Thought I'd post a few pics of some bears that have been taken over the years as I wait for hunting season to begin.

My first Grizzly, a 6 and half footer, pretty small but fun! 2nd trip back to Alaska, Fall 2000.


A bear my brother shot in the Spring of 2001.



The same Spring, Joe Small, my brothers best friend shot this bear. Skull measure 26 1/8, that's way up in the record books, I think top 100 all time.




My second bear, this was probably my favorite hunt all-time. We were snowed in for 5 days. Scott shot a bear the day before this... two bears in two days. Pretty rare.



A friend of my brother shot this bear in the Spring of 2003.



The same Spring, another friend of my brothers. That's a moose that this bear, (6 and 1/2 footer) had killed.



My nephew, "Jode" and his first bear. Fall 2004. He was 12... used a 308 Savage 99 that I had given him. Thatta boy!



Here's 2 more of that big one. The first after they went back with Snowmachines to get it, the sled is 8' long...




Might as well add this one to this montage of Grizzlies. My brother lives, eats, and breathes Grizzlies. This one from this Fall, 2005.



I miss the smell of the Tundra in the Fall... gotta get back up there for another Grizzly hunt.

Great pictures. I have harvested one bear in AK and know what fond memories you must have. Rugs or full size for the mounts?

Ski+3

Both. My brother has a full-size mount of a sow that charged him in 97 or 98. He killed it with one shot, it died at his feet. Our cousins husband watched the whole thing, but didn't have a gun! My uncle has the mount at his house.

The rest are all rugs, full-size can get pretty spendy, and take up lots of room. A big bear presents problems of it's own. Most houses don't have a wall big enough to hold the rug. A 7' is perfect for a rug.

My second bear was just under 7 feet, and barely fits on the wall.

Sorry about the picture quality. I had to scan these pics, and my scanner ain't no good!

Outstanding! Thanks for sharing your memories with us.

Looks like Mr. Smalls great Grizz took one in the right eye, was it just the photo or is there a story? Love those blondies you bagged.

-Ron

No, it's just the pics. Those pictures turned out really crappy, and then I had to scan them. The skull was in perfect shape. That was a huge bear, I think he shot it 3 times with a 300 Weatherby and 180 grain Noslers.

Both of us were using Weatherby Ultra Lights at the time, both chambered in 300 Weatherby. He still has his, I sold mine to my uncle. I could buy it back if I wanted it. There really nice rifles. Light, and accurate. But man do they kick! Joe had his Magna Ported.

JBabcock
Very nice bears.
How far are your shots on these bears?

It really depends. My first was at about 275 yards. The second was at 100 yards. I've was backing up my brother when he shot one at 50 yards. I missed my 3rd bear at about 75 yards. I just had a shot at it's head, and didn't want to take it, then when it turned it started running and I just flat missed.

The tundra is big, wide open spaces. So the shots can be long. Obviously we try to close in as close as we can. But a person should be prepared with the right rifle, and the skills to shoot out to 250 yards.

Thanks for the great pictures!

JBabcock
Thanks for the info.

JBabcock,

One of the biggest regrets in my life was leaving AK back in the 90's. Of course the biggest regret was losing my resident hunting status.

Thanks for the pics.

I sure wish I had a "close" realitive so I could hunt bear and sheep with out having to pay an outfitter the big $$$..