Well, some of you that follow the annual drama have probably wondered where this thread has been. This year has been a bit less exciting than most so it's been longer than usual for anything exciting to happen to write about. I mean, really, I did have to put down at least one deer for my team mates before screwing off with lowly mt. goats and brown bears for the season afterall. (Apologies to my team mates for what follows. I just cancelled a fly out deer hunt for tomorrow morning. :/ ) The pre-season was looking promising and I even went so far as to think I was going to lay this slob down opening week. I had him semi patterned, had a daylight photo of him just before the opener, knew where he was sleeping and eating, along with a couple other bears and then someone went and shot a small bear with a rifle within 50 yards of my set-up. I even found a 7mm casing 15 yards from my stand. (This isn't a ***** in any way. It wasn't a bear I would have shot and I sincerely am glad for the guy that got one.) All the activity seems to have alerted the big boys that hunting season was open and they dropped down river into a no hunting zone. Activity around my stands just dried up after that. I mean really, they don't get big enough to live 10 or 20 years (20-40 bear seasons) by being stupid afterall. I took it in stride and turned my sights on deer and goats for a while. I've been checking back on my spot now and then knowing that he'd be back eventually. We got hammered by a nasty storm the last few days with fresh snow, high winds and brutal wind chills. Perfect conditions for a hungry bear looking for a few easy fish to fill the belly before heading into the mountains to den up... Work got in the way for a few days this week but today I got out to see what was up. He's back!! and he brought a friend! Bearzilla is a good 9 1/2+ footer that will likely push more than 10' (he drags his belly in 2" of water) and is likely kin to a bear that would shatter the archery WR that came out of that same spot. His friend is even a good 9 foot bear that may go top 10. I was hoping for our clear skies and bright moon tonight but it looks like the moon isn't coming up until the same time some fresh snow is supposed to roll in. Bummer... now I'm stuck here writing this instead of being out there by moonlight waiting on him to stroll by. (Can't use artificial light or any electronic equipment in AK.) So I'm in for a sleepless night in anticipation of the morning's excitement. Damn if that snow camo isn't amazing!!!
Rob, amazing story, photos etc... fantastic scenery.. you are a lucky man, enjoy all of it and thanks for sharing it.
Can't wait to chase their smaller darker cousins with ya this spring! You sure do get to hunt some awesome areas of the country don't you!
I envy you, what i wouldnt give to just go there once, let alone actually be able to hunt. good luck and be safe.
That's awesome, that night time picture is pretty cool, "spooky" Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk
MAN that's some awesome country up there. If I ever get to that part of the world,I'll probably never come back to the south.Drop me off on one of those mountains with my crossbow and front stuff and forget about me,:D I'll die a happy a happy man in those mountains.
I was in at first light this morning but it seems he may have slipped back down river into the no hunting zone again. Turns out I should have flown out after deer. Too much to hunt, too little time. I'll keep after him. We've got until the 30th.
No apoligies to the team Rob,your out doing what you love and what some of dream of loving Good luck and put him down!
