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Full film will release on December 12th right here on our website!
Tag Archive for: hunt
Its not very often that my black bear tag makes it past the spring season. This year was different. I had limited days to spring bear hunt with my bow after preparing to move to Bozeman and had failed to get any decent opportunities to arrow a bruin. It was somewhat exciting to have a black bear tag for the fall season, and considering the locations I would be hunting elk and deer, the likelihood of seeing black bears was high. I was excited to see what opportunities would present themselves.
Chasing elk through prime bear country.
Fast forward to September. I had just finished a grueling 9 day out of state hunt. I failed to fill my tag and was now back in Montana to hopefully help call an elk in for Zack. After grinding through a couple days of work, we had just enough time to pack up the truck and head out for a 2.5 day backpack elk hunt. I must say it is nice feeling being able to enter the elk woods with a bear, wolf, and elk tag in your pocket.
The hunt started with Zack taking the lead as we crossed creeks and finally entered a timbered stretch littered with elk sign. Zack ripped a few bugles along the way, hoping to locate a bull. With no responses, we slowly followed a game trail, still stalking the timber hoping to catch a glimpse of a bull. Magpies rang out their typical cry and Zack crept slowly in their direction. Suddenly Zack froze and waved me to creep up to his position. 130yds away was a stout black bear ripping at some sort of animal carcass.
Just what a bear is looking for to fatten up.
With no bear tag left for Zack I was the only option for a stalk. I picked my stalk line, made sure the wind was good and proceeded to ninja to 43yards. I got ready for a shot and waited for the black bear to turn broadside. The bear was moving around the carcass eating on various pieces and occasionally moving away and then wandering back. Finally he remained in a single position on the carcass. I drew, settled and released. The bear ran 15 yards, looked around and then proceeded to come back and feed. I must have misjudged my yardage or my broadhead dove as I missed low. I crept up to 37yards from the unaware bear. I drew, really took my time to pick a small spot and released. This time I saw my arrow hit its mark as the bear whirled and took off on a death march down the mountain and out of sight.
Good blood on an intact arrow.
Zack and I looked for my arrow and found it completely intact and covered in blood. I felt good about the shot and with light fading fast I followed the direction the bear had sprinted. The blood trail was minimal, so I made the decision to just go look for the bear. Zack and I spread out and started searching. After about two hundred yards later I heard Zack holler.
Cautiously approaching.
I crept his way arrow nocked, only to see the motionless mound of fur that lay ahead. He was done, a quick clean kill. The beautiful dark brown boar was a sight to behold as he lay in a patch of timber littered with elk rubs. The trees in the area were perfectly displaced and made for some unique photos.
Good sized paws, but extremely stinky from the elk carcass.
This was my first time having a fall black bear tag and also my first bear with a bow. A memory that will live with me forever and an adrenaline filled stalk that I won’t soon forget.
I guess I just figured I’d never get lucky drawing a Big 3 tag without a lifetime of points. When I logged into MyFWP to check my status I stared blankly at the screen seeing a 2016 Goat License under the Successful category. Travis was home and I quickly told him that I drew a goat tag. He didn’t believe me, but one quick look at my computer brought him to life. It didn’t seem real and for the next few days it still hadn’t set home that I’d be chasing mountain goats in some of the most rugged country around. This year I would be able to say I was going mountain goat hunting!
Montana’s high country. Beautiful yet rugged!
Once I started looking over Google Earth and planning my first scouting trip it started to set in. I quickly realized I needed to get in better shape, learn more about mountain goats, and start making some phone calls. Over the next few weeks I spent many hours dissecting my unit online and with maps. A trip to the Forest Service office gave me the right maps that outlined open roads in the area and before I knew it I was packed up and headed for the mountains.
Rocking and rolling our way up to the trailhead.
As soon as we climbed up out of the valley I realized this would be an epic hunt. Huge basins, rocky ridges, huge cliffs and wild, vast country spread all around. My legs burned as we climbed to 10,000′ crossing over our first big pass. It was setting in and soon we had located the first group of goats. A set of nannies with kids and one billy scrambled through a steep face with huge boulders and loose rock and dirt. I was quickly reminded they feel at home in some of the gnarliest country around.
Climb, climb and then climb some more.
At this point I’ve spent four days scouting my unit. Not a lot by any means but enough to start learning the lay of the country and how to navigate to each zone that holds goats. With only a handful of days in this unit I’ve definitely learned a few things.
Google Earth Is A Liar!
I knew this but always seem to forget this when I go somewhere new. That ridgeline you though you could hike across, Nope! That little knob will be a ten minute hike, try 45 minutes. If you’ve used Google Earth you know the drill. Everything looks smaller and easier than it actually is.
Frosted scree makes for an interesting morning hike to the glassing knob.
Grizzlies Abound
Only a few hours into our first day on the mountain and we turned up six grizzlies in the same basin. A sow and three cubs roamed the head end of a grassy meadow and about a 1000 yards away two juvenile bears fed on grass and wild flowers on a long, flat bench. Living in Missoula the last 6-7 years meant we only really dealt with black bears. Grizzlies are on a different level and made things interesting when we decided where to camp just across the ridge. It’s time we de-list these bears and start managing them like we should be.
Juvenile grizzly bears roaming the vast backcountry.
Glassing Is King
Again we know this but up here it’s very, very apparent. Perched in the right spot in the country affords you the opportunity to glass a MASSIVE amount of country. A good pair of binoculars, a spotting scope and a good tripod are must haves. Finding a spot with little or no wind is key and being able to mount your binos to your tripod makes picking up small details and movements much easier.
Searching and more searching on a brisk July morning.
A few miles out a goat appears between passing clouds.
Mtn. Goat Scouting Isn’t Easy
When I first drew the tag I figured it would be real easy to locate most of the goats in my unit. Get up high and glass the rocky open country and look for white. We’ll it turns out they are elusive animals most of the time. Sure sometimes they stick out like a sore thumb but during the summer when it’s hot they often bed in some shaded nook and finding them can be impossible. They like to dip in and out of timber and if you’re not vigilant on the glass you might miss them when they hit the open areas. I also found that they seem to move a lot. Multiple groups have moved thousands of yards in a short period of time and a few groups moved to different basins entirely without being bumped. Put a dirty goat on a hillside of huge tan and grey boulders and they can blend in with the best of them.
This billy was in a low elevation zone I wouldn’t expect to see a goat. Staying alert and having two sets of eyes paid off here.
Getting some photo & video for later review.
Moving In This Country Takes TIME!
With camp on your back travel is slow but add in big, rocky country and it can take some time to move from area-to-area. With so much country to glass you often find yourself stopping to take a peak into new folds of the mountain and those first trips are a bit rough after a long offseason. Back here you can’t travel in a straight line. Sometimes working into a specific basin means you have to loop around multiple miles just to find a route that isn’t cliffed out. When you do find a route, the vertical is enough to wear you down quick. 2,500’+ climbs are the norm when switching basins without a ridge connecting them. As it should be, life just happens slower back here.
Loaded up and putting the test to a new pack, the Kifaru Markhor. So far so good!
Navigating a no-fall zone. Makes for slow going.
So far I’ve seen about 75% of my unit and found a couple billies that I’d be stoked to put my tag on come September. Right now the plan is to make one more trip back into my unit and then pack the bow in for the opener. It’s going to come quick and I can’t wait to be out there with the chance to get close and try to seal the deal!
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