Author Topic: A Handi Bear Hunt (Read 1518 times)

Slufoot · « **on:** November 10, 2012, 03:57:48 PM »

Went deer hunting this afternoon with my H&R Handi Rifle conversion. Today was the first day of ML bear season, I've been seeing sign but never really thought I'd get an opportunity to actually get one.
I put a new stand up last week in a spot I've been wanting to hunt. I've got an apple tree 100 yards to my right and on old grown up field to my left. When I got the stand up I took my range finder and ranged straight down to the ground, 13 yards, that's 39 feet. So the first thing I did when I got in the stand today was to get secured in with my safety harness.
I hadn't been in my stand 10 minutes when I spotted the bear. He was headed straight toward me and when he got about 15 yards from the tree I was in, I dropped the hammer. The 200 grain SST hit him in the top of the head and exited the bottom of his neck. He dropped like a ton of brick!
This isn't a big bear but it's my first ever and I'm tickled with him!

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

mechanic · « **Reply #1 on:** November 10, 2012, 04:06:36 PM »

Way to go Slufoot! Nice bear. When's the bear BBQ?
Ben

Slufoot · « **Reply #2 on:** November 10, 2012, 04:14:59 PM »

Quote from: mechanic on November 10, 2012, 04:06:36 PM

Way to go Slufoot! Nice bear. When's the bear BBQ?
Ben

Thanks Ben, I'll be canning him tomorrow. He's skinned out and cooling in the shed tonight.

Spanky · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2012, 04:20:42 PM »

Nice shooting.

Is there a bear rug in your future?

Spanky

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2012, 04:29:02 PM »

It's a bigger bear than I've ever got.

BTW, I also never gotten a bear.

Congrats!

Slufoot · « **Reply #5 on:** November 10, 2012, 04:39:54 PM »

Quote from: Spanky on November 10, 2012, 04:20:42 PM

Nice shooting. Is there a bear rug in your future?

Spanky

Thanks Spanky,
No rug Have you priced what it cost to do the rug?
I'm going to clean the skull and keep it for my trophy, should be kinda cool with a 40 caliber hole in it.

Thanks OldSchoolRanger, maybe one will be in your future too!

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

Spanky · « **Reply #6 on:** November 10, 2012, 04:46:03 PM »

Truth be known I like the skull better than a bear rug. Are you going to boil and bleach the skull? I've seen a couple done that way and they turned out very nice.

Spanky

Slufoot · « **Reply #7 on:** November 10, 2012, 04:59:09 PM »

Quote from: Spanky on November 10, 2012, 04:46:03 PM

Truth be known I like the skull better than a bear rug. Are you going to boil and bleach the skull? I've seen a couple done that way and they turned out very nice.

Spanky

You got it Spanky, I can do this myself and will only have my time in it.

tacklebury · « **Reply #8 on:** November 10, 2012, 05:14:30 PM »

Way to go. That'll be one sweet hide.

cwlongshot · « **Reply #9 on:** November 10, 2012, 11:52:30 PM »

Nice bear! Good job!!

I had my last bear into a rug and the skull bleached. Nice conversation piece on the mantle.

The rug is very nice, but roger that on the costs!!

CW

mechanic · « **Reply #10 on:** November 11, 2012, 03:13:20 AM »

Slufoot, you can do that rug yourself as well, not much to it. Take a drum large enough to hold it and immerse it. Wrap it around a smooth rock, tie it and drop it in. Mix white vinegar with water, half and half.

Immerse the rug, and leave 48 hours. Pour off all the mixture, rinse, and do it again. After a week of this, take it out, rinse with water and baking soda, and stretch to dry.

If you want it soft, bend it over a 2x4, and rub in unscented hand lotion.

Ben

rdlange · « **Reply #11 on:** November 11, 2012, 04:35:50 AM »

Great job Slufoot. Never shot a bear but shot a hyena in the head once. Wasn't much left of the skull to save. Thanks for the hide tip Mechanic. If I ever get a bear I'll give it a go. I'll try on next anything hide worth saving.

je265 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 11, 2012, 08:21:04 AM »

Nice job. 39 feet in a tree, I get dizzy thinking about it. Great picture too.

Lon371 · « **Reply #13 on:** November 11, 2012, 09:26:40 AM »

Great job congrats. Wish we had bear(sort of) I do like a skull mount.

Lonny

surehuntsalot · « **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2012, 03:34:23 PM »

very nice
congrats

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #15 on:** December 06, 2012, 11:54:05 AM »

Quote from: OldSchoolRanger on November 10, 2012, 04:29:02 PM

It's a bigger bear than I've ever got. BTW, I also never gotten a bear.

Congrats!

+1

but my Wife keeps wanting me to get one for a rug... or three! and I do live in black bear country!

Congrats Slufoot on the meat bear.

I'd sure like to taste canned bear... do you use a recipe?

flinthead · « **Reply #16 on:** December 06, 2012, 02:35:29 PM »

Very cool! Congrats!!

hoytcanon · « **Reply #17 on:** December 07, 2012, 05:19:36 AM »

Good job on your bruin!

Living in prime bear country has its advantages... here are a few of my 40+ archery bears (I'm 6'4" and 260 for comparison);

300+;

400+;

500+;

OldSchoolRanger · « **Reply #18 on:** December 07, 2012, 06:36:51 AM »

Quote from: mechanic on November 11, 2012, 03:13:20 AM

Slufoot, you can do that rug yourself as well, not much to it. Take a drum large enough to hold it and immerse it. Wrap it around a smooth rock, tie it and drop it in. Mix white vinegar with water, half and half.

Immerse the rug, and leave 48 hours. Pour off all the mixture, rinse, and do it again. After a week of this, take it out, rinse with water and baking soda, and stretch to dry.

If you want it soft, bend it over a 2x4, and rub in unscented hand lotion.

Ben

Ben,
I'm curious, have you tried this "tanning" system yourself? I have a coyote that I was thinking about trying this with.

mechanic · « **Reply #19 on:** December 07, 2012, 10:58:55 AM »

I've done some small skins. I did a coon two years ago that my grand daughter still has and so far no hair loss. I've done some squirrils, etc. but have given everything away. As far as I know it works fine.

Ben

nanuk-O-dah-Nort · « **Reply #20 on:** December 07, 2012, 11:24:34 AM »

When I lived up in Indian Country, the locals used Fleecy Fabric Softener to tan... made moose hide incredibly soft.

jedman · « **Reply #21 on:** December 07, 2012, 05:16:12 PM »

Very Nice !! You will find that the meat from a bear that size is excelent .

Slufoot · « **Reply #22 on:** December 07, 2012, 11:32:30 PM »

Quote from: jedman on December 07, 2012, 05:16:12 PM

Very Nice !! You will find that the meat from a bear that size is excelent .

Jedman you are absolutely correct! My wife, daughter and I like this canned bear meat better than our deer that we are so used to eating.
It makes a really good BBQ sandwich!

GOOD SHOOTING!
Slufoot

catncarp · « **Reply #23 on:** December 07, 2012, 11:36:23 PM »

Good story and thanks for sharing