2020 BEAR SUCCESS THREAD
Bears
Contributors to this thread:
Boubound was late, so here we go....
May 10th, Spot and Stalk on the way home from looking for Grizzlies.
My apologies. With a Covid-19 driven hunt cancellation in June I overlooked this. Nice bear Nick.
It will be tough to break last year's record of 250 this year...... post photos of those 2020 bears. outfitters are welcome and any weapon is eligible. Last year was the most ever posted
in 2011 we had 126
in 2012 we had 158
in 2013 we had 131
in 2014 we had 136
in 2015 we had 204
in 2016 we had 166
In 2017 we had 140
In 2018 we had 238
In 2019 we had 250
Congrats Nick! With covid we will be lucky to see 25 kills this year, Im hoping to participate in that 25
I was supposed to have two bear hunts this spring. Kodiak has come and gone and guessing late May in Manitoba will as well. Congrats Nick...Glad someone is able to chase bears.
Congrats Nick! Thanks for getting us started!
Nice “consolation prize” bear Nick! Keep after the grizzly.
First longbow bear.
First longbow bear.
Three from this week. I didn’t kill one yet, but did take a few runs at a couple of big guys. Probably saw four or five over-sized boars and dozens of P&Y qualifiers. Over a hundred bb’s and thirteen grizzlies, including two cubs.
Enough of these buggers around to add excitement to those after dark skinning jobs
Enough of these buggers around to add excitement to those after dark skinning jobs
Congrats Ambush and Nick on super nice bears!
I have always observed that when the head of a bear looks small, in relation to its overall body size, it is a big bear. If the head looks big, it tends to be a smaller bear. REGARDLESS of that observation (whether it is actually true or not), look at the head on that photo of the grizzly that was posted.....that is impressive.
Congrats Nick! Rod, that looks like an exciting hunt! Noah and I are heading into the bear blind tomorrow or a rare morning hunt. Gotta take advantage of the wind when we can.
Good luck David!!
It’s actually a pretty laid back hunt. We are swamped with bears, so killing one is no problem. But, like with any species, there’s only a few exceptional animals. The biggest one we saw this trip, got killed by a semi the next morning.
First big game bow kill!
First big game bow kill!
Friend’s son was pumped about our bear fun and couldn’t wait to go. He’s been shooting like crazy and cranking his limbs down about one turn every few days. Helps that he has a 29” draw already. Paid off yesterday!
Congrats on the bear, Nick! Congrats to your buddies as well, Rod!
Yeah, right Carcus! Fat chance you WON’T kill a another slob!
Nice bears! Congrats Nick!
Nice bears! Good luck to those that are able to go.
Terry Degner with his bear. 7 footer, 320 lbs, 19 11/16 skull.
Here's one that's on my son's hit list
Here's one that's on my son's hit list
Congratulations all. Matt, our camp is going to add a minimum of 7 to this list. Let the games begin!
That second bear is a Tank Willy! Congrats!
Lets go Jim! My knife is sharp, ready to notch the sign! See ya Sat.
Willie Reed - that second bear looks huge -anymore pics.
With the borders closed we won't have many spring bear clients but we were able to get one from Alberta to come up and harvest a couple bears. One spot and stock and one with hounds.
If this was an “Almost” thread. Went out in the afternoon to scout some elk spots and then look for bears on the way back. Saw about fifteen and a couple decent ones. Should have shot (at) a very nice chocolate boar on the way out, but didn’t. I was carrying a recurve so the size standard could be lower. Then we saw this guy! I got within twenty two yards on the first try. Next two attempts didn’t pan out either. Fifteen yards was my goal, but may have tried twenty. Couldn’t bring myself to shoot a smaller bear after seeing this one. Not much green and there was a very chubby sow just a hundred yards away, so hoping he’ll stick around. I think he digs fat chicks.
EDIT: pic won't show, just keep getting that stupid "ERROR Message" again. try later
Out of my recurve range.
Out of my recurve range.
Another Black Bear for me.
Looks like there’s a pattern developing on these big grizzlies for Stephanie! Holy cow! Congrats to her and to you as well on a great blackie as well, Nick!
Wow! Holy Smokes! Eee-gads! And just plain awesome!!
You two are getting it done on another level. “Living Alaska” to its fullest. Congrats Nick and especially Stephanie .
Muche’s are living right. Congrats guys!
Where's the bear picture Carcus?
Holy crap Nick, a grizzle and a black! I'll have pictures in the morning
Congratulations to all the spring bear hunters and good luck for more safe successful hunts!
Gorgeous grizzly. Just perfect
I boiled the skull out other day, green scored right at 21"s
I boiled the skull out other day, green scored right at 21"s
Never any doubt in my mind, carcus! That’s a toad....congrats!
Carcus puts the “Man” in Manitoba again! You guys sure put some brutes on the ground! Congrats on the usual.
Any previous history with this particular boar?
Congratulations Stephanie. Oh and you too Nick! ;^)
That’s awesome! Nice man!! Congrats
Carcus, Noah and I had a great bear hunt. Noah got a shot at this giant of a bear the same evening Carcus got his. Lots of memories made, and great campfire stories recounting our hunts. Noah's shot was a bit far back, so in the morning we decided to take care of Carcus' 7'6 chocolate, such a beast of a bear! Then it was off to look for Noah's bear, it was a long track job and truly a team effort by all 3 of us. We were happy that the trail ended with a 7'7 behemoth.
Big Bear Central In Manitoba!! That’s a giant for Noah and a giant congrats to all helping him pull it off!
Hopefully there’s a video in the near future.
Excellent. So happy for the Manitoba boys.
Incredible! Bears over 7’ are just awesome. Huge congrats to Noah!
Noahs bear again, monster
Great bear, Noah! Way to go!!
Great job! Looks like a good start!
Noah the giant killer! Congratulations
Wow! Congratulations to all of you.
Wow! Congratulations to all of you.
Hell ya guys! Those are giants! Huge congrats.
My hunting partner smacked a really nice boar on our baits Friday night. 8’2” with a green skull 25 12/16 according to the bio, can’t wait to officially score it for him.
13
Going to be slow going this year boys
Congratulations to all you bow-toting bear hunters...Because of the coronavirus my sons and I missed what would have been our 11th year running our own baits in Quebec, Canada. Sure do miss it. Hope to be back at it in 2021. Congratulations again to all.
Brendon’s big old boar shot at last light, beautiful white chest blaze
Brendon’s big old boar shot at last light, beautiful white chest blaze
Terry’s first pope and young bear
Terry’s first pope and young bear
1 eyed giant
1 eyed giant
My son Brendon, my cousin Terry and I all shot 1 with Mike Ukrainetz!
My son and I with a split ear bruiser. He is now confused why he has to sit still and quiet in a tree stand as after this guy was down I could hardly scare 3 other bears of us while we got out of stand. Great night and future hunting addict :)
I call this one maintaining a socially acceptable 7ft distance
I call this one maintaining a socially acceptable 7ft distance
Way to go Nick, guys! Be interesting to see numbers this year, as pointed out!
That is really cool that you brought you son with you...especially so because he witnessed how to get it done. Congratulations Walleyes...
Walleyes! That bear is massive! Nice work man! What arrow/broadhead combo u use?
Congratulations to all you lucky SOBs that get to bear hunt this spring
Dino - I use slick trick mag Broadheads and whatever arrows I have left after the fall season in this case a Easton bloodline with 50 grain insert. In the case of bears I like big holes as they tend to leave poor blood trails compared to deer elk where I have been trying vipertricks with great success
You can add one more to the list...I arrowed a decent P&Y bear an hour from home while social distancing a few days ago. I'd seen his scat and tracks over the past two weeks but took me quite a few days to finally lay eyes on him. Stalked in from a 1/4 mile down to 30 yards.
Pics, or it didn’t happen, Kurt!!
Congratulations to all the bear killers!
Miss spring bear hunting for sure...
Stuck a long ways from home now or this thread might have me heading north across the state line to chase them where it’s still legal...
Let’s see Kurt! Congrats!!
I guess we won’t be seeing any pictures from Sovereign Adventures/Lone Wolf this year. I sure was looking forward to them.
Joe, you will be hunting some absolute slobs up there next year.
My Bear
My Bear
Spot and Stalk Montana bear from last Sunday. Ended up going 6’ 3” from nose to tail after he was fleshed and salted for a couple days. Nothing like those Canadian giants, but I’m happy with him!
6’ MT bear is legit. Way to go CF!!
Another great couple days on my baits! Couldn’t resist the itchy release finger after a couple years without taking a black bear so I doubled up. Almost pulled off a trifecta but got busted drawing my bow on a nice brown bear.
Nice bears Trevor, would've been crazy to have also killed a grizz!
That's the first double I've seen on here I think???
Meanwhile 10-15 miles away in my other bait site... a good buddy shoots this tank of a brown bear!
Wow, some awesome bears on this thread. Here's mine. May 30, Manitoba, 7'4 square. I had full intentions to film the hunt, but I forgot to press record!
Wow....great bears guys!!
The long grind paid off for you David, congrats, giant boar!
HOLY smokes, some great bears have hit the ground in the last week!!! The usual suspects doing the usual and killing some great animals! Congrats guys!
RJ! That thing is a toad! Congrats!
RJ! That thing is a toad! Congrats!
Shot my bear on May 26th in Northern Alberta. 7' Bear, green scored 20 2/16"
His 5th blackie....
His 5th blackie....
Here's a little boar to put all those giants in perspective!
Lance just turned 12, and I'm not even thinking about pushing "trophy" hunting on him.... If he's having fun.... All that matters to me!
Lance’s bear is the best one yet!!!!
Some great bears down! Congrats to the lucky hunters young and old.
I also got lucky and got my second black bear of the year on Friday evening. He decided to work his way into bow range so what is a guy to do? Decent bear but a narrow "meat-head" when I skinned him out. Fun hunt!
Lance’s bear is the best one yet!!!!
Thanks bou! I let him know you said that...
Thanks bou! I let him know you said that...
Good job Lance, your 5th bear already!.....Carcus, awesome bear season, just speechless!
With no non resident hunts this spring I ask a friend to bring up some kids to hunt their first bears. It is always great to see kids excited when their first big game animal hits the ground. No giants hit the ground just solid 6 footers. Although one of the kids missed a giant early in the hunt.
Those are some serious grins on those young hunters.
Sorry for the sideways pictures, this is one of the only faults with this website, perhaps one of the admins cans fix it.
29 this year vs 92 at the same time last year.
Really nice bear my friend Jake was able to take off of one of our baits. Couldn’t be happier for the guy.
Arrowed my first Alaskan animal last weekend.
Of course a week after the baiting for BB closes, still trying to get some friends on black bears and mega boat shows.
My bear was the top one
Beautiful brownie. Wow. Fantastic. Story?
Pretty simple, set up bait station with 907 scents, do a few paint can burns, try to pattern a shooter. First go at this and virgin bait site- our area is a 1 Brown Bear every regulatory year and 3 black bears- the only Resident Seal metal ring hunt other than muskox- whopping cost- $69 annual hunting and fishing license- Brownie ring-$25. Brown Bear harvest ticket and 3 black bear tickets, like all species for Residents no additional cost. Oh, and print harvest ticket on home printer. Our Area is limited to 3 Black Bears but system still prints all 5 out.
Alaska is a wonderful place. Congrats on your bear!
I’d say you had your list upside down when you checked off a brown bear from your Alaskan animals list as the first one, MathewsMan! Congrats on a great bear!
What is a “paint can burn”?
Thanks Nick, I’m stoked about it.
So I was not getting much activity so I rigged up a Gallon paint can with holes around the base, then Above stereo have a quart can that sits above a small stereno can. The honey or scent liquid like the to die for stuff vaporizes or smokes as an attractant.
I use a wire hook and hang it from a limb.
Sterno is apparently a problem for wordspell
Nice Scott, congrats!
Alaska bear season for non-residents opened on June 1st. Was lucky enough to arrow this Brown bear over bait in the Cook Inlet region on the night of June 3rd. Didn't measure the hide but the skull green-scored about 25-10/16". A great hunt thanks to Jonah Stewart. Three hunters in camp went 3 for 3 on brown bears for the week.
Congrats Greg! Great looking bear!
Awesome bear sticksender!
Great bear Greg! Was fun chatting before the flight out.
Stud bear Greg. Jonah is the way to go for sure.
Bears are starting to rub out here, and more Brown Bears now that the area here is close for them.
Finally on the brown bear board myself for 2020.
Congrats on a great bear, Trevor! You Alaska guys are sure livin the dream!
Terry Degner with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
Terry Degner with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
19 11/16 skull, 320 lbs, 7 ft square hide
Brendon Degner with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
Brendon Degner with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
20 2/16 skull, 370 lbs, 7 ft 2 in square hide
Dean Degner with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
Dean Degner with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
20 0/16 skull, 385 lbs, 7 ft 3 inch square hide
Mario with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
Mario with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
19 4/16 skull, 350 lbs, 7 ft 2 inch square hide
Clay Leismeister with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
Clay Leismeister with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
20 4/16 skull, 425 lbs, 7 ft 8 inch square hide
Matt Harding with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
Matt Harding with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
19 9/16 skull, 380 lbs, 7 ft 3 in square hide
Josh and Chris with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
Josh and Chris with Mike’s Outfitting in Alberta
19 3/16 skull, 365 lbs, 6 ft 11 in square hide
All of the above bears were taken by Alberta resident hunters due to the USA border closure. All colored bears were off limits to kill except on the one family and friends bait that’s in an out of the way spot. That’s where Josh and Chris fluked into the big colored one above!
The season was a lot of work and some fun with my wife cooking and me guiding. Hopefully things get back to normal for next spring!
Tagged out on Blackies up here. Time to get some rest!
Beautiful jet black blackie, Nick! How many black bear tags can you guys get in the spring?
In that area, 3 is the limit.
Congratulations on an amazing season Nick! Some great bears on this thread...well done guys! I can’t wait to center punch a big ole boar...one day!
Nice one Nick, love blacks with the dark nose, how bad are the bugs up there now?
They are terrible! 100% DEET and three thermacells while in the stand.
Our season came to an end last night. What a great time in bear camp. We are blessed to spend every weekend for most of May and all of June running baits and hunting bears with friends. My boys were all able to shoot bears, 3 rifle and 1 with his bow. Tough year on recovery as we had two we shot we did not find and another one that took birds to locate 2 weeks later. Lots learned and grateful to SVRELK and HUNTMAN for their friendship and help. I got too many kids....... cant do it alone! Another fun season in the books. Enjoy summer.....its gonna go quick.
Masons bear. All 4 of my boys and my Dad were there that weekend.
Sawyer notching the sign after they recovered his bear. (Not gonna post pics of bear) He made a perfect double lung shot but we were not able to find him in time. Tough country to locate dead bears in! We even had Jims hound in camp and ran him through after we grid searched and still no luck. He was 120 yards from the bait. Sad to not have the recovery and photos with him but grateful to get closure and know the show was right. We were able to save the skull/claws. Would NOT have found this bear without Jim (svrelk)
So envious ..... congratulations
I’ve waited a long time for this! First bear and I got it done with my Bob Lee bow!
Looks Like You killed him in the Amazon. Nice beast
He sure didn’t make it easy on me! But it has literally been a dream come true!
Thats awesome. Congrats on your first with traditional equip.
August 22nd, 2020.
August 22nd, 2020.
Did a spot and stalk... Rifle Kill but oh well!!
Pine Acres Guide, Brady McKay and his old Boar!!
Pine Acres Guide, Brady McKay and his old Boar!!
August 28th, 2020.
August 28th, 2020.
Shot over bait by M/L... off of Private land.
Maine bear season opens in a few days. Hope to see some here. I will be hunting the last week. Good luck!
Donna with her opening day fall bear. It squared out at 6'3. Great shot with the crossbow, all caught on film.
Boar at 30 yards.
Boar at 30 yards.
Here's a New Mexico bear from 9/4.
North Maine woods! 9/7/20
North Maine woods! 9/7/20
Low numbers this year. Dang Covid!
Stix, that has to be the longest muzzle on a CO black bear I've ever seen, Congrats!!