sierrahunter
Active member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2015
- Messages
- 133
Like last year, it took me 9 days in the woods to get a bear, and just like last year, I got lucky on September 1. But in past years, I’ve hunted at 6,500’ elevation in the Sierras. This year, I focused on 3,500’ instead. I prefer the higher elevations because it’s cooler and prettier (with more evergreens), but the key to bear hunting is always the same: find their food sources. Because of this year’s heavy snows, the choke cherries had not yet ripened, so I moved down in elevation to hunt the blackberries, and it paid off.
I found this bear foraging on blackberries, and made a heart shot at thirty yards. I’ve never seen an animal die so quickly. After I shot, the bear ran uphill for maybe 20 feet, then stumbled and fell back down from where it came. No need to trail blood. Grim reapers are effective, that’s all I can say. Not only did I not have to trail this bear, but it was within a few feet of an old skid road, and I was able to back my truck right up to it. Years ago, I installed a winch at the front of my truck bed, and attached the winch cable to a removable plywood floor in my truck bed. I pulled the plywood floor out of the truck bed, and leaned it against the tailgate like a ramp. Once I dragged the bear up on the ramp, the winch pulled the plywood with the bear into the truck bed. It was slick as snot.
The most interesting part of this hunt was right after I shot the bear. Some hikers came upon me, and asked me what was going on. I told them I had hunted this bear. They responded, “Is it going to be ok?” “No”, I said, “it is not going to be ok, but that was my objective.” They then asked, “Is someone going to come and get this?” I replied, “No, I’m going to take it home and eat it.” I really don’t think they could comprehend that. Society has become so far removed from the source of their food, that they don’t recognize it in its unprocessed form. It’s very sad, and I think it’s dangerous for the political longevity of our hunting heritage.
Anyway, one last thing: attached is a picture of where I removed a hindquarter. Look at that layer of fat! I rendered a ton of lard this year. Happy hunting everyone!
I found this bear foraging on blackberries, and made a heart shot at thirty yards. I’ve never seen an animal die so quickly. After I shot, the bear ran uphill for maybe 20 feet, then stumbled and fell back down from where it came. No need to trail blood. Grim reapers are effective, that’s all I can say. Not only did I not have to trail this bear, but it was within a few feet of an old skid road, and I was able to back my truck right up to it. Years ago, I installed a winch at the front of my truck bed, and attached the winch cable to a removable plywood floor in my truck bed. I pulled the plywood floor out of the truck bed, and leaned it against the tailgate like a ramp. Once I dragged the bear up on the ramp, the winch pulled the plywood with the bear into the truck bed. It was slick as snot.
The most interesting part of this hunt was right after I shot the bear. Some hikers came upon me, and asked me what was going on. I told them I had hunted this bear. They responded, “Is it going to be ok?” “No”, I said, “it is not going to be ok, but that was my objective.” They then asked, “Is someone going to come and get this?” I replied, “No, I’m going to take it home and eat it.” I really don’t think they could comprehend that. Society has become so far removed from the source of their food, that they don’t recognize it in its unprocessed form. It’s very sad, and I think it’s dangerous for the political longevity of our hunting heritage.
Anyway, one last thing: attached is a picture of where I removed a hindquarter. Look at that layer of fat! I rendered a ton of lard this year. Happy hunting everyone!
