Washington Bear Down

[7mmfan]

Last Sunday my Dad and I decided to do a quick scouting trip into an area that we've never been but were planning to go on an overnighter in a couple weeks. We just wanted to check the ground out, check water sources and campsites, etc.. and stretch our legs for a half day run on a very hot day. Forecast for into the 90's. We left the trailhead at o-light 30. I didn't expect to see much in the way of berries or animals where we were going this trip.

At about 6:10, I got my first view of the ridge I wanted to glass from about a mile away. I pulled my binos to my eyes and the first thing I saw was a bear. Glassed for 2.7 seconds and found one. I knew right where he was and that I could get on him easily.

55 minutes, 2.5 trail miles and 1000' gained and lost later, I was in the chute above him. I couldn't see or hear him, but knew that if he was still there he was close. I belly crawled up onto a rock outcropping to get a better view and immediately saw him below me exactly 100 yards away feeding carelessly on blueberries. It was a tough shot angle. Very steep, over 45 degrees, and no real rest. I managed to find one spot I could rest my rifle on a rock and get somewhat solid behind it. I waited patiently for him to turn broadside, aimed slightly low and behind the shoulder because of the angle, and squeezed it off. The 7mm Mag sent a Barnes 145 LRX at 3050 fps right through the boiler room. He wheeled and ran about 15 feet before tumbling and rolling 100' down the steep hill and coming to rest near the tree line.

I watched for a minute to make sure he was dead, then headed back up the trail to find my Dad who had held back and let me go. I found him about 400 yards up the trail coming in hot. We shared a hug and I replayed it all for him as we walked up to the bear. This was the first bear Dad had ever seen up close, so it was a special moment.

It was now about 7:30. We had a good shady spot to work in and made quick work of him, boning everything out and stretching the meat out in the shade to cool while we went and refilled water. We ate lunch and then loaded packs and got on the trail. We made it back to the truck roughly 3 hours later. The truck read 94 degrees. I had a cooler full of ice ready just in case and we stopped and got more as soon as we could.

The meat was in excellent condition the next day when I processed it. We packed out just over 80# of boned out meat, plus the head. The hide was pretty thin so I opted to leave it. There was not an ounce of fat on this bear. He was healthy, just lean with lots of scars on his head. I'm not good at aging or judging bears, but he seems like a decently old bear to me.

I'll be going back into this place in 2 weeks with a couple of buddies and their kids looking for their first bears. Hoping for a repeat!

[Lefty]

Congratulations
Bear meat is one of my very favorites


Killed him with a belly full of berries?

When does your Washington season run for bears?



Sharp teeth: young bear,
Rounded teeth: older bear
No teeth really old bear


IIdaho pulls a tooth, grind it down and stain,, then count growth rings

[7mmfan]

Bear season opens in most of the state on August 1st, but some areas don't open until the 15th. It runs through November 15th.

I'll get some pictures of the teeth later. I'm going to start cleaning the skull tonight hopefully. His front teeth were worn very short, probably from a lifetime of picking berries. His canines looked great.

In Washington we're supposed to send in one of the premolars for them analyze and they will send back and age and sex of the bear. I already know one of those.

[Lefty]

Bear season opens in most of the state on August 1st, but some areas don't open until the 15th. It runs through November 15th.

I'll get some pictures of the teeth later. I'm going to start cleaning the skull tonight hopefully. His front teeth were worn very short, probably from a lifetime of picking berries. His canines looked great.

In Washington we're supposed to send in one of the premolars for them analyze and they will send back and age and sex of the bear. I already know one of those.

Do you have a time limit on registering the bear

[7mmfan]

No we do not have to check the bear in or get a hide sealed or anything. Just report harvest at the end of the season.