Wildwillalaska
Lil-Rokslider
Still mid-trip trying to help buddy fill his tag, but I hit gold first day of our hunt. Doing a DIY hunt out on the AK Peninsula. Found this old brute on a moose kill, and after giving him some time since the wind was all wrong, returning in the evening, from there everything couldn’t have gone better. As soon as we climbed a glassing point, was able to see he was still there, actually laying on the buried kill. Wind still wasn’t right, so set up to video him for a bit through my spotter and no sooner did I get set up and the wind changed to the exact direction. We needed and never changed. Over the next 35min covered the 1.6 miles to get to 73 yards. He was still laying down, but with the raised pile, he presented a near perfect shot, as I slid my rifle from safety, he lifted his head and looked to my right, giving me the exact shot I wanted. Squeezed round off, loudest whack I can recall hearing from all the animals I’ve taken. Knew he should be done, but being about 40yrds from alder thicket, and having seen a buddy’s bear go from dead to sprinting, I don’t risk it. First round he locked up, immediately dropping his head and presently a frontal brisket shot, so hit him a 2nd time just left of center brisket lengthwise through the vitals. First shot took out about 11” of spine and into vitals. He never moved other than his head falling, feet never touched the ground. Easiest brown/grizzly bear to date for me.
Then came skinning him out. Even with my buddy, he was simply so massive we struggled to roll him off the kill mound for photos, then were able to use the mount to essentially leg press-him over onto his back. From there all we could do was rock back and forth to finish him out. Squared 10’2” without any stretching and before fleshing. Coolest thing is his lower jaw, which right half looks like it was ripped almost off many years ago. So bottom right canine and two other front teeth shoot strait out. Top left canine also broken off years ago too, almost to the base, and rounded/polished off over the years since. Old bear with a pretty big noggin. Being without calipers and not to town yet, used a post, 2x6 and measuring tape to get rough measurements, 28 5/8” B&C and 29 15/16” SCI. Heaviest single pack load I’ve carried for sure. His hide barely fit inside my Barney’s frame pack with their largest pack bag.
Then came skinning him out. Even with my buddy, he was simply so massive we struggled to roll him off the kill mound for photos, then were able to use the mount to essentially leg press-him over onto his back. From there all we could do was rock back and forth to finish him out. Squared 10’2” without any stretching and before fleshing. Coolest thing is his lower jaw, which right half looks like it was ripped almost off many years ago. So bottom right canine and two other front teeth shoot strait out. Top left canine also broken off years ago too, almost to the base, and rounded/polished off over the years since. Old bear with a pretty big noggin. Being without calipers and not to town yet, used a post, 2x6 and measuring tape to get rough measurements, 28 5/8” B&C and 29 15/16” SCI. Heaviest single pack load I’ve carried for sure. His hide barely fit inside my Barney’s frame pack with their largest pack bag.
