It's been a very quick couple of days. I signed up a few months ago to go on a SW coast Oregon bear hunt. I've hunted with Spoon Creek Outfitters for elk in 2008 and signed up with them for my first bear hunt. Ken guarantees you a bear or you come back until you get one.
I made the 7.5 hour drive on Friday arriving around lunch time. We loaded up and went for lunch. By 2:00 we were glassing for bears. Ken was 2 for 2 so far but no big bears yet. Mostly 175 - 200 and the 2 he got were right around 200lbs. After glassing public lands where some bears had been seen we went to his lease.
Around 5:00 Ken saw a real nice bear about a mile away. His grandson, also a guide, confirmed it was big and we were off. After 10 minutes of racing on dirt roads to get in position, we were lucky and the bear was still there feeding.
I gave everyone a scare because for the life of me I couldn't see the bear. It was in a clear cut. After a couple of minutes of back and fourth, yes Ken was getting worried, I finally got him in my sights. I dialed up the NF scope on my Kirby Allen build .338RUM for the 535 yard shot. It was going to be tough because of the angle. I basically had his back to shoot at because of the steep angle. He wasn't going to give me a broad side shot. With no wind I felt plenty confident.
At the shot I saw the bear hunch up but then lost sight of him while cycling the action. Both Ken and Justin said he was down. He took a 50 yard dive down the hill and fortunately was stopped by a tree. After some high 5's we drove over and climbed down.
He was a beautiful bear that we estimated at 275 - 300 lbs. The biggest of the season and according to Ken in the upper 10% of the bears for the area.
So in 3 hours of hunting I had my first bear plus my first long range kill with my rifle. After a 3hr clean and pack up a hill, on my hands and knees for 100 yards, we were eating a late dinner and hitting the sack.
After a trip to the taxidermist and breakfast with Ken I was on my way back home to drop meat off at the butcher. I had no idea it could happen so fast and I had a great time.
I've will be going back in November for another Roosevelt elk hunt with Ken. I'm keeping my fingers crossed my luck will continue.
I also can't say enough about him and his outfit. Top notch all the way around. Three hunts with him in 3 years tells you all you need to know.
I'll try to get some pics up later in the week after I get a little rest.
I made the 7.5 hour drive on Friday arriving around lunch time. We loaded up and went for lunch. By 2:00 we were glassing for bears. Ken was 2 for 2 so far but no big bears yet. Mostly 175 - 200 and the 2 he got were right around 200lbs. After glassing public lands where some bears had been seen we went to his lease.
Around 5:00 Ken saw a real nice bear about a mile away. His grandson, also a guide, confirmed it was big and we were off. After 10 minutes of racing on dirt roads to get in position, we were lucky and the bear was still there feeding.
I gave everyone a scare because for the life of me I couldn't see the bear. It was in a clear cut. After a couple of minutes of back and fourth, yes Ken was getting worried, I finally got him in my sights. I dialed up the NF scope on my Kirby Allen build .338RUM for the 535 yard shot. It was going to be tough because of the angle. I basically had his back to shoot at because of the steep angle. He wasn't going to give me a broad side shot. With no wind I felt plenty confident.
At the shot I saw the bear hunch up but then lost sight of him while cycling the action. Both Ken and Justin said he was down. He took a 50 yard dive down the hill and fortunately was stopped by a tree. After some high 5's we drove over and climbed down.
He was a beautiful bear that we estimated at 275 - 300 lbs. The biggest of the season and according to Ken in the upper 10% of the bears for the area.
So in 3 hours of hunting I had my first bear plus my first long range kill with my rifle. After a 3hr clean and pack up a hill, on my hands and knees for 100 yards, we were eating a late dinner and hitting the sack.
After a trip to the taxidermist and breakfast with Ken I was on my way back home to drop meat off at the butcher. I had no idea it could happen so fast and I had a great time.
I've will be going back in November for another Roosevelt elk hunt with Ken. I'm keeping my fingers crossed my luck will continue.
I also can't say enough about him and his outfit. Top notch all the way around. Three hunts with him in 3 years tells you all you need to know.
I'll try to get some pics up later in the week after I get a little rest.
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