We headed back out the river and..... HOLD on, I jsut realized I didn't take any pictures of the Duck I shot !!! Dang it... OHH well. Anyways, we see this duck so we kill the engine and start floating towards it. some law about not even having the motor in the water so John lifts it out and we float. It seems like for ever and it rains a little and finally we go around the corner were it was and there was 2 of them. I took a crack at the far one as it flew and then the Closer one took off and I nailed it.
that being said, no pictures so you have to believe me !!!
So it was Dumping like buckets by this time off and on and Our crap was getting S-OAKED !!
We got to the spot were we spotted the bear yesterday and didn't see it. I pulled out the binos and ... uhhhh wait a min, there it is !!! Right in the same area with a pile of Fish. We dropped the Anchor and looked at it through the bino's.
If you look real close you can see an EAGLE to the Left in the tree and the Head of the Bear in the Bottom Right.
As you can tell a little it was raining. when you get the camera and bino's out everythnig got wet right away. Sucky, but welcome to AK I guess !!
We sat in the boat talking about it.... Same deal, Shoot ? don't shoot ? Shoot ? don't shoot...... Alright, Get out the Range finders and ....342 yards. Way to far in a boat thats anchored but moving up and down with waves.
We fire up the Boat after the bear tucks in closer to the tree because of the rain falling harder. We crank up the engine and go upstream and coast back down. We're about 175 yards now. When the Bears chest (or close enough) comes into view dad drops the Anchor.
we glass it again, or try to, dang bino's are full of water. I put the Scope on it and see a 1/2 bear 1/2 fuzz water blur !!!! DAD has a BAck up bead on it and even though its raining I pull out the Camcorder and give it to John.
Now John, Bless his Heart, Isn't a Camera guy. He did let me know from the get go but I had faith in him. Jsut zoom out, find the bear, zoom in, and hold it on him. Well this lesson took a little as the bear stood up and went in the Trees a little. I figured I'm either going to get it or not.
It is in the tree's as John learns the fine art or zooming and hitting the record button.. hehe.
The bear steps out one more time and my dad wasn't ready for the BAck up. John got a Cam corder bead on it and I was busy Whipeing my Scope with Toilet paper that was soaked as it continues to dump.
The second I got a bead on it, and John said he was ready.... KABOOM !!!!
The bear turned and Jumped up the bank. We played back the Video and John did have it on but when the Gun went off I think he thought I was Shooting more ducks because the Camera went straight to the SKY .. hehehe. That happens even to the best of us !!!!!
We went over and Glassed the area and didn't se any blood. We hiked to the Left and dad was in the lead and saw a glimpse of it down. As we filmed and walked over John help the gun in it's direction and DAD poked it. YAh, I was in the Back ready to run.... J/K on the running part.
So, after 2 of the 4 days I had to hunt my bear was down and tagged :
Notice us Squinting and the Fuss dot's in the picture. We had (NO LIE) about 1 Ga-MILLION-ZILLION Fetching flying little Rat sucking, buzzing ,agrivating, biting little chits in our face !!!! No sooner did I pull the trigger the rain stopped and Bug sitty opened up !!!!
Anyways, Here is a couple more pics :
And one for the "BOOKS".. hehehe :
Another Friend drove by in his boat while we were watching this bear and Drifted by as we watched it for 5-10 mins and Relocated and he hung up several hundred yards down the river until we shot. He came over after wards to help but we had it under control. Here's Rich in his boat :
He took a few Pictures of us i nthe River and then we were on our way :
We got back and finished skinning it out at the Base in the Fish skinning room and put it on Ice. I need to check it in with fish and Game Monday morning or I'd call to Head back to Idaho sooner to See the Wife and Kids. I've been out and About so Much I forgot what they look like *wink*
Anyways, another Guy was gonig out in the Morning so we're tagging along. I'll have "DAY 3" with more pictures tomorrow.
Thanx for reading and the Comments. I know it's not the "BOOK BEAR" that everyone comes to AK to take but I like it. It will make a Nice mount. I never threw a tape on it knowing it wasn't a Big bear but it will hover around the 6.75'-7' mark. It's hide is Kick "A" which is a good thing. My wife was happy I didn't shoot one of those "BIG UGLY SCAREY" ones. I told her I didn't want to jsut to make her happy....
What I didn't tell her was Next year, I'm coming Back for one !!! BOOOOYAH !!!!!!!
Peace out, Yo !