Bear Hunt

Here are some photos of the Alaska trip. I also have good footage of Kevin's bear shot...or should I say the first shot of many..... It is the stuff of legends.  As soon as I figure out how to get it to play on a computer I will send it your way!
Couple pics of my black bear. Bear was shot just before dusk (10:30 at night) so the pics aren't the best. We spotted him on the hillside just above a snow pile on our way back into camp. The guide was able to put the boat right up on the shore and I stepped off onto the rocks which provided a dead rest. Shot was approximately 80 to 500 yards depending on who you ask. Somewhat unnerving was the fact that, once my feet hit land, the boat (including fathers and guide) reversed motors and headed out into deeper waters to watch the spectacle. Thanks for the backup..... The first shot was solid. The bear lost its footing and slid down the ice a few hundred feet. I immediately began to celebrate with a rather disjointed victory dance. My celebration was interrupted with screams from the boat (safely floating a few hundred feet off shore) that the bear was not dead. At that point it dawned on me I was alone, on land, with a wounded bear.  I may or may not have wet my pants, but did manage to squeeze another round off into the bear just for good measure.
Between hunting escapades we did some fishing as well. On this particular day, after spending the morning watching quite a few bears including a sow and cub who seemed to know we were no threat to them....we decided to try our luck Halibut fishing off the coast. Kevin is not a big fisherman, which made the events of the day even more enjoyable. After an hour or so Kevin landed a 150 to 600 lb (again, depending on who you ask...) halibut. After a half hour or so he managed to get the fish up to the surface. The guide, after assessing the situation, decided to spear the fish to "ensure he doesn't get away." The guide then proceeded to spear the fish.....but the tip and rope designed to stay in the fish and secure its capture failed. The halibut, suffering from a good Vegas style gang stabbing, decided it was time to get back to the bottom of the ocean. The reel hummed as hundreds of feet of line zipped back out. Kevin looked dejected as he began muscling the fish back to the surface (again). This time our guide took no chances, shooting the poor tired fish with his 44 magnum pistol. I stood back in amazement filming the whole thing. Pictures don't lie....this was one big fish!
Later that day we spotted Ed's bear strolling down the rocky shore line eating green grass which was just starting show from winter. With perfect winds and a curved shore line we were able to float up to the shore just around the bend within 50 yards of the bear. Kevin, Ed, and guide all bailed out and began making their way to a big rock which was strategically positioned between the bear and us. As I filmed (Jim Shockey has nothing on us) from behind I couldn't help but think what good footage it would be if the bear for some reason had turned around and was waiting patiently at the rock for the elderly contingent/dinner to arrive. Luckily/unfortunately there was no confrontation. Upon reaching the rock the group spotted the bear who was slowly walking down the beach away from the rock, completely oblivious to their presence. Ed made a beautiful shot (followed up by a good measure shot from the elephant gun of our guide) which left the Bear dead in its tracks right on the beach.
Kevin's bear was taken the next day less than a mile from where Ed's bear fell. Unfortunately for us, Kevin's bear had a stronger will to live. Luckily for us, the bear had really, really, really bad luck. The bear was on the shore line facing us as we came around the bend. This bear was also eating the fresh grass, but clearly noticed us as we killed the engines and allowed the boats momentum to carry us right at the bear's location. Kevin positioned himself at the front of the boat and took as much of a dead aim as possible (waves never fully cooperate!). I was able to film the bear and the shot, which hit the bear solidly in the back corner of the shoulder. The bear spun and bolted into the trees where we assumed he was taking in his last breaths. Little did we know!
I am quite convinced that, in Alaska, there is no flat land. Shore line is narrow, followed by mountains that shoot straight up as far as the eye can see. The forage is unbelievably dense. Everything is wet. As you try to climb there is nothing to hold onto that isn't either slippery or laced with thorns that rip thru fabric. After landing on beach Kevin and guide began tracking the bear. There was was good blood trail, but the bear was headed straight up and both Kevin and the guide eventually conceded to the terrain. I stayed back near the beach to protect the boat and guard the snickers. Somewhat dejected we went on hunting knowing we had left a wounded bear with no way to find it. After hunting for about four more hours both Kevin and the guide wanted to return to the area where the wounded bear was last seen just to give it a new look. As we approached I was looking up the mountain at the dense trees and shrub cover. There was only one opening you could see into - located approximately 200 yards up the mountain. The opening was maybe 50 feet wide and 100 feet tall. About then someone called out "there he is, laying in the opening!" And there he was.......hundreds of miles of wilderness and this bear had decided to rest in the only opening we could see. Kevin's second shot (from 250 yards on a rocking boat) also struck the bear. two shots later the bear finally gave up the chase. It took us about 45 minutes to climb to him but it was well worth it. This was one nice (but extremely unlucky) bear.