Since I already know that Stick dislikes this type of mount, I'll throw it out there. I actually like the mount, given the nasty bald spot the bear had on his forehead (grin).

I don't think the taxidermist did it justice for its size, but otherwise I'm happy with it.



At some point, I'll put up a pic of my lion that I had rugged. I felt quite fortunate that he looked normal. Probably not the best, but at least he didn't look like someone was squeezing his balls (grin)...

Like ANYTHING is gonna look "real" missing it's back half<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />....

Heh...the side view hides the nose, smirk, and any pontential "lip gloss"....let's see a frontal pic....lol.

Nah, nice mount....but then you have to consider the source of this post, bwahahahaha...

HoundGirl

I dig pedestal mounts...would like to get a couple of deer done that way.

Looks good to me. Do alot of bears have white marks on them like your mount, or is that rare?

It's not uncommon, but I like it there.

On the standard form, the white mark would not have shown up, so I had the taxidermist modify it so it'd show.

I want a nice muley on that kind of mount!! I think it looks great!

Looks nice to me.

Nice mount.But no banjo or lipstick.

Your slacking off Muley Stalker...........grin

If you'd of done it closed mouth I'd be happy, the open mouth bruin mounts don't do much for me.

Just my unsolicited 12 cents...

Other than that I like it!

Mark D

Mark,

Personally, I like the open mouth as long as it isn't the snarling nasty bear pose. I like seeing the teeth, even if they're the plastic ones (grin)!

Different strokes. My only gripe on this bear is it doesn't do justice to the PIG I shot. Of course, it's damn near impossible to make a big bear look like a dink (grins).

Live pic's, I'm 6' 4" for reference:

Yeah, but you are squatted down. What's that make ya, 'bout 4 foot? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Don

Ah yes.....I dig those pics......

I hear you MS-boy oh boy is that bruin a toad!!!!!!!

Mark D

That is a bruiser for sure! Wow!

How about the story on that one!?

I forgot how much of a pig he was!!!

Mike

No way that bear is 10ft.........

Muley, I like your mount. Is that the same bear in both photos? Did you shoot that in CO?

He's an honest 12' 6" and 1627 pounds!!! Not the best black bear I've shot, but one of my top 25 (grin)!

This is a paradise, AK bear. Seriously, I passed up an opportunity at a considerably larger bear -- trying to be polite and video'ing it as a dude waited and waited and waited and shot over the top of a COMPLETE pig.

I put the story up back in 2002 when I was doing the hunt. Short story, we managed to tear the lower unit off Stick's boat and a dude and I took a 14' aluminum fishing boat (no kidding), loaded down with 6 6 gallon cans of fuel, out 125 miles round trip on the ocean.

At one point, had a pod of killer whales paralleling us within 25 yards -- until one came up under that little boat and surfaces REAL close -- fun, but scary thinking that a dunking at that point would have been deadly, even if the whales played nice.

Anyway, the dude killed a dink (pretty though -- grin), early and I passed quite a few. Though daylight was getting slim to make the trek back to the landing, I wanted to take one more trip into the inlet where we had our accident just days before with Stick's boat. I spotted this bear and we putted into shore downwind and the stalk went perfectly. When I first saw the bear from shore, he was within 20 yards. Believe it or not, I spent the next 20 minutes talking myself into the bear!

Glad I punched the primary points into the GPS on the way out, because we made the 50+ mile trip home in that 14' aluminum fishing boat at night! Pucker factor was quite high (grin). Thank God, we were given flat seas to deal with on the way home. I can vividly remember the relief I felt when the moon popped out and we could see a little bit coming back.

All on video, I plugged him at about 30 yards. Tape measurements for length and girth put him at 530 lbs. He'd of squared out well over 7 1/2 feet, pushing 8. Skull was short for its width, but still went 20 1/4.

The best part about the hunt was what I learned. Unlike this years' mule deer hunt, I never regretted passing up a larger animal, given the experiences it led to and the bruiser I ended up with. Cool deal, all around!

That was a crazy hunt!

That's the story I relayed to Brother Bill and Uncle Jim, on our first Paradise bear hunt, while sipping cocktails around the fire one night.

I still get a kick out of it......

Good yakking at you the other night. Looking forward to a CO whackfest.

I still get a kick out of it too (grin)!!!

CO whackfest?

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

MS-do you remember what that bad boy measured around the chest? (I'd have to guess low 50's??)

Thx

Mark D

Mark,

He was a nice snug 55". I use JJ's weight chart to pull weights from. Big Sky was telling me afterwards that I'm taking the measurement too tight, but I guess I'm one of those rare folk who'd rather be conservative when I'm throwing out #'s.

MS -that measurement was around the chest right? I had heard that JJ's weight chart used a belly mea. and not a chest, don't know for sure though.

Thx

Mark D

Muley,

Let me help you out. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Ahhhhhhh, the memories......





Hey, Man...you're bleeding! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> You okay??? You look a little dizzy! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> BOSEG

And a couple more for memories sake.....

You're killing me man!!!!! BOSEG is right!

Different bear, but that would be the boat! And, I'm still sporting that scar, LMAO! I'll never forget looking through the scope and thinking the scope broke, only to realize the glob swinging back and forth, blocking out the crosshairs was a big ol' glob of blood from my forehead!!! TFF.

Spike, give me a shout at home when you have a minute...

Mark,

I'm not entirely sure. That was one of the first bears that I measured using JJ's chart and I know I wasn't taking the measurements in the right spot initially. I just can't remember if I'd figured it out by the time I shot this bear. I figure 530 figure might be a tad conservative, but I'd rather that than have someone call BS on me -- like THAT would ever happen here (grin)!!!

Thx MS-was just a curious.

Some super pics, and sounds like a great hunt!

You going back there anytime in the future and do you hunt bruins in Colo?

I am way past a bruin nut case and generally look at 40-50 a year here.

Thx

Mark D

They both talk a lot about coming back....but never do.

I think they're scared......

Cool pictures!

Mark,

Been up there twice and both times it was fantastic.

I've not had a problem filling my bear tags in Colorado, though most of the bears here are dinks by comparison. GREAT color though! In my primary spot to hunt, I've yet to see a black colored bear.

Brother Bill and I have a similar Lund, parked at the house.....BW blooded it last spring with his bear.

Those little rigs are handy....

No, it makes him BS sized! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> Now all he needs is a big mouth and a sharp tongue. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Crazy Don,

You could always lay the hammer down and Post a pic of your Bear,to reinforce your "experience".

Don't think we ain't all laughing at that thought...................

As pedestals go,that's better than most.

Guys at work are getting all Bear'd up now,think I'll bring 'em the video of your Hunt(s),to punish them with.

Painful to relive the HOG that got away. I could hear you and Spike muttering and I was doing same,with camera in hand.

Broke me of leaving my rifle in the boat....................

Dumb question...are those spring or fall bears in the pics?

Dead mato's I kind of think........sorry feelin sassy this morn.

Mark D

I think Matt has some video they might like....

Dan-O could handle it,the rest would have nightmares.

Laffin'.....................

Jeeeeesuz, Spike was killing me. I'm surprised the video wasn't jerking all over the place 'cus he had me rolling. I distinctly remember my first look at that bear from the beach and thinking out loud "I [bleep] up!" No more Mr. Nice Guy (grin)!

Spring

BD, the breakup is done -- no more fiance/girlfriend. I think I can smell the ocean already (grin)!!!

Am thinking mebbe only the HOG Brother Bill and I saw last year,was in like realm,as per recently. That speculative,because we were much farther off and couldn't get a hyper-accurate hide assessment,but he were double throw down HUGE.

Spring can be fun,or so I've heard.

Door's open,but you knowed that.......................

Dude...congrats....though some folks might not see it that way....grin.

You guys sure have a way of distracting a guy from work. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Muley, my wife knows that if she ever divorced me it would be in my benefit, because I would just head to AK! LOL

What he said. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Great pics guys. You're killin me. I HAVE to get up there someday.

tzoen

Was only scared the first time...........it's all good after that.

Phone call incoming.....

Give Spike my love....................

No dice...his secretary says he has Santa's Little Helper in his office, and the Do Not Disturb sign is swinging from the door.....

'magine that..........................

Wondered why he was so distracted when I was yakkin' at him this morning (grin)!

Laughin here!!! Whoda thunk you boys know me so well. Off to another meeting at 11. BD, got your message...Xmas 2 U 2.

BD, ask Stick about his morning phone call to me.....hasn't happend since.....do believe the Master was stopped in his tracks. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

You'll get a drunken treat,when I hit Anchortown on the 12th.

All my love....................(grin)

Will be waiting with open arms...........and a hard hat. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Muley old buddy,

I like the mount, looks good.

I�m back and reading fast and furious trying to get caught up. Am almost able to breathe deep again after my swift kick in the nuts. Do I cipher correct in thinking you just took another? Thinking you�ve got video I�ve yet to see and betting there�s a liquor store between my place and yours.

I�ll hit you with a pm.

Hey, wanna buy a camper?
<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

Any bear mount is cool. Congrats on what sounds like an experience not everyone gets to partake in!