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Topic Archives => Memorable Hunts => Topic started by: Randy Morin on June 18, 2005, 02:31:00 PM

Title: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 18, 2005, 02:31:00 PM: I definitely got bit by the bear bug this year and had a great time out in the mountains this spring. I had spotted some bear activity from a half mile away (and one steep canyon) in a particular rock slide. Two weeks went by before I could get into this area again because of June snows. On June 15, the last day of the season I got close to the rock slide and hiked down the mountain to find the area I had been glassing into. It turned out I hiked right into it and soon I was set-up and ready to try some rabbit distress calling.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Ranman/hunting/057_57.jpg)

Immediately after beginning my first sequence of calls I was charged by an enraged marmot. Catching the movement out of the corner of my eye I thought for an instance I was being charged by a hungry bruin. Definitely startled me for a split second. Soon after that a doe mule deer got up and trotted slowly away. 20 minutes later I had just finished my third calling sequence and I heard that same deer start to blow an alarm. Curious but I didnt think much of it. Then, there she was. She just stepped into view, right where I happened to be looking. Holy !@#%@# theres a frickin bear. 50 yards and looking for me.
This is where she stepped out. Middle frame slightly to the right.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Ranman/hunting/052_52.jpg)

After standing in full pose for a minute or two she angled toward me as she slowly moved along in a zig-zag. At about 30 yards she decided to head over to the deers direction and turned directly away from me. She walked right by the large boulder in the middle of this next frame.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Ranman/hunting/053_53.jpg)

Just after she cleared the boulder I gave 3-4 quick wales on my call. That bear whipped around and closed 5 yards in the next second. She slowed to a stroll again still not sure where "I" was. But now she had narrowed it down and was coming strait on. At 20 yards she started to angle off to my left. Perfect. About then I pretty much new I was gonna get a chance. I dug in my toe a little and started to "lean" into it a bit getting ready for the shot.
Next frame showing where she came. From the boulder and then angled behind the aspen to the left.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Ranman/hunting/054_54.jpg)
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: AZStickman on June 18, 2005, 03:00:00 PM: That Aspen looks to be only 5 yards or so away... :scared: :D Terry
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: the Ferret on June 18, 2005, 03:06:00 PM: Pretty pics...where's the bear?
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Guru on June 18, 2005, 03:07:00 PM: Awesome start......and now the finale...
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: the Ferret on June 18, 2005, 03:10:00 PM: Oh I get it, he's taking a tip from Guru, Little Feather, Charlie et al and making up wait......

Who in the he...uh heck started that anyway?
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: AZStickman on June 18, 2005, 03:14:00 PM: :bigsmyl:
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 18, 2005, 03:15:00 PM: The shot came just after she cleared the little green juniper in the foreground. She was at most 15 yards and slowly walking. The Super Shrew shot was true but slightly back. That WW tipped arrow zipped through and got a slight reaction from the bear. 10 yards further now I got a second shot. One that I barely remember. She had stopped briefly and was just about to clear the boulders in the upper left of the next photo and was severely quartering away and I could not have been more fortunate with the shot. Just off the ham the arrow entered the back of the rib cage and headed on toward the neck area/opposite shoulder. This one got a rise and she growled and snapped at the barely visible shaft.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Ranman/hunting/055_55.jpg)

After an hour I took up the trail. I worked slow, real slow. I was nervous about poor hits and a long drawn out blood trail. I almost always am. The trail was easy enough to follow and I allowed myself to hope for the best. I also found both my arrows.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Ranman/hunting/060_60.jpg)

After about 80 yards I was about to jump up on a blood stained log when I saw her and she startled me for the last time. She was just 5 feet away on the other side of the log.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Ranman/hunting/062_62.jpg)

The end of the road for one of my most memorable hunts.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Ranman/hunting/063_63.jpg)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Ranman/hunting/061_61.jpg)

I was never happier to find an animal. I raised both hands to the sky and celebrated in my own way. Tears were not far away. But....I hadnt even got a look at his/her face yet. There was much to do. I dragged her out from under the log and looked her over for a long while. Then I moved her to the nearest spot I could take some self photos with the timer function I hadnt learned to use yet on the new digi-cam. All went well. I was very lucky all the way around on this day.

Wow. Its always a weird feeling when you realize a hunt so special and how rare they are. Ya just wanna bottle those feelings up. Really makes me humble about things in those moments. This was my first bear, I was alone, last day of the season, she came to my calls, she presented a shot, she died on her feet. Still sinking in I guess. Excuse the rambling please.

Here she is in all her glory.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v317/Ranman/hunting/068_68.jpg)

Thanks for sharing this with me gangers. I enjoy you all so much. Randy.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: frankb on June 18, 2005, 03:19:00 PM: Not anuther one of them spensful story teller guys..... Yikes! :D

Talk about yer "close enough to tickle a tonsil" shots!

-Frank B
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Chad Edgar on June 18, 2005, 03:19:00 PM: nice job and beaut of a bar
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: 2-BIG on June 18, 2005, 03:30:00 PM: Great job!
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 18, 2005, 03:38:00 PM: Dont get me started on why I submitted this story in installments. I did the whole thing this AM in one story but I got shut down because I tried to submit more than 8 photos. Message said to hit my back button to return but when I did I got nothin. Lost it all. The first draft was way better too with proffesional quality writing and descriptions and everything. :bigsmyl: Second draft is what I managed to get down and posted after I cooled off a bit. :D
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Roughcountry on June 18, 2005, 03:46:00 PM: Way ta go Randy. Really enjoyed the blow by blow an that is one pretty bear. Congrats, your gonna have to get a pic of the new baby on the rug :thumbsup:
Thanks for taking us along, you made my day :)
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Shawn Burke on June 18, 2005, 04:12:00 PM: Awesome job with the story and pics, congrats on the bear.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: frankb on June 18, 2005, 04:29:00 PM: Sa-WEEEET! Great pics... thanks for sharing that one, Randy! :D :D :D

Love it!

:thumbsup: ~Frank B~ :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 18, 2005, 04:36:00 PM: Thanks all. Very nice to share with all you fine people. Rough, I loosed the string on this bear with one of the tabs I made from the cordovan you sent me last year. Good mojo never hurts does it. I will get my daughter up here soon too. I just now am getting the digi cam-computer thang up and runnin. Watch out now!
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Guru on June 18, 2005, 04:38:00 PM: Randy, Congratulations on an awesome trophy!! She's absolutely beautiful :readit:
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: SteveD on June 18, 2005, 04:57:00 PM: Great Job. Beautiful bear Congrtas
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Tracy McQueen on June 18, 2005, 04:58:00 PM: Great story and a beautiful color phase bear Randy.

Congratulations on a successful hunt!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Irish on June 18, 2005, 05:08:00 PM: Very, very nice :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Tilbilly on June 18, 2005, 05:50:00 PM: Great story, beautiful bear. What a nice coloration. Good eatin' too, I'm sure.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 18, 2005, 05:50:00 PM: Just checkin in again. Thanks to everyone who posted most recently. It's very nice to have you all share this hunt with me.

Guru, a banner photo would be not to shabby. :D
I have never had a pic to go with my name either and I was gonna finally change that too. I think this one will do! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Guru on June 18, 2005, 05:53:00 PM: Your right Randy..it would make a great avatar!!
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: blacktailchaser on June 18, 2005, 06:03:00 PM: sweet story,and bear.i bet you will remember that for a life time.john
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Killdeer on June 18, 2005, 06:17:00 PM: Randy, that was one great hunt. You did it all to the nines. Sounds like a perfect turkey hunt, come to think of it, only turkeys don't carry the ramifications that large carnivores do. ( I think "ramifications" means pointy things.)

Far from rambling, your emotions during and after the hunt brought forth a few echoes here. I have lifted my bow to the morning sun and breathed my thanks into the wind, too.

Thank you for the tale and for the hunt well hunted.

Killdeer
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: kennym on June 18, 2005, 06:30:00 PM: Randy,it don't get much better than that! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: gregg dudley on June 18, 2005, 06:35:00 PM: Cool hunt! Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Joseph on June 18, 2005, 06:44:00 PM: That is way cool bud! :thumbsup: :D That is a good looking bear and will make a very nice rug. I'm bummed I missed the phone call. I just got the last of my water logged gear dried out and cleaned up the other day. The weather looks a lot nicer though. Congratulations! Joseph
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: AZStickman on June 18, 2005, 06:44:00 PM: Too Cool.... What a beautiful color phase bear... Terry
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Raven on June 18, 2005, 06:45:00 PM: WOW! :eek: What a GREAT hunt, down to the wire and ya pull it off. :help:

Congrat's and thanks for the pics and story! :thumbsup: ............Raven
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: BOFF on June 18, 2005, 07:08:00 PM: Randy,
Thanks for sharing your hunt and the pictures. Beautiful country and setting. The bear's color is spectacular, and the grin and emotion on your face is enough to bring back memories of my own. Thanks again!!
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: joe skipp on June 18, 2005, 08:30:00 PM: Awesome bear! Great color phase...Congrats! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 19, 2005, 08:50:00 AM: Everyone, it's been 4 days and I am still walking around with a special bounce in my step. It's been great to share this special day with a bunch of like minded folks like you all. I'm going to show this thread to my very understanding non-hunter wife (cept gophers) so she can read the sincerity and depth of the things/emotions that make this thang we do so unique and special. I know she'll enjoy it.

Killy....as usual your words are moving and poetic. "I've raised my bow to the morning sun and breathed my thanks into the wind". Yup. Beautiful.

Now, back to serious hunter stuff. All this talk of mine about emotions and such is really starting to sound weird. I'm starting to creep myself out.

:scared:

Guess it's ok to think it but saying it one to many times and you start to get sick of your own voice. Are there any questions about the blood trail or how sharp my broadheads were? Who wants to know where I like to anchor? There thats better.

LOL.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Huntrdfk on June 19, 2005, 09:29:00 AM: Great job Randy. :thumbsup: One of the things I've always wanted to do was shoot cinnamon phase black bear. Way to go!!

David
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Littlefeather on June 19, 2005, 09:38:00 AM: Very, Very, nice! Thatta way ta plug um! CK
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Keener on June 19, 2005, 09:58:00 AM: Great story, Randy.
Congratulations on the realization of a dream and a goal. :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Killdeer on June 19, 2005, 10:06:00 AM: Whoops! Sorry! See what happens when you let girls onsite?

So, Randy, looks laick she bumpped agin the lawg a foo times afore she finely uz able ta make it over. How much ya reckon the gutt pial wade?

Killeddeer
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 19, 2005, 10:21:00 AM: Ha, Ha, Ha. Keener and Killy. :cool: Bout 100 pound ata-least. She did do a decent job of walking that balance beam though didnt she. She walked on a bunch of blow down that way after the shot. Made the tracking very, very easy. Good way to travel for such big animals. Wish I could do that but it's just a good way for us to break a leg out there.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Killdeer on June 19, 2005, 11:04:00 AM: I do that in the woods so as to be more quiet while travelling a bit faster.
Works well if you don't have to look down very often. Or get shot.

Killdeer~bluddngutz~the limbwalker!
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Barry Wensel on June 19, 2005, 11:29:00 AM: Randy: Well done my friend! I think I recognize that rockslide.. just north of Seeley Lake? Ha. Those of you reading this might find this interesting. Randy and I have never met that I know of. Through a fluke of fate I found out he was originally from Vermont. When I was about a twenty year old kid, I went to a "deer/beer" party (an event to celebrate when someone finally got one) at a hunting camp in Starksboro, Vermont. I remembered the family name was Morin. You guessed it. It was Randy's family hunting camp. Ironically, the land just adjacent to his camp used to be one of my favorite honey-holes for bowhunting deer & bear way back when I lived in Vermont. Then I find out, unbeknownst to either of us, he moves from Vermont to Montana and now hunts some of my old stomping grounds in the Swan River valley of western Montana. Randy,I guess I have a couple questions for you... am I your real father? And when are you planning to move to Iowa son? :>) BW
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 19, 2005, 02:39:00 PM: Well Barry you are my idol and a boys idol should be his dad sooooo yeah that'd be fine with me. Lets shake on it and then make up for lost time by goin on lots of huntin trips together. We should start slow though, maybe a quaint farmland whitetail hunt so we can get to know each other and then maybe move into something exotic. But we'll talk about exactly where to go during our Whitey hunt. We'll have plenty of time cause I hate to go on a hunt unless it's at least 7 days long. See, we are already learning things about each other.

Plus you were buddies with the brother of my dads friend (Meddy Gingrass) who gave me my first recurve. Plus I also pole vaulted and lived off of HWY116. :scared:

About Iowa, I was just telling the guy who went back with me to help with the Bear pack-out that I could see someday moving from Montana to someplace like Iowa when the mountains become too challenging. Of course I had just huffed and puffed strait up for the last hour. Coulda been alot worse though. I tease my wife with the same threat of moving to "Whitetail only Country" when we retire. Short answer...about 25 years. I just turned 34 2 days before I got my Bear. A special belated present indeed.

Barry, arent you gettin ready to move back to Montana...part time? Or was that only your Bro? Sure would make it easy to see each other on a regular basis...Pop.

Dang, it's hard to stop typing and joking with Barry Wensel, guess thats why everyone likes him so much. So let me say in all sincerity....

If you would contribute to my usually lame posts more often I'd get alot more respect around here.

I do hope to meet you some day though Barry, Take care, and thanks for dropping in. Oh, I almost forgot. I hope you get the big one next season and not your brother again. :D

LOL and Happy Fathers Day. Sincerely, Randy.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: LONGHORN on June 19, 2005, 08:13:00 PM: Congrats Randy,nice job,pics and story :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Longbowwally on June 19, 2005, 08:46:00 PM: Very nice Randy...I almost felt like I was there with you on the hunt.....Thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: HARL on June 19, 2005, 08:48:00 PM: Very nice bear and story,Thanks.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: B.O.D. on June 19, 2005, 08:59:00 PM: great bear, beautiful colour...that will make a beauty rug! congrats man, ASH> :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Bill Curlis on June 19, 2005, 09:48:00 PM: That is an awesome bear! I love those colored ones.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Mark Baker on June 20, 2005, 01:32:00 AM: Congrats Randy! Great story, too. Be sure and send me a pic so I can get it in the next TBM newsletter, with short story of course. Once again congratulations.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: RayMO on June 20, 2005, 08:25:00 AM: Randy, yes indeed congratulations. What a beautiful Bear. And you called it in, that must have been very exciting. Love the color.

Mo.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: AFshawn on June 20, 2005, 11:30:00 AM: Not only is that a great bear, the story was awesome and the pics really point out to me what we in the midwest are missing. My stories would go something like, he entered the bean field down by that gate, when he got his head even with those cornstalks I knew I was gonna get a shot..... Somehow it just don't sound as good! Congrats.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Milgan on June 21, 2005, 12:33:00 AM: Good job. i cant wait to get me one.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 21, 2005, 08:35:00 AM: Just checkin-in. Thanks all for all of your kind words. It wasnt supposed to happen this year, not really. I was anticipating 3-5 springs before hopefully realizing this goal. This was my first season goin after-em hard. Very fortunate on this score.

Mark, I will and thanks for the pat on the back.
It's nice to have a story to tell. :thumbsup:

Shawn, I hear you man. I grew up in Vermont hunting. Things are definitely grander (best one word description I could think of) out here. And most people think it's the altitude that takes your breath away.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Jumper on June 21, 2005, 10:20:00 AM: Beautiful bear! Thanks for sharing the story with us.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Donavan Daniel on June 21, 2005, 08:17:00 PM: Awsome bear! She sure is gorgeous!

What was the poundage of your Super Shrew? Gotta love those Shrews!

Congrats!

Cheers,
Donavan
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: stikbow on June 22, 2005, 02:46:00 AM: great story
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 23, 2005, 11:32:00 AM: Well it looks like this thread is winding down. Thanks everyone for checkin out my bear story. Cant wait till I've got another to share. Afterall, "my favorite hunt is my next one".
Donovan I was shooting a 54-55 lb@27 shrew. Love that bow. Even before this hunt. :D
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: JC on June 23, 2005, 11:57:00 AM: Beautiful animal Randy! Thanks for the great pics accompanying the story.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Yance on June 23, 2005, 02:27:00 PM: Randy, great story & a beautiful bear. You made it sound too easy. So whats yer next quarry goal?
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Orion on June 23, 2005, 03:07:00 PM: Now that's the way it should be done. Congratulations.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Dalebow on June 23, 2005, 04:35:00 PM: Randy

Awesome bear, I have not hunted bear yet and being from Ky I don't have the availablity to hunt on my own but after talking it over with my wife I think Iam going to try a hunt next fall, my dream black bear is a choc phase one with such beatuiful have, good job and god bless. Reminds me of my Mtn Lion I took in January in Idaho, a true blessing from GOD, CONGRATS you deserve it:-)

Dale
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Donavan Daniel on June 23, 2005, 07:05:00 PM: Thanks for letting me know the poundage! My new Super Shrew is 54#@26.5". Very close to yours.

Again, congrats on a beautiful bear!

Cheers,
Donavan
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Doug Campbell on June 23, 2005, 09:33:00 PM: Great story and pics Randy, Congrats!!
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 25, 2005, 10:56:00 AM: Checkin in after a few days away from the old computer. Yance, Antelope is next on the agenda starting August 15, followed closely by Elk. Thanks for all the kind words everyone. Doug, thanks. Joseph said you were at the Moose creek shoot chippin rock but I missed you. I couldnt hang out a bunch anyway cause I'm always working weekends.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: yth-mnstr on June 25, 2005, 11:45:00 AM: Congrats, Randy! Great bear, pretty bow, and wonderful story! I told you in one of those last emails that you should be a writer. Man I'm good...just kidding. Thanks for sharing and forgive me for taking a little more pride in your hunt than I deserve, but it really makes me feel good that you shot her with the Shrew. I couldn't be happier for you.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Fish'n River on June 26, 2005, 08:18:00 AM: That was a great story. I can only imagine being on the ground looking at a bear that's thinking you're supper.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 26, 2005, 09:29:00 AM: Hey Justin! Good to hear from you again. As the previous owner of a fine bow you are allowed, I believe, under the official trad. bowhunters story sharing rules, to take an otherwise innaproporiate amount of pride in the above mentioned bear hunt. :bigsmyl:

Your mojo will always be there along with Mr LaClair and his fine bowyer. I'm hoping you will be really proud again atleast three more times this year. That would be Antelope season, Elk season, and then Deer Season. :D

Thanks for the pat on the back and my favorite long bow. She's a keeper for sure. :thumbsup:
Randy.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Charlie Lamb on June 26, 2005, 09:45:00 AM: Randy... just wanted to jump on here and tell you congrats.
I think I'm hooked on calling. After years of bait sittin (REALLY! I counted the hours) I think I've found a new love.

That looks like fine country you took the bear in. We need to compare notes sometime.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Flatstick on June 26, 2005, 11:05:00 AM: Great story & pics, CONGRATS!!!
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Randy Morin on June 27, 2005, 08:49:00 AM: Yeah Charlie, we should compare notes sometime. That wont take long on my end...something like....call every 5 minutes, beautiful bear comes in and presents a shot, shoot, track'm down. Haul'm out.
Ha. Ha.

Thats about how lucky I feel regarding this hunt. This was the first time I had ever set-up to really do some calling. Guess you could say I'm pretty hooked too.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Al Kidner on June 28, 2005, 12:58:00 AM: As said in my email mate... Well done!

From Oz... Alan.
Title: Re: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story.
Post by: Shaun on June 28, 2005, 08:25:00 AM: Rnady, great telling and hunting. Calling bears, just the thought makes the hair on my neck stand up. "Here Mr Big Ol Preditor.... come get me..." Yikes! Well done!