First bear, First Elk.

[Buddyw]

These were two of my proud memories, First times.. Might even did up My first buck, but it would be a litlle embarassing.. (Besides that was before Digital camera's were around!!

Cut me some slack, I was pretty tired in both pictures..

Bear was taken months before I got my first hound some 5 or 6 years ago taken While Deer hunting. He made the Washington books,wasn't close to Boone and Crooket... I think it was 19 even.. maybe 19 1/2.. I don't remember.. All I know is it was a heavy son of a bitch took two of us to roll him over.. We Screwed up and didn't get the hide off quick enough as you can see we packed him out "whole", Took us 7 hours to get him out "whole" with quads and truck winches.. next time I'll just pack board it out. Lost almost 200 lbs of Bear meat to spoilage.. Hard Lesson learned.
Seams like everyone shoots a 350lb bear.. 375lbs live weight would be my best(honest) after weighing him field dressed. guess give or take a couple 10 pounds.




Ahh! Yes.. I remember this was the time when everything was still fun......woo-hoo.. You just shot a big bear!!! Down in the bottom of the hole take a picture next to this Fern right at the kill spot!!.. high Five! woo-hoo....





Dad: "Hold you hand up above yur head so they can see how big it is.."
Me(5 years later): why the F(&% is my hand above my head. That's stupid.. BTW.. I'm the 6 foot tall white dork in this picture...





My old trusty 30-06.. man I miss that thing! I should take it out on a date sometime soon

My First Elk, Nice little Rag Horn shot opening morning two years ago (should mention this is my only elk..Elusive bastards!! I hunt the wet side of washington..







Extreme credit must be given to my brother-in-law.. we've done some serious bitching together down in some serious sh!t_hole canyons.. He's just smarter than I am and hasn't gotten into the dogs!!

[Spanky]

[Dry-Run]

Buddy, great pics, couldn't help but smile reading how
much fun it use to be. Brings back some memories. The
rag horn is nice I've only shot cows myself. Both times I
asked myself ARE YOU STILL HAVING FUN!!!!! oh groan.

Anyhow thanks for sharing.

Dry-Run

[Buddyw]

Thanks guys.. I wouldn't call it success... funny thing about that bull I prided myself for never getting Buck Fever.... shot many deer, and that bear never had any problems. but after 14 years of hunting elk, I almost lost that bull becuase I pulled that trigger so hard and it wouldn't fire.. I forgot the saftey!! That's when I got my first dose of what Buck fever feels like!!

Luckly I found a shooting lane a foot or two wide and I was able to re-gain my composure and get him down.

Sounded like my buddies Elk camp was putting a couple in the freezer, he shot a cow yesterday.