Spring Bear
Printed From: Enfield-Rifles.com
Category: Enfields
Forum Name: Hunting with the .303 British cartridge.
Forum Description: Share your hunting stories with the rest of us.
URL: http://www.enfield-rifles.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=3933
Printed Date: March 26 2026 at 6:27pm
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Topic: Spring Bear
Posted By: airforcediver
Subject: Spring Bear
Date Posted: May 17 2010 at 2:57am
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So, I went out looking for meat. Myself and my chair bound hunting partner, decide to drive a few of the higher ridge lines (3200'+) However we couldn't get into any of my sweet spots on account of a few of the west facing portions of road still have over 3' of snow on them. So I wanted to show him the way to a meadow he shoot be able to either shoot from the truck into (he has his permits) or that we would be able to get his wheelchair into. But before we made it onto that road, we were driving up a switchback in a steep drainage. I holler stop, that stump moved!! I needed to get my glass on it, to verify it wasn't another burnt stump (tonnes of them in that area) Sure enough it's a blackie, the first thing I noticed was the appearance of VERY long looking legs. Not good, I open my door (pushing 600yds away) I mount the spotting scope to the open window. As I continue to watch (looking to make sure there are no cubs) I exam the eyes, they don't look big, they actually look rather small. We watch, then she sits down on this stump that is easily 5' across.
I look at my buddy, he says "go get it." I grab my rifle and mag, throw my bino's into their caddy and I'm off on a stalk. The initial plan was to walk 100-150yds down the road then find a good place to hike up the slash. After scaling approx 35yds, getting a good vantage I watch somemore. Then the bear lies down, I think to myself "It's spring and that isn't a monster" I slide back down the slash. Heading another 250yds down the road, I then climb up the slash a ways. I stop and check the bear, unfortunately she is down wind of me. However she is still completely unaware of my presence, I climb a little higher. Not only to reduced the angle on the uphill shot, but also to reduced to crosswind. I make the last 20yds to a good rest.
I get setup, peer over the log, and................. She's gone. "Ok suck back, reload" I think to myself it's going to be in the edge of the bush I grab my bino's and slowly scan the treeline. I locate the bear, and switch back to my rifle. I judge the distance, adjust for the wind and send the round downrange. I here the crack and watch the bear jump straight up. She then bolts approx 25' and goes stiff legged and tumbles down the hill.
It took a good hr to walk down across the road and up the slash to the kill site (dam winter logging)
 Give you an idea of what I'm dealing with
 ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Replies:
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: May 17 2010 at 3:01am
A view of the bear
 After the shot
 ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: May 17 2010 at 3:03am
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I got a few more pics but am running out of patience trying to post them right now. AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: May 17 2010 at 6:16am
The view into one of my favourite Drainages, that I still can't get to the back of(damn snow)
 The view to town from the office
 So Hatch when you coming to town ???
 AFD
------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: Hatchetman
Date Posted: May 17 2010 at 5:08pm
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Mate looks unreal. I would absolutely love to join you out there on the Island for a shot one day soon. Hopefully I will be able to get there before I have to start work in late November or early December (If I have a job lined up.....) Failing that I will be there after the season. Thats Courtenay isn't it? ------------- But the winters coming, And the snow will cover tracks, And I'll be watching, Because I'm hunting you - Sarah Blasko, The Gardens End |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: May 17 2010 at 5:10pm
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Ya that is 2 of the 3 city's that make up the Valley. Courtenay is the closer half and Comox is the other half. Across the water is Powell River.
AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: EnfieldHunter
Date Posted: May 20 2010 at 11:53am
| Did you have to quarter the bear to get it back out or were you able to drag it back to the truck? |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: May 20 2010 at 10:14pm
The beauty of adrenaline and 45 degree downhill slope. I got it up on a stump and onto my back to drag it cross the slope and then roll it down the hill
 AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
EnfieldHunter wrote:Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: May 20 2010 at 10:14pm
| Excellent pictures |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: May 22 2010 at 1:15pm
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Thanks CM
I got another couple bears in that drainage, one looks to be a biggun. Having a hard time getting a good look at him and he refuses to present a shot. I shall continue till he is in the bag
AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: May 22 2010 at 3:07pm
| One must use all his skills at hand AFD. |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: May 22 2010 at 3:07pm
| Oh and your welcome |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: May 23 2010 at 10:12am
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I brought my half retarded cameraman with me yesterday, he is new to both the area and to hunting. Hard to tell in the vid, but when the bear is snozzing on the stump it as its ass to me.
http://www.youtube.com/user/skinnadoor?feature=mhw5#p/a/u/0/7x7HTHl2VF0 - http://www.youtube.com/user/skinnadoor?feature=mhw5#p/a/u/0/7x7HTHl2VF0
He is not quite as big as I initially thought, but given his elevation he'll make excellent sausage
AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: badbudgie
Date Posted: May 23 2010 at 7:08pm
Awesome stuff AFD . What rifle and calibre were you using ? Brenton. ------------- Long live the smelly |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: May 24 2010 at 2:41am
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A No 1 MkIII*, 1918 BSA. She was drilled and tapped beofre she landed in my hands, now has a Synthetic stock and bushnell elite on it. Hopefully it will soon have one of Richards mounts on it. AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: May 25 2010 at 4:19pm
Ive said before..there aint anything out there as reliable as the No1MkIII*!  I have 2(one serice/1 sport)both 1916.NEVER let me down..& Ive taken a good share of game over the years with it!
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: May 25 2010 at 5:17pm
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You betcha Hoadie,
Went up to that same drainage again yesterday seeing if I could get another look at the bigger bear. Instead I end up finding another meat bear in that drainage. Meaning a min of 5 bears have been living in that drainage (counting the one in the freezer) Seems this place with be a little to crowded, so I will take another friend up there for some further population control.
AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: Hatchetman
Date Posted: May 28 2010 at 8:47am
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And both fine rifles they are hoadie! Wow, looks like there are a heap of bears kicking round up there diver. ------------- But the winters coming, And the snow will cover tracks, And I'll be watching, Because I'm hunting you - Sarah Blasko, The Gardens End |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: May 28 2010 at 8:50am
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It's the Island Hatch, we got more bears per sq km then the mainland does
AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: May 28 2010 at 2:30pm
 Yeah-bears are kinda like Scotsmen..The only way off the mainland is to SWIM!..But they can only swim so far!Hence-an Irishman is a Scotsman that can swim!!
Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: May 28 2010 at 2:43pm
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Lol true Hoadie, I went back up there tonight. I got some excellent footage of a monster momma bear and her 2 cubs. I'm having some issues rippin it off my camera hopefully I can get it off and edited to post up soon.
AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: Canuck
Date Posted: January 28 2012 at 8:14am
| God I love British Columbia! Oh, and Lee Enfields too! |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: February 08 2012 at 2:53pm
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You got that right Canuck Gots to love BC AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: February 08 2012 at 11:07pm
| Hoadie, I'm wanting to come up there and hunt this fall, what do we need to do to make Preparations for this? |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: February 09 2012 at 3:37am
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I don't know for sure about Ontario, but I believe he needs to apply for a permit to accompany. Here in British Columbia/BC AKA Bring Cash, I would need a permit to accompany. Then you would need a non resident license @ $180.00 then your tags @ $180 for Bear, $125 for deer, $250 for Elk, etc So the pice gets up quick in BC Not to familiar with thier site but here is Ontario's MNR page http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_168421.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/FW/2ColumnSubPage/STEL02_168421.html hope this helps you light a fire under Hoadies arse ;) AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: February 09 2012 at 5:22am
AFD yep I have been hunting around New Denver, British Columbia, Canada a few years back. I had most of that information as well as the paperwork... I was wanting Hoadie to have to work thou LOL
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Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: February 09 2012 at 6:30am
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work seems to be my middle name. If ya want to come for deer-we are going to hunt the 1st FULL week of November.I have to remain there(@ cabin) thru 2nd week as well, cuz I have a new group comin up to hunt.So I gotta be with them, as well Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: Cookie Monster
Date Posted: February 09 2012 at 6:49am
Hoadie give my a phone call when ever you can , thanks CM
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Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: February 09 2012 at 11:19am
| would love to see / experience BC one day , think i need to add it to my bucket list |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: February 09 2012 at 11:26pm
With B.C. Pretty much the whole interior is "wilderness-parklike" It sure is close to heaven! Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: February 10 2012 at 4:34am
Ya what Hoadie said, nuthin to see on Vancouver Island I wouldn't recommend wasting your time visiting the island  No Seriously though anywhere outside of the concrete jungle fo the lower mainland the whole of BC is absolutely EPIC AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: hoadie
Date Posted: February 10 2012 at 5:42am
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AFD: you over @ CFB Komox? Hoadie ------------- Loose wimmen tightened here |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: February 12 2012 at 2:28am
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Ya Hoadie I work at CFB Comox, at 442 T&R Sqn AFD RESCUE!! ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: February 13 2012 at 1:37pm
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"..my chair bound hunting partner..."
i also have a chair bound friend who loves to hunt , he is most resourceful in adapting , has been to seal camp and accepted as an honarary seal , would love to get him there to hunt if it was feasable , but has to be next year as this year he is going to the olympics as an archer [OK -he is still qualifying , but i have faith , he has been there before ]
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Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: February 13 2012 at 1:54pm
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A Square 10 are you saying you would like to get him up to BC to hunt? AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |
Posted By: A square 10
Date Posted: February 14 2012 at 9:42am
| if it could happen one day i think he would love it , he hunts deer , turkey , and bear here , i had thought one day he might enjoy hogs down in texas as well , |
Posted By: airforcediver
Date Posted: February 14 2012 at 10:40am
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Well the deer and bear are both very plentiful here, depending on which region of the province you go to the seasons are pretty long and not very restrictive. Turkey is limited to the mainland, but the seasons aren't too bad. All I can say is plan early, the permit to accompany can take some time. Does he currently have a permit to discharge from his vehicle? AFD ------------- If all else fails call in a MOAB and call it a day |