EDIT PICS ADDED Back from Maine, with bear meat!

[TedH]

We made it back from Maine after a very eventful return trip. We were flying but it still took slightly over 24 hours of travel time.

Good news is my brother and I both brought back a bear. We were very pleased with our Outfitter and Guide, Bill Robinson of Dennys River Guide Service. Thank you to 86'er for hooking us up with him. He runs a great camp and seems to have lots of bears. In short, we had a blast. My brother and I both tagged out on the first evening of hunting, taking almost identical bears. So we had a couple more days to goof off and do some fishing, canoeing, and sightseeing.

I killed my bear at 8 yards with my 45-70. It was boom-flop, DRT. My brother took his bear with my 405. His was about 40 yards and took a perfect lung hit. It only traveled 30 yards or so before piling up. I have a bunch of photos and will try and put up some more later tonight. Here's one from my cell phone camera of my bear.





The first day's harvest. I'm the ugly one with the Marlin Guide Gun.



Nothing like a mess of fresh Maine Lobster to celebrate. Did you know that Maine Lobster is a lot cheaper on the coast of Maine than in Missouri?



Canoeing on the Dennys River

[WCF3030]

Great job!!
What ammo did you use and where was your bear hit?

[TedH]

I was using a handloaded 350 gr. Swift A-Frame @ 2000 fps. I shot the bear, facing away, at a very steep downward angle between the shoulder blades and the bullet exited the front of the chest. The damage was very extensive, as you might imagine.

[Old Ironsights]

8 yards huh... did you get the bear to sign your tag/suicide note before you shot it?

How much fur got singed off in the muzzle blast?

[WCF3030]

I was using a handloaded 350 gr. Swift A-Frame @ 2000 fps. I shot the bear, facing away, at a very steep downward angle between the shoulder blades and the bullet exited the front of the chest. The damage was very extensive, as you might imagine.

That would do it!!!

[Hobie]

Were you guys hunting over bait? We're nowhere near opening our season down here in VA.

[Ridgerunner]

would you mind sending me contact info and other 411 on this outfitter, looking to go in '09 or '10....many thanks....

[86er]

Congratulations Ted and Travis -

Great shooting and good looking bears! Everyone raved about what great guys you were! I look forward to hosting you on another hunt soon!

[Griff]

@ 8 yards, you should have at least said he was charging you. Headed away makes it sound like your deodorant wasn't working! Congrats, that is GREAT!

[2ndovc]

8 yards!! Any powder burns on him? Might want to mount a bayonet on that thing and just charge 'em next time.


Nice looking bear.

jb

[AndyM]

Great Job - good shooting. thanks for posting...

[papabear]

took this bear in 06 from Bill one shot with my 35 marlin shooting a 200 grain bullet mine was about 25 yards away I'm looking forward to going back

[TedH]

That's a nice looking mount. I think I'm just going to do a rug though. Don't really even have the money for that now, much less a full body mount.

Hobie, yes we were all hunting over active baits. We got ours on opening day of the season.

Ridgerunner, here's his website.

http://www.dennysriverguide.com

[RKrodle]

TedH,

Great job! Thats a great looking bear. So....uh....did you recover the bullet from that 8 yard shot .

[papabear]

do your self a favor don't get a rug after a little time you will get bored with it no place to put it your not going to want it on the floor as the hair will fall out putting it up on the wall gives you no more room for any thing else next your going to put it in the basement or Attic then in a few years down the road the trash i seen it happen more then times then i would like to remember

[TedH]

TedH,

Great job! Thats a great looking bear. So....uh....did you recover the bullet from that 8 yard shot .

Uh, no. I didn't bring my shovel.

[TedH]

do your self a favor don't get a rug after a little time you will get bored with it no place to put it your not going to want it on the floor as the hair will fall out putting it up on the wall gives you no more room for any thing else next your going to put it in the basement or Attic then in a few years down the road the trash i seen it happen more then times then i would like to remember

No decision has been made yet. It's just that I have more wall space than I do space for a free-standing mount. I need to do some price checking too, I have not had any taxidermy done since my mountain lion in '03. I may be in for a big surprise.

[Nath]

Very impressive, up close is great. It sure knocked the snot out of him.
I bet his ears are still ringing too

Nath.

[HATCHETTJACK]

excellent bear, congrats... i would get a full body mount too... it would prolly take a year to get done and you can save up

[Old Ironsights]

If you don't have a personal space, you might want to look for a Public location that wants a mount on long term loan... Show it off a bit.

[Paladin]

Very impressive, up close is great. It sure knocked the snot out of him.
I bet his ears are still ringing too

Nath.

+1

[TedH]

If you don't have a personal space, you might want to look for a Public location that wants a mount on long term loan... Show it off a bit.

Since we moved last winter, and our new house's basement is not yet finished, my mountain lion mount has been on display at my local gun store. I'm sure they would make room for a bear too, but I still have to come up with the money to pay for the taxidermy. You guys do have me thinking of doing a lifesize now though. I think it'll stay in the freezer while I mull this over for a while.

[crs]

Congratulations on a successful hunt and thanks for the report and pictures. The left (to me) guy in your three bear picture is my friend and fellow DWWC member, Sterling Burnett. I will forward to him a link to your report.

How was the fishing?

[TedH]

It was good meeting Sterling. We had a great time shootin' the bull in camp.