Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Number 66- A Uganik Bay Brown Bear Story

Come on man, telling this story is going to take as long as the actual hunt!! lol

At number 65 now. It's going to get good now!?

I was filled with pride at that point at least equal to the feeling derived from redecorating the van interior with the festive lights and sparkles show.

The stuff from the island was retrieved, a chicken placed in the oven for slow-roasting, and we were off to the head of the arm and the start of this thread.

The bear was leaving the beach and into the alders before I could get a round chambered in the 700, 375AI. I was using the same Vortex Viper PST in 1-4 X 24 that has been on the rifle for three seasons now. There were openings in the alders once the bear got up a short distance, but was still well within 100 yards even if he made the rim.

Finding holes in alders turned out to be a little tougher than expected but the first shot did provide a satisfying "Whump!" The bear turned back toward the beach but was held up by alders at several points, breaking and tearing stuff up all the way down the hill.

The final flop left him right on the edge of the beach, just barely inside the alders.


It took a few wrestling holds and some serious tugging to roll him the last few feet into the open.

My camera took the best set of pictures so Paul gets to do the posing...


He was shooting a Kimber in 375H&H with the same scope:


And here is the Brute photo... Paul is resting his forearm on the backside of the bear and sitting on boat cushions... No aggrandizing at all.

He is an honest 9' bear.


We took our time skinning, taking the feet right down to the claws, but leaving the head in for later.

More photos later, going to run some shrimp pots...

Damn nice bear Art, his hide looks about perfect too! Congrats!

Thanks! Actually, there is more than a little rub, but it isn't terrible.

We took turns fleshing on the ride home and I found this in the right foreleg:




It took big pliers to haul it out.

The folks at Dyna-Tek suggested I coat my knives with it for ease of clean-up. It seemed to make a big difference both because fleshing products did not stick and so there was no build-up of stuff on the blade while working and because clean-up was a simple wipe and a quick wash in hot soapy water with no scraping to clean the steel or handles.

Nice! Congrats.

Art is doing a far better job than I could in the story-telling department so I�ll let him finish it up, but I do want to add in that I can�t thank him enough for the opportunity to come along, help out and learn on this hunt! I may have deep hunting experience and a very good game eye, but his knowledge of the country and these bears far eclipses mine. The man is simply a master at his craft and can shoot as well.

Now, about the sardines. I might sneak off with an extra kipper snack or two in my pocket but not those damn oily sardines!!

Paul
There you are! I think I see a sardine in your pocket!

Was a real pleasure getting to see a whole other way to glass and a new standard for finding those bears. And you now have more big bear experiences than some internet experts with 40 years in the "bush."
art

I should have been more specific about the Dyna-Tek knife treatment...


The top "Knives of Alaska" was untrested. It built a hard bunch of junk during use that was tough to get off, even after a hot soapy water soak. It required scraping to remove it.

The second knife was treated with a quick wipe of Dyna-Tek bore treatment and allowed to dry before use. It built very little junk on the blade compared to the untreated blade.

The third knife was also treated and after using it extensively a simple wipe with a paper towel completely removed the junk. A quick soak in hot soapy water was dome to ensure some semblance of sterility or at least cleanliness. It took absolutely no effort to clean it.

The two bottom knives were made by Robert Ball a local maker and I really like his work.
http://www.alaskaknifemaker.com/gallery/page1.html

Can't believe you are worried about a few sardines. I don't think you've missed many meals!

You have to have seen Paul's introduction to sardines... He knew and loved kippers but sardines really hit him hard and he was too polite to scream "WTF is this?!?!?!?!"

How many times I gotta tell ya I still have a 32" waist? 'Course 36s feel so good I buy 40s...

Just once more.

Nice work gentleman on a beautiful bear. Totally jealous, but very happy for you .

Thanks Dean, it was a trip to remember.

Great story and pics. Thank you

well done! on all counts, the hunt, the photos and retelling


can't blame a guy for stashing away a tin of sardines...provided they're in mustard sauce


very nice bear

Nice write up Art. That sounds like a great hunt.
Congrats on a nice bear.
So, sardines are the new currency?

Big eyes rule for the glassing it seems.

After the Big Eyes article, I bought a pair of the earlier Minox 15x58ED binoculars and I really like them. Unfortunately, the adjustable (right side) eye piece had a lock nut come loose inside, and the eye piece rattles around. Couldn't have any kind of seal left with it wobbling around like that. Time to call Minox.