Excellent way to start your hunting career. That's a first buck anyone can be proud of. I'm sure next year a hunting partner (seasoned or new) wont be hard to find.
Great job Sam. Did you bug the skull? It looks great in the pic.
Go kill more!
BTW- good to see your daughter kill that bear and show you Idaho boys how to get the job done.
My only comments would be to not carry in so much water, she's a real heavy bitch. I usually carry and replenish a 20 or 32 oz bottle at a time then fill up my bladder at the final ascent. You could probably ditch a fuel canister as well.
Slik 634 and manfrotto 700rc2 is a great affordable set up. I think you will be a bit over $300 though. I know it seems spendy but those few extra bucks are worth it.
I think you should crawl into one before you make any purchases. They are pretty tight. I looked at one but couldn't zip it up (and though I'm tall, I am by no means thick). Other than sizing, I think the components are great....the helium is a good bag too. If you like 900 fill and pertex, then...
Thanks guys, it was a great bear for my buddy (his first). I saw 3 total today, including a blonde sow and a chocolate boar around 250lbs (solid but not what I was looking for). I also had to lay down a little "cover fire" and score an assist and that always is fun to relieve that chronic case...
Shrek- I understand the points of your argument, but I feel the "math" behind any ballistic conversations is completely out weighed by 1 equation.......dead=dead. As a matter of fact, just this morning a 300 lb+ bear fell to the fate of a well placed 95 grain bullet beyond 300 yards after...
With your situation I would without a doubt choose a .243. I believe they are the most underrated killers in the woods. I've seen more trophy elk, deer, and bears fall to that caliber than most will ever shoot. They are easy to find ammo for (usually, I can't speak for your circumstance), easy...
Those are some pretty good looking animals.......and the bears aren't that bad either.
All in all, it was a super fun trip with Aron. I think we saw 13 bears total. 1 stud (that I'll probably go back and kill soon) and 2 really good ones (1 Aron did kill). I think we can put a 2014 trip on...