. This would be a trip on my own. The plan was to try and get into the areas I wanted to hunt. My back up was able to come out with my on Sunday, so the plan was to go whereever I found out I could get to with the most sign.
Thursday after work I drove like a mad man to my zone. Got there at perfect time and thought I would try this one road before dark. The snow had melted lots since the week before, and I was able to make it through the summit that held snow the week before. I come around a corner, and there right on the side of the road is a grizzly feeding on a patch of green grass. He's facing me with his head down. I bailed out and he still hadn't noticed me. I still hadn't seen his head, so I wasn't sure if it was a boar or a sow. I put the cross hairs on him and he wouldn't lift his head and turn broadside. I didn't really want to shoot just yet, because if it was a sow, there could be cubs. So I waited a bit and then the wind swirled. It got a wif of me, raised it's head and all in one motion turned 180 degrees and bolted. At this point, I knew it had no cubs, and the head looked like a boar but the only shot was the texas heart shot but I didn't want to do that. I ran up to where it turned off the road and never seen it again. So, some great excitement at least. Hunted the rest of the evening with only black bear sightings, but there was some other grizzly sign. I camped out close to this area.
Friday morning (day 9), I woke up early and went back to the area I seen the grizzly the evening before. No sightings. Came back to where I camped, by about 10:30 and decided to unload the quad and try getting to the back end where I have really been wanting to go. Long quad ride, about 40km, but I was able to make it. Some deep snow drifts, but I was able to plow through with a couple tries. Got to the back end and the west side of the valley was still more or less a winter wonder land, but glassing the east side, much of it looked green.
I knew of some cutblocks over there and I knew where the bridge was to get there, so I made my way over. Got to the first cutblock, and lots of bear sign. There was crap everywhere. Went through that block and onto the next. Going through the second block, I spot 2 grizzlies together running up the hill. They stop about 250 yards out. I'm looking them over, and I don't get a good feeling that they are good to go. One looks a bit smaller and my gut tells me it's a sow with an older cub. I could be wrong, but I elected not to shoot at one of them. Being June 5th, it also could have been a boar and sow together, but I didn't get that feeling. So, better safe then sorry.
So, I watch them for a minute and as they walk away I move on. I'm making my way to the 3rd cutblock a couple km's away when I come around a corner there is a tree across the road. I start making my around it, and then notice a big Grizzly walking towards me. I come to a halt, shut the quad off and bail off the side, and duck down behind my bike. I pull the gun out of the gun boot and load it up and stand up. I put the crosshairs on him. After it was all said and done, I ranged it at 142 yards. Right away I notice the size of him and see that he has real small ears, so I know right away he's a boar and he is a shooter. At this point he's just standing there looking at me. I'm waiting for him to make a turn so he's broad side, but he's not co-operating. He's kind of lifting his head up and down, and left and right checking me out. Then, for some reason, I get this feeling that he is either going to charge, or turn and bolt like the guy the night before. So, I'm feeling real steady and decide to center the crosshairs on his chest. I wait until he lifts his head and then let one rip.
Then it got real intense! He lunged forward trying to bite his chest and rolled head over heals. He summersalted down the road several times. I needed to hit him again, but couldn't get a good bead on him as he was rolling around so fast, so I just aimed centre of mass and let another one rip. I hit him fairly far back. That at least got him to stop rolling, but then he was trying to bite at that bullet hole and started spinning in circles. He stopped spinning and started walking off to my right and disappeared out of my sight.
I moved to my left, and seen him just as he found out he couldn't climb the bank he was trying to climb. He turned around and wanted to go off the road to my left. This time he was broad side and I aimed for the front shoulder and let another one rip. He didn't even flinch. I reloaded and let another one fly behind the shoulder. This time he flinched and started slowing down. Reloaded again and put a third round into the vitals and that anchored him.
Thank god, that was over! I kept the cross haris on him for about 15 minutes and he didn't move. I gave him another 20 minutes or so before I felt brave enough to go up to him. Even then, I first went by on the quad. I then threw a couple sticks and rocks onto him and he didn't move. But still, making those last few steps to him were a bit scary. I don't recommend being in this situation alone. It would have been nice to have a back up there.
When I got done skinning, I couldn't believe the weight of the hide. I didn't cape out the head or paws, so they were still attached, but I actually could not lift it onto my quad. I had to do it in stages, first get the head up, and then the front paws and then the rest. It's just a guess, but that must weight well over 150 pounds. It's way heavier then any moose quarter I have packed out.
I was using a 300wsm with 180 grain barnes triple shock bullets. The bullets preformed amazing. It's actually the first animal I used those bullets on. I recovered 2 of them and there was excellent expansion and weight retention.
So, here are some pictures. unfortunately, because I was alone, I couldn't be in any of the field photos. I haven't put an actual tape to him yet, but I'm hoping to have the taxidermist do that tomorrow. Roughly, he should square out somewhere around 8-8.5 feet. All I know is he's the biggest grizzly I have seen. He's got a massive blocky head. I think he is fairly old too. His front teeth are worn flat, and his bottom canines are only about half of what they should be.
once I get some measurements, I'll post an update.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0234_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14446&size=big&cat=500&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0235_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14447&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0243_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14448&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0244_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14449&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0245_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14450&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0246_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14451&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0248_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14453&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0249_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14454&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0253_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14455&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0254_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14456&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
Then came days 8 and 9 this past Thursday and Friday. I took friday off work, and because it was a work day, I had no back up coming with me. This would be a trip on my own. The plan was to try and get into the areas I wanted to hunt. My back up was able to come out with my on Sunday, so the plan was to go whereever I found out I could get to with the most sign.
Thursday after work I drove like a mad man to my zone. Got there at perfect time and thought I would try this one road before dark. The snow had melted lots since the week before, and I was able to make it through the summit that held snow the week before. I come around a corner, and there right on the side of the road is a grizzly feeding on a patch of green grass. He's facing me with his head down. I bailed out and he still hadn't noticed me. I still hadn't seen his head, so I wasn't sure if it was a boar or a sow. I put the cross hairs on him and he wouldn't lift his head and turn broadside. I didn't really want to shoot just yet, because if it was a sow, there could be cubs. So I waited a bit and then the wind swirled. It got a wif of me, raised it's head and all in one motion turned 180 degrees and bolted. At this point, I knew it had no cubs, and the head looked like a boar but the only shot was the texas heart shot but I didn't want to do that. I ran up to where it turned off the road and never seen it again. So, some great excitement at least. Hunted the rest of the evening with only black bear sightings, but there was some other grizzly sign. I camped out close to this area.
Friday morning (day 9), I woke up early and went back to the area I seen the grizzly the evening before. No sightings. Came back to where I camped, by about 10:30 and decided to unload the quad and try getting to the back end where I have really been wanting to go. Long quad ride, about 40km, but I was able to make it. Some deep snow drifts, but I was able to plow through with a couple tries. Got to the back end and the west side of the valley was still more or less a winter wonder land, but glassing the east side, much of it looked green.
I knew of some cutblocks over there and I knew where the bridge was to get there, so I made my way over. Got to the first cutblock, and lots of bear sign. There was crap everywhere. Went through that block and onto the next. Going through the second block, I spot 2 grizzlies together running up the hill. They stop about 250 yards out. I'm looking them over, and I don't get a good feeling that they are good to go. One looks a bit smaller and my gut tells me it's a sow with an older cub. I could be wrong, but I elected not to shoot at one of them. Being June 5th, it also could have been a boar and sow together, but I didn't get that feeling. So, better safe then sorry.
So, I watch them for a minute and as they walk away I move on. I'm making my way to the 3rd cutblock a couple km's away when I come around a corner there is a tree across the road. I start making my around it, and then notice a big Grizzly walking towards me. I come to a halt, shut the quad off and bail off the side, and duck down behind my bike. I pull the gun out of the gun boot and load it up and stand up. I put the crosshairs on him. After it was all said and done, I ranged it at 142 yards. Right away I notice the size of him and see that he has real small ears, so I know right away he's a boar and he is a shooter. At this point he's just standing there looking at me. I'm waiting for him to make a turn so he's broad side, but he's not co-operating. He's kind of lifting his head up and down, and left and right checking me out. Then, for some reason, I get this feeling that he is either going to charge, or turn and bolt like the guy the night before. So, I'm feeling real steady and decide to center the crosshairs on his chest. I wait until he lifts his head and then let one rip.
Then it got real intense! He lunged forward trying to bite his chest and rolled head over heals. He summersalted down the road several times. I needed to hit him again, but couldn't get a good bead on him as he was rolling around so fast, so I just aimed centre of mass and let another one rip. I hit him fairly far back. That at least got him to stop rolling, but then he was trying to bite at that bullet hole and started spinning in circles. He stopped spinning and started walking off to my right and disappeared out of my sight.
I moved to my left, and seen him just as he found out he couldn't climb the bank he was trying to climb. He turned around and wanted to go off the road to my left. This time he was broad side and I aimed for the front shoulder and let another one rip. He didn't even flinch. I reloaded and let another one fly behind the shoulder. This time he flinched and started slowing down. Reloaded again and put a third round into the vitals and that anchored him.
Thank god, that was over! I kept the cross haris on him for about 15 minutes and he didn't move. I gave him another 20 minutes or so before I felt brave enough to go up to him. Even then, I first went by on the quad. I then threw a couple sticks and rocks onto him and he didn't move. But still, making those last few steps to him were a bit scary. I don't recommend being in this situation alone. It would have been nice to have a back up there.
When I got done skinning, I couldn't believe the weight of the hide. I didn't cape out the head or paws, so they were still attached, but I actually could not lift it onto my quad. I had to do it in stages, first get the head up, and then the front paws and then the rest. It's just a guess, but that must weight well over 150 pounds. It's way heavier then any moose quarter I have packed out.
I was using a 300wsm with 180 grain barnes triple shock bullets. The bullets preformed amazing. It's actually the first animal I used those bullets on. I recovered 2 of them and there was excellent expansion and weight retention.
So, here are some pictures. unfortunately, because I was alone, I couldn't be in any of the field photos. I haven't put an actual tape to him yet, but I'm hoping to have the taxidermist do that tomorrow. Roughly, he should square out somewhere around 8-8.5 feet. All I know is he's the biggest grizzly I have seen. He's got a massive blocky head. I think he is fairly old too. His front teeth are worn flat, and his bottom canines are only about half of what they should be.
once I get some measurements, I'll post an update.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0234_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14446&size=big&cat=500&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0235_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14447&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0243_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14448&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0244_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14449&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0245_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14450&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0246_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14451&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0248_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14453&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0249_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14454&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0253_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14455&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0254_Small_.JPG (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14456&size=big&cat=&perpage=12&ppuser=9369)