OK, I knew Kodiaks could get big, but I about crapped my pants when I saw this pic!

Egad! That looks like something out of Jurassic Park! It looks like he could swallow a man whole without chewing!

One of these days, I'm going to Alaska! Maybe I will need something bigger than a 300 RUM....

It is a BIG bear!

It looks like the guy used a side by side shotgun to take that bear, what does everyone else think?

I have noticed that the way a photo is taken can make the animal more impressive. It always seems like the hunters are off in the background when you see pictures of these really big aniamls.

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www.rifleshooter.com

[This message has been edited by Bill (edited 12-15-2001).]

Bill,
about that photo orientation (guys further back) yes, it does seem that way, however it doesn't take away from the sheer size that this guy must've been.

about the gun, I'm thinking it was just a double rifle...wonder what it was chambered for...for that guy, I would want no less than the .577 T Rex!!!!!

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God Bless and Shoot Straight

Do double rifles have exposed hammers?

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www.rifleshooter.com

I have some pics of a huge bear taken in Alaska if anyone would care to post them. I still can't figure out how to get a picture up here. I'll e-mail them to any one who can do it.

nothing a 600 NE wouldn't cure fast and unpleasantly (for all parties involved).

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When in doubt, do a nuclear strike.

Jon A,

Well, let me give you some facts about that bear. The fellow who killed that bear is from Anchorage, Alaska and his name is Will Gay - He's the one in the center. This bear was killed in the spring of 1997. The skull measured 30-14/16 in the green. A half inch larger then the record at that time in 1997. The bear's hide squared out in excess of 10 feet. The bruin's age was about 13 years old and weighed at more than 1,200 pounds!

A real good friend and former teacher (I was raised in Kodiak) of mine named Jack King of Kodiak, along with some other fellows helped guide Mr. Gay to this bear.

As far as what type of rifle that was used to kill the bear, I'll have to spend a dime and call over to Kodiak to get the answer to that one.

Now look at my bear I took this fall (near Yakutat, Alaska), it looks like a cub compared to that monster. My bear is still a nice trophy for me, I took him with 30-06. A boar with a 20 inch skull, the hide squared out to 7 1/2 feet and he was about six years old. His hide is beautiful, nice silver/blond back with contrasting black front legs.

Here are my pictures: www.hunting-pictures.com/members/CK/index.html

[This message has been edited by CK (edited 12-17-2001).]

CK: Nice looking cabin you have, and a great looking bear, too. All the game bags hanging at the porch reminds me of my garage during moose season. A also noticed your all-weather rifle (which is a great idea for our type of hunting in Alaska). I use a Ruger stainless .338 Magnum.

Lots of people have use their trusty .30-06 to kill large bears up here. Those who are very proficient with their rifle can do incredible things.

The story about the large bear recently killed by two military members will appear in the Anchorage newspaper this weekend (Sunday). I believe this bear was killed with a .338 Magnum, and a .300 Magnum.

Funny how things work sometimes; I saw a film from Canada, where a lady dropped a polar bear by her front door with one shot from her shotgun.

[This message has been edited by Ray, Alaska (edited 12-15-2001).]

Ray, Alaska

I saw the pictures of the email running around of that LARGE BEAR. Were these guys in fact bear hunting, and did they have a tag? Would sure be a shame to have to give a trophy of that size back to the state because of self defence. I read these guys were some 30 feet from the bear when he charge them and they open fire on the bear.

I'll be sure to get a copy of the Sunday Rag.

[This message has been edited by CK (edited 12-15-2001).]

These pictures are from our friend Carnivore.

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saeed@ emirates.net.ae

www.accuratereloading.com

looks like a muzzle loader to me

Thanks for the info CK, I guess I'm not nuts--that really was a BFB (Big F...ing Bear)! Simply incredible.

Carnivore, that one of your's ain't to shabby either. Congrats! That thing's paw is the size of your chest! (And I'm used to seeing black bear tracks only slightly bigger than those of a large dog....) Wow. Did you ever measure how long those claws were?

Jon A, CK, and Carnivore, and thanks to all,

HO HO HO! GEEZIS! HO HO HO! Look at the size of that head next to the pack frame it is propped upon! That IS THE NEW WORLD RECORD.

And golly gee that bear of Carnivore's is a monster too! I wonder what its skull measured and hide squared? They say the width of a front paw track in inches is equal to the square of the hide in feet.

The November 2001 edition of _Big Game Adventures_ has a great story by Will Gay himself about the hunt, with more pictures.

The rifle is shown in a picture with a caption:

"100 Year old weapon of choice: Army Navy .450 #2 Sidelock, Jones underlever"

It obviously has exposed hammers.

Nice photos of CK's place. That moose meat hanging makes my Alaska Separation Syndrome start to act up again.

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So many bovids! So little time and money!
RAB

[This message has been edited by DaggaRon (edited 12-15-2001).]

They look big in the pictures. They even look bigger when you are standing next to one. When you consider they weigh 6 to 8 times as much as the avg. person. No wonder when they attack they can throw you around. like a man can throw around a small child.

Well I have yet to kill my first bear, but you guys got me thinking about it again. I sure want a bear for the reloading room wall! I don't have a wall big enough for Carnivors bear
CK Nice bear and great cabin, in Alaska no less. Life is good! I'm envying you my friend.
X-Ring

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Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition!

[This message has been edited by X-Ring (edited 12-15-2001).]

Hey guys, sorry to say that is not my bear! I recieved that e-mail from a friend in the military who wrote that it was taken by some airman in Alaska a short time ago. This may be the bear that CK mentioned. I recall something about a short charge and the brute ending up at his feet. I just wanted everyone else to be able to see it. Not much info came with the photo. I think it squared over 12 feet though. I'll try to contact him and get an update. It is absolutely friggin huge though. I dream of a bear that big. C

[This message has been edited by Carnivore (edited 12-15-2001).]

Here's what I've read so far on the bear pictures that Saeed posted;

The bear was taken on Hinchinbrook Island, which is right at the entrance of Prince William Sound (in the same region where the famed Exxon Valdez made a mess of things, remember 1989?).
From the looks of things Hinchinbrook does not get hunted that much and is not noted for its LARGE BEARS. Cordova is the nearest town, and it's pretty small to boot. Sunday's Anchorage Daily News is suppose to have a story on it according to what Ray, Alaska posted. We'll have to wait till tomorrow.

Thanks guys for the thumbs up on my bear (the moose meat is pretty tasty also). He was exactly what I was looking for. A nice looker, plus he wasn't that big, so I should be able to get him on my wall with ease.

Chris

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit". - Aristotle

[This message has been edited by CK (edited 12-15-2001).]

The first Bear pictured,netted 30-4/16". He is in the 23rd B&C Awards Book and took 1st Place honors,for Brown Bear submitted in that Awards Period('95-'97).

According to the B&C All Time awards book,in it's 11th Edition('99),this Bear Ranked Number 8 in the World.Truly an amazingly Huge animal,but far from being THE Record.

The 2nd bear in the photos,is subject of some debate. He's nowhere as big,as some Internet Myths tend to dictate. He's diminutive,in comparison to the Will Gay Bear. Not even CLOSE.

That photo of the Will Gay Bear,is one of the BEST field photos,I've ever had the pleasure of viewing. Thank you very much,for sharing such a prize. What an absolutely tremendous animal!

The Hitchenbrook Bear,I'd guess to square an honest 9'-8" or so and net right at 28". A superb animal,no doubt. But he's a cub,as compared to the first.

SE isn't blessed with the genetics of Kodiak or The Peninsula. We simply can't grow them as large. You'll see some very big bodies,but never any of those incredibly huge skulls.

Photos do funny things,doubly so regarding Bears. Your mileage may vary..............

The story on that large (bloody) bear killed by a couple of airmen is posted by the fellow that killed it. There have been alot of different stories floating around, thought you would like it from the horses mouth.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?id=71356

As I said,he looks to net about 28" even. 9'-8" squared,is a pretty good guess,from a photo. I've serious reservations,regarding his reputed weight,but we'll never know.

I will be VERY curious to see what he NETS. Without a doubt,he's a very nice Bear. But not even on the same page as the Will Gay Bear. That regarding both skull size and overall massiveness.

I'm not running him down,just trying to keep things real.

I should post the photo of the 11.5' Unimak MONSTER,from last Spring. Biggest body I've ever seen. Biologists surmised him to be 1600lbs and he TOTALLY dwarfs the Bear in question.

Anybody seen that photo? He's the one on the Whale carcass?

STUPENDOUS and UNBELIEVEABLY MONSTROUS. Much more realistic camera angle,to boot. I believe R&R has him on their brochures now..............

Big Stick,
Thanks for pointing out that the Will Gay bear was Number one for only the awards period '95-'97. It measured 30-4/16".

The all-time record "Alaska Brown Bear" was 30-12/16", by Roy Lindsley, 1952. It came from Kodiak, of course.

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So many bovids! So little time and money!
RAB

Is PhotoPoint down? I've several tremendous Brownie photos,that I intended to Post,but I can't get on to the PhotoPoint Site.

I was wondering if it is my server,or is their Site in fact down?

One of the photos,is of the Bob Reeve Bear. His is reputed to be amongst the biggest in body size and stated to be an HONEST 12' specimen.

The photo is a Classic and a piece of History to boot. It has a hand written message on it,from Bob to Bill Pinell. (if you gotta ask,it will do no good for me to answer it!)

The message states: "To Bill Pinell,with best wishes. Bob Reeve Anchorage Als" (his spelling,not mine). I think the print is a tremendous artifact,from one Alaskan Legend,to another.................

Big Stick...I would like those photos you mentioned. Can you email them to me? Much appreciated.

bpettet@hotmail.com

Yukon,

You've got Mail. I hope you enjoy them..........

Big Stick,
Ann (Aspen Hill Farm) says that this site works well, freebie:

http://www.webshots.com/homepage.html

Send them to me and I will try posting them if someone else doesn't.

I have chased King Kong of Kodiak (13 footer?) but was unsuccessful the only time I had a Kodiak drawing permit, as a resident, self guided.

I also had an 8 footer sniffing my tent one moonless night on Kodiak when I had no permit, only resident deer tags.

I got mobbed out of Bruin Bay when I had the registration permit there. Everybody and his brother did too!

I have yet to get a brown bear, but would like to try again someday.

The pioneer aviator and the legendary bear guides of Alaska. Yes, that story has class.

I have a buddy in Alaska who is wanting to hunt bear at (CENSORED) Island. Though the other fellows say their bear didn't come from Hinchinbrook Island, there might be a few on that little ol' island. A good boat and skipper who knows those waters would be a real plus.

I do know a great place in Prince William Sound for big black bears. That is (CENSORED) Bay, near (CENSORED).

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So many bovids! So little time and money!
RAB

The story for that big bear is in todays newspaper. www.adn.com
Scroll down to the outdoors section and look at the story about a legend brewin.

Joel,

Thanks for the link. I doubt he's going to Net 28" to even make The Book. It will be very close. He's one I would send to JJ to be cleaned that way,in lieu of boiling as most do.

DaggaRon,

Glad to hear some will be able to appreciate the magnitude of the photo. I'll send it to you. It is without peer,regarding quality of animal and History..............

DaggaRon,

You've got SERIOUS Bear Mail(grin). Post what you deem as worthy............

Big Stick,
I will check it out and try webshots. Thanks.

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So many bovids! So little time and money!
RAB

Dagga,

The Unimak MONSTER photos,exceeded your Hotmail account's,file size limit. I'm still unable to get on PhotoPoint. If someone else wishes to Post those photos,I'll forward them............

Photo attempt #1...........

GOOD! Dummy here,figured out how to post photos.

This is what a truly big bodied Brown Bear looks like. He was reputed to weigh 1600lbs,it would be impossible for me to dispute that.

Simply TREMENDOUS.............

[This message has been edited by Big Stick (edited 12-17-2001).]

That is one big bear.

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www.rifleshooter.com

Big Stick,
I got the photos posted into an album on webshots.com, but I see you have beaten me to it. Have at it. You are doing fine. Webshots is pretty slick, eh?

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So many bovids! So little time and money!
RAB

Dagga,

I very much struggled with the other Post. This Forum wouldn't allow me two different pictures,on the same thread.

Every time I corrected one,it changed the other,to the same picture. Got it figured now.

You post the paw picture,the computer has frazzled my nerves for an evening!..............

Looks like Will Gay's bear skull shrunk a little more than was thought from what was posted in the Kodiak Daily Mirror on May 1st, 1997, which was the green measurement of 30-14/16. Too bad you can't count a offical measurement in the green. That's a monster bear either way you look at it!

The Unimak Island bear sure is a impressive beast, and sure must have stunk most impressive also, while skining the bear next to a dead whale. But like the old saying goes; Once you get past the smell, you got her licked!

[This message has been edited by CK (edited 12-17-2001).]

CK,

He's NUMBER EIGHT in the World!! He's bigger than a MONSTER. He's tremendous.

This photo,is much better than the one in the 23rd Big Game Awards Book(my opinion).

They all shrink and that is the kicker........

BIG bears indeed. I wonder if that whale was still alive when the bear found him and how that went over. Here's one that squared 9'3" with head and feet still unfleshed. Brian Anderson and my brother shot it up the Knik River valley, my brother Derrick in the pictire. Not sure of the skull size, I'll have to call him. Well Photopoint is down so I'll post the pic later.

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Brent

Big Stick,

You'll have to excuse me, yes that was #8 Kodiak brown bear in the WORLD, plus one of my good friends (Jack King, who has killed more then his fare share of Kodiak's) was on that hunt, but you see I grew up amongst these bears and seen some world class trophy's displayed right in my home town of Kodiak. I've also seen some trophy polar bear displays that are larger then the largest Kodiak bear. Now that was TREMENDOUS - I'm not knocking anything, just giving a different on view on tremendous and monster.

[This message has been edited by CK (edited 12-18-2001).]

CK,

Lived on Kodiak and Afognak,so I know the feeling(grin).

Should add,the #8 in the World ANYTHING,gets my undivided attention...........

[This message has been edited by Big Stick (edited 12-18-2001).]

Big Stick,

Afognak, now thats a place were some good size bears are, plus elk. What year did you live on Afognak and Kodiak? - You might know some friends of mine. I was in the class 80' at KHS