Just returned from a simply amazing hunt on the Penninsula with Phil Shoemaker and Grizzly Skins of Alaska. Had one of the best weeks of my life. Booked this hunt a few years ago and it far exceeded my expectations.

Weather was unusually warm. A bit of wind some days, but other than that nothing but clear skies. Made for long sweaty days in chest waiders, but nothing a nice breeze while standing on a mountain top in just your underwear couldn't fix within a couple minutes.

Got my bear on the 2nd day after an awesome stalk. Can't say enough about my guide Wes. I hope to share camp with him again some day. We got to know each other pretty well after having to spend the night out in the bush, rolled up in the bear hide to keep warm. The trek back to camp took us all the next day, and we fought for every damn yard thru the alders and creeks. A hunt that I (and my feet) will definitely never forget. I'll also never forget seeing Rocky run out to meet us with a couple cold beers. Damn near brings a tear to my eye thinking about it

I'll definitely be back to visit the Shoemakers. They make you feel like family and run a great operation.

I'm keeping it short and sweet. This is one of those hunts that words and photos don't really do it justice at all, so I really won't even try. Hope you enjoy the photos. I'll post a video when I'm done editing.

Special thanks to Phil, Rocky, Tia, Taj, Wes, and all the other guides and packers. Hope to see you guys again soon.













My bear ended up being a true 9'7" bear (no stretching or creative measuring) and skull is 27 9/16
Very nice hide, just some rubbing on his inner thighs.

5 stars across the board for the Shoemakers and this hunt overall.

Here is the video

https://vimeo.com/95915335

Man thats awesome !!! Congrats on a great Bear...looks like the weather cooperated too, of course the whole state is experiencing good weather right now. thanks for sharing ...

Love hunting the Alaska Peninsula. Congratulations on an outstanding trophy!

Great big bear congrats!
I returned yesterday from kodiak island with nothing but a bad sunburn.

Great bear!!! Ill be going there with the Shoemakers the fall of 2015 for bear myself. Looking forward to that trip! Yep, wonderful group of people that put it all into the hunts to get your animal.

Beautiful pictures.
Dandy bear, good to see you holding the paw so we could get an idea just how big it really is.
No way to tell with you hiding down low so far behind and with the camera at his nose. Distorts things that way.
Otherwise, great pics and photography.
Thanks for sharing.
George

Congratulations!! Great bear and sounds like a great trip. I was fortunate to get a brownie on Kodiak this year. Hunting the big bears is truly one of the worlds greatest hunts.

quote:

Originally posted by georgeld:
Beautiful pictures.
Dandy bear, good to see you holding the paw so we could get an idea just how big it really is.
No way to tell with you hiding down low so far behind and with the camera at his nose. Distorts things that way.
Otherwise, great pics and photography.
Thanks for sharing.
George

yeah, I have yet to see a bear photo with the guy up in front of the bear. actually I'm only about half way back on his body vs standing all the way behind the bear like most photos.

Nice job!!

quote:

No way to tell with you hiding down low so far behind and with the camera at his nose. Distorts things that way.

That is the traditional way to photograph a hunter and his brownie. I have one of myself around here somewhere. Yes, it distorts things but as the OP said, 90% of dead bear photos are done this way. Can't buck tradition!



.

bobby,

Nice bear! I had no problem figuring out it was a big bear just looking at it's head.

Congrats!

Mark

What an incredible experience! Congrats on a great hunt.

Congrats on a successful hunt!

Very nice Bear!!..Congratulations

thanks guys. I just added the video. It runs about 10 minutes.

GREAT Video!!

That video is awesome. Loved it!!

I am bow hunting Ak for browns in May of 2015. Your story and pictures gets me very excited.
Congratulations and thanks for sharing.

Great video and great bear! Congrats.

Just had a chance to watch your video....Its outstanding!
once again,Congratulations on your Bear.

Awesome bear and hunt!

Awesome bear/pics/video. Excellent results.

Great post Bobby, thanks for sharing the pics and vids and congrats on the buster bruin!

Rocky told us about the incredible slog you two had to get out of the First Creek valley and we're all glad you made it back to the 40 !!!! Gotta love those alders!?

Luie and I moved on the 17th to the camp you were in and he got a nice boar the next day on the other side, up toward the head of Second Creek. Tia helped two hunters get their bears so far but Taj got called to do some flying so Wes hopped over in his camp. They've been seeing a lot of bears so it's just a matter of getting that little bit of luck needed to connect on the right one. This delightful spring weather sure was nice but we too saw a lot of bears cooling off in a stream or water hole and I can't say I blame them!

Congratulations and thanks for coming up and sharing a camp with us!

Mike (Asst. Guide)

Mike! Good to hear that you and Louie connected. Was great meeting you and the rest of the crew. Hope to be back up there soon.

Nice bear and it looked like you had a great hunt. Congratulations!

quote:

Originally posted by bobby7321:
thanks guys. I just added the video. It runs about 10 minutes.

Great bear and I really enjoyed the video. Beats the hell out of about 90 percent of the 'hunting shows'.

You earned that great boar. Congrats!!

Outstanding!

I'd say that counts as the true AK experience.

Nice, great video!
Thanks for sharing

Mike, you guys were due some nice weather after last fall.

What rifle, caliber and load did you use for your bear? Outstanding bear!

.375 RUM, 270 gr TSX, 105 gr H4831sc, 215m primer

right at 3000 fps with this load.

Fantastic bear! One of the finest trophies to be had on the planet, not to mention the experience of a classic spot and stalk hunt. Very well done.

I cannot speak highly enough about the Shoemakers.. And Mike (PWS here on forum..) as well.. I had a fantastic hunt fall 2013 and it was a true pleasure sharing camp with them.. I`ll be back...

Really enjoyed it- congrats. NO doubt Phil and his crew are one of the best, if not the best outfit, in AK for bear and moose!

Doug
Make sure you take the good gun this time.
I seem to remember a video of a gun firing on the closing of the action.
Well you have plenty of time
Maybe you will try a Blaser!!!!
Oh well great bear also
Larry

Bobby, Taj picked up mail yesterday and your photos arrived. Nate, Wes, Lauro and Taj are still here working on the foundations for a couple more quonset huts.and everyone in camp really enjoyed the DVD.

Johnnie, Hunter and I finally connected on a beautifully furred 9 foot boar the last day. It was not as large as the monster Hunter and Tia killed but was the bear he had been looking for for a rug mount.

Look forward to seeing you up here again soon.
We still have that cancellation opening for moose this coming Sept if you can make it.

quote:

DougMake sure you take the good gun this time.I seem to remember a video of a gun firing on the closing of the action.Well you have plenty of time Maybe you will try a Blaser!!!!Oh well great bear also. Larry

I took the factory set trigger out of it so there should be no issues with it at all now. I think it was just some dirt under the sear edge. Phil thought we had a machine gun down there. I figured the issue out after a couple and finished the job with no additional issues.
D

Good deal
Have another great hunt
Larry

Thanks for sharing...
Great Hunt
Great Pics
Gotta get there some day...

quote:

Originally posted by JustOneMoreShot:
Great video and great bear! Congrats.

+1