Cool color phase on the bear. I think the video demonstrates how spot and stalk bear can be a lot of the time. Usually boring, then it gets exciting really quick.
The pintail season was nearly closed for the upcoming waterfowl season across the US. 30,000 birds made the difference:
https://ducks.org/conservation/waterfowl-research-science/pintails-on-the-brink
Tax CPA here. Dad and I have a small practice together. We work our asses off February - April, late August - mid September, and first half of October. We take time off as much as we really need outside of those dates.
Area 22, Area 11, 231, etc. I have some friends who kill big desert bucks closer to Vegas.
I would personally pick up a California bear tag. Long season and about as far as a drive as Ely.