Well I may still write up a more detailed post in the hunt adventure page with pics, but for now this will have to suffice.
I knew what I was getting myself into going into this hunt. We hunted it last year and would hike in and out each day (back to Sego Trailhead) and it beat the crap out of us. This year I drew and planned to set up a base camp and move if needed. This worked well until the end of the hunt (explanation later).
We thought this years snow would be significantly less than last year and decided to go in the first week of may. I posted above, but that was a mistake. Grass had just started and essentially there wasnt much to eat for the bears. We hunted an area we saw 4 or 5 bears the year prior , but saw absolutely nothing, very few elk and almost no deer. We were definitely too early so after 42 miles we called it and headed home.
The following week was Mothers day and we decided it would be good to let the grass grow and head in mid May. We Map scouted an area we had never been too but felt had better glassing spots than where we had previously focused. I had 4 guys helping me out and we wanted to put the hours in behind the glass (also somewhat of a mistake, explanation also later).
We went in on a Thursday, hiked 11 miles to camp (spring) and set up base camp and were out glassing by 4PM. # of us went one way and two the other way. By the time I got to the spot I was headed I had a call on my in-reach that they were already on a bear. I was 2 miles from them and they were more then 2 miles from the bear. It was unlikely He would still be there, but we gave it a shot and headed that way. By the time we had reached them they had already spotted a 2nd bear! The first bear was still visible and appeared to be eating something. Things were looking promising. We made a game plan to get to the bear and took off leaving 3 back to spot. It took nearly an hour to make it 2 miles in that nasty country, but we finally peaked out on the ridge before the bear and he was still there, definitely eating on something and the closest I could get was 575. I look back now and realized how big of a mistake I made, and while I didn't rush the shot I should have found a better set up other than what I did. I had 4 shots at a bear, not moving, and missed. I was stunned. I feel comfortable with my rifle but it is still fairly new to me. I watched as he ran after shot 4 and knew I had missed a rare and perfect opportunity. The bear had killed a freshly dropped calf elk and was eating on it. What an opportunity missed!!!
We spent the next 2 days glassing and turned up 3 sows with cubs (1 was the biggest Sow I have ever seen) but to no avail to find a Boar. I tucked my tail and headed home after 51 miles on the boots. My body was wrecked. 55lbs on my back in that country was taking its toll. I use to be in shape for this stuff, I was a D1 college wrestler, completed many Ironman's not too many years ago, but since kids became my life, my body has changed to say the least.
I decided to give it one more week and go in for the last 4 days of the hunt and see what I could turn up. I only had 2 guys coming with me the last trip and we were going to try and make the most of it.
Then I saw the weather forecast. Green River was 105/103/103/101 the 4 days we were to be hunting. Not good. We headed in and got to base camp (same as last place) and had the same plan. Elk everywhere, but for 2 days we saw no bears, and very little sign. Discouraging. On Saturday Morning we packed up camp and decided to move to a different drainage. As we approached the same spot we glassed the bear I missed from, we sat down to glass at about 830 in the AM. Sure enough, a bear was on the same hillside as the one I shot at. In fact I can almost guarantee it was the same bear. I ran the 3 miles with 55lbs on my back, dropped my pack before the last ridge and peaked over. I got confirmation that he had left the canyon 15 minutes prior. Even with that, I felt elated and encouraged!
Day hunting was out of the question as we had done that 2 days prior with no results in near 90 degree weather. We recovered that day and went back to the canyon to see if he would return. I glassed for 5 hours with nothing but deer. As I watched deer on a far ridge out of boredom, I saw 5 deer all immediately look in the same direction and stay frozen. Minutes passed and they all ran in different directions at once. With my limited knowledge of bears I didn't know what was happening. No more than 2 minutes passed and out walks a Giant bear at 700 yards. I anticipated him to walk across the face of the ridge opposing me. As I set up, he did the exact opposite and walked over the top without giving me the opportunity I needed. Another sleepless night.
Sunday (last day) we woke up and headed to the same canyon (we had seen 3 bears in this canyon in 3 days of glassing). We glassed until late morning and decided to call it. I had to be home for family obligations that night. We made the trek out. As we hit about 5 miles from the trailhead, we started seeing fresh sign in the dust. We must have seen tracks from 5-10 different bears. We had been in the wrong area for sure, but that was the gamble we took.
I don't like to eat tag soup. But this was one hunt I put my all into. I wish I had been in better shape going in. I wish I knew bears better than I did. I wish I had made that shot that I was comfortable with. Things didn't pan out and that was ok. I had a blast hunting out of a backpack in the wilderness with friends and family. Now I want the tag again, just for the challenge and I would do it the same way the next time, just with more knowledge. The roadless is no joke, and especially on foot. Bears in the roadless, on foot is a whole other story. What an adventure!!!
