Just returned from my spring bear hunt. I live on Vancouver Island and it's only about a 2 hour drive from home to my bear hunting area on the west coast side of the Island.
On the drive in (Friday Afternoon) saw 3 bears, nothing big but still good to see. I got camp setup, which is high on an old spur, about 200m from my glassing spot. Can see several prime south west facing slopes from here and right away spotted a bear. Within half out I was looking a 4 bears feeding in the same area withing about 300 yards of each other. The highest bear was definitly a big one. I was content to sit and watch as it was the first of 5 available days.
First morning was a beauty. No need to rush when hunting bears here. I had a a couple cups of coffee and some breakfast.
Headed out to the glassing spot. Surprisingly, saw only one small bear. After a couple hours headed down to a lower spot thinking maybe with the hot weather I'd see one in down lower.
Didn't take long. Snapped a pic. as I watched he stood and gave me a great broadside. I shoot a 7mm-08 and usually shoot 140gr barnes but switched it up this year to 139gr Hornady Interlocks. Bears don't go far when double lunged with a ttsx but have never had one drop. Well, luckily for me, this was the first one to do just that.
He was a decent bear (we are allowed 2) so I thought I'd take him. Not much of a pic post shot. Was a nasty spot and was worried he would roll off into the "jungle" so snapped a quick pic and got to work as the forecast had it for 28 deg C.
Got back to camp mid afternoon, cleaned up and spent the rest of daylight at the glassing spot. Saw 11 bears that evening, but all were smaller.
The next morning, hit a different glassing spot overlooking the pacific ocean. Saw a few more bears but none were large. Headed back to another glassing spot across the valley from camp (where I could see the same hillside as night 1) but from different angle and right off saw a big bear, near the spot I saw the high one on night one (most likely the same bear). He was working his way across a big washout that I had crossed in previous years. I headed over and saw him from just over 400 yards so I started to pick my way across the washout. A couple times sent large rocks cascading down, figure I'd let everything withing 500m know I'm there. Anyhow, kept at it and finally made it across. Glassed what I could see but nothing. I slowly make my way further and see a log pile about 100m ahead on a outside corner. I head to that and I can see another 100 m across and no bear. At this point I'm sure I spooked him and step out from behind the log. $%^& There he (what I later paced at 17 steps) facing me in a dip, I was right ontop of him and had no idea. Up with the rifle, bang. I am not an advocate of head shots, but it seemed fitting at the time(not like I really thought about it).
Anyhow, heart was racing to say the least. Tood me 3 trips to pack him out across that wash which was bruital on one the knees.
Got him back to camp and on ice. Enjoyed the rest of the evening over a fire and ice cold beer.