RECAP - Idaho Archery Black Bear

[outlook8]

I spent last week in Riggins Idaho hunting black bear with Hells Canyon Outfitters. With newborn twins, and a crazy busy contracting business to run, getting away is tough these days.

I'll go day by day as best I can remember, adding pics as well...

DAY 1 – 4/30

To cut down on the number of checked bags, I removed the majority of the foam from my bow case and packed my hunting clothes around it. Then I put the rest of my clothes, hiking boots, whiskey, etc. in a duffel bag inside a 70qt cooler so I could use it to bring the hide/head home.

I had an uneventful flight from IAH to BOI. All my gear made it fine, and I arrived to pouring down rain. Got my rental car and was checked into the hotel by 830PM. Grabbed dinner and some drinks at the only logical place nearby...Applebee’s.

[outlook8]

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[Chew]

This is not going well so far. Applebee's SUCKS.

Hope it gets better for you!

[outlook8]

DAY 2 – 5/1

Brad, the outfitter, said that if I made it to Riggins by early afternoon, they would go ahead and put me in a stand and start the hunt early. I woke up early as usual, repacked my gear, and made the three hour drive north.

I was a couple hours early, so I did the only logical thing...hit the local watering hole. I had a few beers, watched some Nascar, and talked with a couple locals. In a town of only 400, it wasn't hard for them to figure out I wasn't from around there.

About 2 o’clock, I headed to the lodge; a nice house on the river where I would be staying. I met my guide, Brook, a 21 year old ******, and unpacked. I was surprised to find out that I was the only hunter in camp for the opening week. The house was great; on the Little Salmon River, deck complete with hottub. I also met Bobbi, the awesome cook for the week. She would make breakfast, pack to go lunches, and cook dinner when we got back each evening around 10-11PM.

Brook and I ran to town, grabbed my tag, changed into hunting gear, hopped in the ranger and headed UP the mountain. I would be sitting in a tree stand on Hailey Creek for the evening. After a quick lesson in bear identification, I got a radio and Brook said to holler if I shot something, got too cold, or it got too dark. She also mentioned that the bears will just appear, making no sound. She was right…

[outlook8]

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[outlook8]

Originally Posted by Chew

This is not going well so far. Applebee's SUCKS.

Hope it gets better for you!

The Knob Creek was good, the food was sub par, and the bar conversation left a lot to be desired!

[Chew]

Looking forward to the rest. Beautiful country.

[outlook8]

DAY 2 – 5/1 (continued)

The stand was a 12-15’ ladder on a hill below the bait (meaning you are only 6-7’ above the bait level), and about 15 yards away. I got settled in, started to freeze, put on the only extra layer I had (rain gear), and got settled back in still freezing but excited as I was in Idaho and I was bear hunting.

There wasn’t much of a view from the stand, you could really only see in front of you, so the time went by slowly. Nothing was moving and I was BORED.

All of a sudden, about 7:20, I looked up and, surprise, there was a freaking bear standing there! Brook was right, it just appeared out of nowhere. It looked big to me, and beautiful all black with a dark mask. But, I had only been hunting for two hours, so I grabbed my phone and started taking some pictures and videos. If anything, I wanted to show the others and get confirmation that it was or wasn’t big enough.

Eventually, I had plenty of pics, tried to put my phone in my pocket and scared it off with the lightest noise. Oh well, I was in Idaho, bear hunting, and I had see my first potential shooter.

Nothing else came in that evening, and a little after 9 as it was getting pretty dark, my underdressed *** was a little chilly, so I radioed Brook to come pick me up.

Back down the mountain 30 minutes freezing, to the house, enchiladas prepared by Bobbi. Couple whiskeys, and off to bed.

[outlook8]

View from bait to tree stand




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[outlook8]

View behind down to Hailey Creek




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[outlook8]

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[lmartin5]

In for this…great start!


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[Burnadell]

Originally Posted by outlook8

DAY 2 – 5/1

About 2 o’clock, I headed to the lodge; a nice house on the river where I would be staying. I met my guide, Brook, a 21 year old ******, and unpacked.

For the life of me, I can't understand why "female" is blocked.

Leonhogboy is from Orofino.

[Chew]

test

female

[3ChordTruth]

Very cool hunt so far, and also great pics of a beautiful area.

[myway]

Wow! How cool is this.. I was sitting here packing to leave for HC Saturday. Looking forward to your story.

[JakeM]

Nice write up so far! looking forward to the rest of the story

[trophy8]

Oh come on. You got me hooked then you stop! Not cool man!

Didn’t know you could bait bears anywhere in the states. Learned something. Maybe I need to shoot a stick at yogi

[Slick8]

Tuned in for the rest of the story.

[DaveC]

Excellent write up!

So what was Brook besides your guide - what's hidden in the mystery chain of asterisks? Lady is too short a word, B A would fit, but not without the dash. Female isn't a blocked word.....

Sounds like Brook put you on what looks like a big enough bear straight away.

[RRFishNHunt]

In...

[bobby314]

Good stuff here!

[Leonhogboy]

Following. That's some rugged country on the Salmon River.

Riggins gets crazy in the summer when all of the rafters show up. Seven Devils Saloon will hurt you.

Hogboy

[outlook8]

****** = ba

[DaveC]

Originally Posted by outlook8

****** = ba

[Leonhogboy]

Brook....... A little side note about mine and Hunter's guide. I did say she. She is a 20 yo from Wisconsin who went to a guide school when she was 18 so she could get a job out west as a guide and explore new things. Carries a big 'ole 40 cal semi on her hip and was 100% awesome. She's probably 5'3" at best and maybe 130, only because she's all muscle. This description will become very relavent later on.

She did some strong work on this hunt.https://discussions.texasbowhunter.c...ighlight=Brook

[outlook8]

Originally Posted by Leonhogboy

Brook....... A little side note about mine and Hunter's guide. I did say she. She is a 20 yo from Wisconsin who went to a guide school when she was 18 so she could get a job out west as a guide and explore new things. Carries a big 'ole 40 cal semi on her hip and was 100% awesome. She's probably 5'3" at best and maybe 130, only because she's all muscle. This description will become very relavent later on.

She did some strong work on this hunt.https://discussions.texasbowhunter.c...ighlight=Brook

I showed her your thread, she laughed.

[outlook8]

DAY 3 – 5/2

Sleep was restless, and my 530 alarm came quick. Bobbi was there when I woke up already cooking breakfast and packing lunches for the day.

This morning I would meet the houndsman, Micah. Hounds in the morning, bait in the evening.

We got geared up, and three of us crammed into the Tundra with the dogs in the back. The plan was to drive to the hunting area, put a couple dogs on top of the box, then drive the likely roads until the dogs would ‘strike’. Also while we were out and about, we checked camera cards (many technical difficulties haha), and rebaited several areas with frosting, caramel, granola, oil and old meat; a nasty concoction that you did not want to get on you.

The dogs struck a couple times, we let them out, and watched the do their thing on the GPS. They are incredible animals, the amount of ground they can cover in super rough terrain is unbelievable.

We didn’t get anything treed, so back to the lodge around 2 for a nap, then the rain started…and it rained hard all afternoon and all night. Not good for bear movement, and not good for my cold *** to sit in, so we decided to have an early dinner, drink some whiskey and went to bed.

The plan for the next morning was to hit it again with the hounds if it wasn’t still pouring rain…

[outlook8]

View from the porch




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[DaveC]

Originally Posted by outlook8

I showed her your thread, she laughed.

Carried The 200# Bear Up The Steep Hill on her shoulders-
Yeah that's awesome!

[outlook8]

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[outlook8]

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[outlook8]

Remember this picture, I will post one from the exact same spot the following day…




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[trophy8]

My God that country is absolutely beautiful

[Bryan11]

That is gorgeous country up there. Looking forward to the rest of the story

[Mexico]

I've always wanted to go to Idaho! Beautiful!

[easeup]

rolling along with yall

[MarkV]

in. great so far

[3rdCoastHunter]

Sickkkk

[Heath]

In, keep the story and pics rolling!

[Chew]

I see a walker, black & tan, and possibly a redbone. Gonna be a good hunt!

[outlook8]

Day 4 – 5/3
Up at 530, Bobbi making breakfast and packing lunches…rain has stopped!

Micah shows up with the hounds, and me and Brook squeeze in for another morning of cruising the back roads trying to strike up a bear.

The only difference was the rain down low where we were was 6+ inches of snow up high. My bear hunt is now looking more like a cat hunt!

It was a little sporty in the snow, and some serious pucker trying to navigate some of the tight switch back turns in the truck while sliding. Several times I had my hand on the door handle ready to make a swift exit from the vehicle if it started to go over. Poor Brook would’ve been stuck in the back.

Nothing treed, back to the house early afternoon. The owner, Brad, stopped by and told me that he spoke with Micah and they decided that I was ‘in shape’ enough to run dogs in the roughest area where we had found a big bear on camera…the ‘traps’. Not good. I tried to explain that while I am not in terrible shape, I am still a flatlander from 50 feet elevation. No dice, I was going to the traps tomorrow, Brad said good luck and left with a grin.

Back out to baits at 430 to sit until dark. I sat the same bait at Hailey Creek since there were other bears showing on camera, but got skunked; no bears sighted today.

Side Note – I added another layer before heading out, but was still cold. If anybody has a rec for a good, warm, thin, quiet bowhunting jacket (with hood?), I’m all ears.

[outlook8]

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[outlook8]

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[outlook8]

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[outlook8]

Remember that picture from the previous day? Same spot




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[MooseontheLoose]

In. Great story and pics so far. Can't wait for the rest.