Bear Opener: Pucker Factor 10! (Update pg. 2) Well yesterday was our brown bear opener. I don't know how all the gremlins managed to fit themselves in my fanny pack but it made for an interesting morning. My friend Don managed to talk me into going into our stands an hour before first light so we'd be in place when everyone else showed up in the drainage to move the bears around. Sounded like a good idea at the time... I went in on the trail by starlight until I got to the first stream crossing. When I got there I thought to myself; "Self, what if there's a bear fishing in the stream right where you wade across in the dark?" so being cautious for once I get to the stream edge and flick on my headlamp which immediately explodes with flying water and 800#'s of startled brown bear at 15 FEET!!! I think we're both still so puckered up we won't pass anything for a week!!! I may have to come out in the dark by necessity to hunt the best time on stand but that'll be the last time I go in before daylight! Here's the view once I did get in to the stand. It was a great day but I never did see another bear. I'll update this thread as the season progresses. There's no snow and the streams are still high so Big Mo from last year isn't back in the drainage yet feeding on trapped salmon, but he will be, and I'll be waiting. (Maybe my heart will even settle back into place by then.) http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh22/robswanson/Kodiak 09/Bear 09/?albumview=slideshow
Good luck! I'd love to try to hunt brown bears. Such beautiful scenery you have too. Maybe I'll skip Missouri and move to AK.
Um, yeah, I'm pretty sure I would have had to gone back for a change of pants. That is if my heart still worked. Beautiful scenery though!
I debated going back to the truck for my back-up rifle but decided to follow his muddy tracks to my stand in the dark. It's crazy what frost gleaming off a branch in the headlamp or a bunny scampering through the brush does to the poor overworked adrenal gland in a situation like that! I probably sweated pure adrenalin until the sun came up!
You are a dang nut, and I know this from first hand experience! HA Good luck with Smokey, just don't go crossing preferred feeding areas in the dark anymore, ESPECIALLY since your biggest piece of protection is a 125 grn broadhead!
With a 100 grain brass insert! (There's a sow with a cub in the area so I may be packing Bessy along for the walk out tonight; 5 - 450 Alaskan rounds at 400 grains each!)
No Doubt! With friends like that, you don't need any enemies...talked you into almost becoming a midnight snack on opening day LOL :p You have my utmost respect, I don't know if I could do it. Good luck this season, looking forward to your updates! :D
Wuss! And that comes from one wuss to another! Any chance I can have your house if the bears wins? These things need to be discussed , ya know. Otherwise the government gets your home and I lose my place to launch my brotherly revenge! Scary stuff, exercise caution will ya! I'm eagerly waiting for more! Plug him!
I think it's going to have to go to a lottery system and Josy has some preference points over you! Maybe if I survive this season you can build some up for next year.
Rob, your stories of the Alaskan wilderness intrigue me. I hope to see you sitting behind a big bruin before the season closes. Is it the bear you mentioned (big mo) or bust...or are you just looking for a big one period.
It's been him or bust for the last 5 years but I may lower myself to taking one of his Booner buddies this season if the right shot presents. The one from yesterday wasn't one of them. I figure he was only a 9 footer or so, still a big bear but not the caliber that I know this drainage is capable of.
300 UM isn't what I consider "wingman" material. It'll kill a bear but it won't stop him in his tracks at close range. I want big bore lead of at least .375 caliber and preferably .458. Personally I just go without one; less stink, less noise. I'll pack the cannon on the recovery.
Wow Rob! I always say I'm not afraid of anything...but I live in IL...and just decided that Brown bears scare me...I would have to have the sidearm. Good Luck...keep us flatlanders posted! Thanks.
Don't leave me out of this discussion!! SOB, that had to be exciting and nerve racking at the same time Rob!! Shoot a biggin Rob!!
