Spring Bear

[mini-mizer]

Spring bear season has two weeks left before it closes and
with a perfect spring day I went out for a hike.

After a good hour of hiking up a mountain I started
down working through a series of little grassy glades.
And as luck would have it, there at 75yds,
was a brown colored bear with its head down grazing away.
http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=11446&stc=1&d=1179629861

It was hard to tell if it was a black bear or a grizzly at
first glance so I started to observe and shoot some photos.
I got so focused watching and taking photos that I was
annoyed when my wife (she like to hunt too) distracted me
with a pssst-pssst. So when I looked at her I was surprised
when she nodded over to the left to see two * BIG* black bears-
---less than 30 feet away and walking straight towards me.

Yikes! now what? Well keep taking pictures, that's what.
http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=11447&stc=1&d=1179629861

Dang, what a fine specimen, perfect coal black coat shimmering
in the sun. And getting closer by the second..my heart
was a pounding pretty strong about now. After 5 frames,
it paused for a moment, flicked out its tongue and
whirled about and was gone. Didn't get a good look
at the bear behind it I was so focused on the first one.

Meanwhile the brown bear was oblivious to all this and kept
grazing away. While he also was a perfect specimen,
I decided to move on....

Anyone else been out?

Hunt-On MM

[lima-charlie]

Man, what an exciting situation. I really appreciate your story and your photos too. Great pics.

Where do you live? It is beautiful country.

Again, those were awesome photos.

lima-charlie

[mini-mizer]

Man, what an exciting situation. I really appreciate your story and your photos too. Great pics.

Where do you live? It is beautiful country.

Again, those were awesome photos.

lima-charlie


L-C Glad you enjoyed the story/photos, I live in SW MT,
a great place if you like outdoor adventure. MM

[Der Verge]

Great story, and beautiful Pics. Wish I could come up there and enjoy that beautiful scenery.

[Walkenbear]

Grrrrrrrrrrr!


"And getting closer by the second..my heart
was a pounding pretty strong about now."

Hey mini-mizer,
I enjoyed reading your story and seeing your pics.
It kind of reminded me of how I picked my user name.

I was out deer hunting, during archery season, in central California in 1978. I was waiting behind a tree for a deer to come walking down off a hill & out of the brush and trees into a small clearing. I hadn't seen the deer but had been hearing grazing sounds for about 20 minutes, typical deer sounds, step step rustle pause, step step rustle pause, step step rustle pause.
Imagine my surprise when Mr Bear comes walking out, it ain't no deer. He doesn't see me and doesn't know I'm behind the tree as he comes walking into the clearing, he's walking right towards me. He was a light cinnamon color. I, being from the mid west where all our bears are black start thinking Grizzly? No way not in California, but hey you never know. Head on shot on a bear, with a 50# recurve bow, hmm not the best shot. Oh, did I mention he was a BIG BEAR, I'd say 3 1/2 to 4 foot at the shoulder, and he's walking right at me. By now I'm thinking to myself "nah, this ain't good". Mr Bear just kept coming, when he got got to about 15 feet from me I stepped out from behind the tree and waved my arms and shouted, Hey Mr Bear!, I'm here! (note: always call them Mr Bear unless it's a female, then it's Mrs Bear, they seem to like that) well Mr Bear stopped, looked at me then started wagging his head back and forth & snapping his jaws and generally kicking up a fuss, for about a minute, it's something bears do while they are deciding if they should eat you for lunch. I just kept waving my arms and bow and talking to him. Then Mr Bear just turned around and slooowly walked away back into the brush. Leaving me and my rapidly beating heart behind, which was fine by me.

I've done a lot in my half century here on earth, 4 in the corp during Nam, been hunted down by armed crazed zombie people, gone unarmed hand to hand with an armed assailant, even got thrown into a Mexican jail for a bit. But I am here to tell you nothing yet has got my heart beating like Mr Bear did when he came walking out on that summer day in 78. I think it's got something to do with knowing that a 300 to 400 pound bear can put a serious amount of hurt on you if they decide to, or if you tee him off for whatever reason.
Don't let Mr Bear fool you with his slow ways, he can hit 30 miles an hour running through the woods if he wants and then hit you six ways to Sunday in a blur of speed, power & ripping claws.
Then there are those teeth...

stay safe,
Walkenbear out
:usa:

[mini-mizer]

Bears are really amazing. I have a great respect
for them. Just watching them like the other
day was surreal, couldn't hardy believe my
eyes when that one appeared up close.
There is a certain intelligence in their eyes.

I'm on the edge of grizzly country and those
are the bad boys in these parts. Haven't had
any close calls but I go prepared when out in the
woods--pepper spray and a 44 .

Walkenbear I know what you say on how fast a bear moves,
you have to see it to believe it. If you get charged ,
you're in big trouble. A partner to get the bear off you
is your best bet, pepper spray works good or so they say.

But usually they will run off unless its a sow with cubs, or it's
claimed your downed game, startled ect.

I once asked my uncle who lived in the
mountains if he hunted bear.
He said he didn't need to hunt them, just shooting
the ones that come around causing trouble was enough....

The old timer here on the ranch that grew up in the valley has
lots of bear tales, some colored up to be sure but most
based on fact. His dad was a sheepman and he grew
up herding a big band up the high range every summer.
Claimed that he trapped quite a few every
year that were killing stock and I don't doubt a single
word. The local peruvian herders sling an '06 over
their shoulders everywhere they go these days when
out on the range... with good reason..

The moose that hang out along the riverbottom
worry me more than bear but thats another
story..

MM

[tri70]

Great pictures MM! One of the guys I work with has a bear coming around his house lately and getting into trash. He has called the Game and Fish dept. but they can't seem to help much. I guess they have been called on quite abit lately, alot of bear sitings around this part of the state. The turkey hunters saw alot of them this spring. Great story! Glad your wife goes with you for back up.;)

[KellyB]

I know this is an old post, but I have to say, balls! You my friend have some balls to be able to hold a camera that steady with that kinda target that close. I like pictures like those and hope to get some this year(have seen a fox or two lately and I hear there are alot more than usual this year). My hats off to you, keep safe and keep the great pictures coming!

Kelly

[COBRADOC]

Haven't been on PU for very long and am just getting around to reading some of the older postings. All I can say is WOW to both MINI-MIZER and WALKINBEAR - great pics and great stories. Here in Florida our bear is a small black bear, beautiful, but nothing like the size of what you guys run into.

Before I leave, WALKINBEAR, welcome home brother.

[nmead23]

I've been bluff charged and chased a few times here in Alaska by coastal browns but never had to shoot at one. Mostly they just wanted to make sure I knew who the clam beds belonged to. Stopped one once by throwing a rock at it, the rock knocked sand up in it's eyes and the bear turned and went the other way. Only time I was REALLY scared was when I was kayaking into a beach, saw a BIG brown bear on the beack but as I got closer he ambled off. I like to ride the back of waves breakingon the beach so was going along about 4-5' off the beach when I saw that instead of leaving the bear had hunkered down behind a bush and was watching me. That's the only time I've actually been hunted by a bear, I bet no one ever made a kayak go faster.....

[mini-mizer]

Can't believe this thread is almost 2 years old..bear season
starts here in a few weeks, I had a huge bear trash my
orchard late last fall-- he couldn't climb the trees so he
just pulled down whatever he wanted..the trees look like they've
been in a tornado. Might be a grizzly, everyone in the area say
there been one seen around.

Saltwater kayaking in AK--how great is that. That would be a dream trip
for me. Got a chance to try it a few years ago off Cape Cod, hunting big fish in a kayak
then sight casting with a fly rod. Really a fun trip.

Bear hunting out of a kayak up north would be wild no doubt. Pretty
effective too.

A guy I know got a nice big griz north of Dillingham a few years ago
on a fall hunt..it charged him and the guide at maybe 50yds range along
a rivers edge. It piled up dead almost at their feet after they both emptied
their mags--every shot was a solid hit too.
He said all he could see was the open mouth and the splashing and the roar between
shots...he says the locals avoid going into that area because of the bears..twice
as big as anything around here. MM

[nmead23]

Most of my bear encounters were on the Katmai peninsula across from Kodiak. it is beautiful kayaking water. My favorite was to go out in the evening after a storm so there were nice swells rolling in and sit there in the dusk. After a little while the seal heads with their big inquisitive eyes would start popping up nearby for company. We'd just float there watching eachother.

[collegeb]

Nice pictures, must be very exciting to be that close to something that could cause a lot of damage! Stay safe and I hope to see more pictures. Thanks for sharing!:D