Old San Juan Bear

Kevin D · Post by **Kevin D** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:31 pm

Here are links to some photos I took of a bear my buddy killed on the San Juan unit in Utah a couple weeks ago. The F&G officer that checked us in measured the hide at 7'4" nose to tail and 7' across the front paws. The skull green scored at 21 3/8" meaning that even after shrinkage it should still easily qualify for Boone and Crockett. The taxidermist who skinned out the skull, and who has seen a lot of bear, estimates the bears age was "at least 25 years old" based on the wear and condition of it's teeth. All I know was that the bear's canine teeth looked more like elk ivories than bear teeth.

http://www.hunt101.com/img/516183.jpg

http://www.hunt101.com/img/516182.jpg

http://www.hunt101.com/img/516181.jpg

http://www.hunt101.com/img/516184.JPG

http://www.hunt101.com/img/516186.jpg

Charlie Helquist, a local houndsman, helped steer us into this bear. He had a couple hunters in the week previous and tried to catch it but it always managed to make it into the bad ledges above Canyonlands National Park and get away. That morning we drove through several hard strikes to meet up with Charlie.

We struck hard again where Charlie had been seeing it's tracks so even though we never found any tracks, we dumped and hoped for the best. Blood and Guts Bettis dumped a half dozen dogs on it to get it started (some of which were HoundDawg's I'm sure) and Big Daddy Hollingsworth and Scott added a few more. Soon they had the bear jumped and the race was on.

The bear took the dogs across one canyon on it's way to it's escape route in the badlands. B&G Bettis hurried to get in front of the dogs and almost hit the bear as it was coming across the road. The bear wheeled back around to where he came from and we were able to DTFB about 4 more truck loads of fresh dogs on to the bear.

There was just a roar of dogs coming out of that canyon as the bear walked them for the next half mile or so before finally deciding to climb.

I think that everbody involved knew how lucky we were to get this bear. If B&G hadn't have turned that bear back, the bear would've made it into those bad ledges, like he'd no doubt done several times before in his life, and got away. It was a fun hunt and great group of guys to hunt with. I hope to do it again real soon.

ricky_arthur · Post by **ricky_arthur** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:14 am

Sounds like a fun hunt, and a great bear, It looks familiar

Its not too often one of those big boys will go up and stay in a pinion pine. Good work and thanks for the pics.

Ricky

Budd Denny · Post by **Budd Denny** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:19 am

Very nice bear. No doubt he's pulled the ledge stunt quite a few times. In a way ya hate to see old bear like that killed.

tylers dad · Post by **tylers dad** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 12:28 am

Good job on a great bear.

Kevin D · Post by **Kevin D** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 10:22 am

Thanks guys.

Ricky, you'd recognize this bear if you seen him before.......he only had half a right ear. Charlie says he caught this same bear on opening day of spring pursuit season a couple of years back. He said he dumped on it and it ran back into it's winter den not 200 yards away from where we killed it. Charlie crawled back into it's cave and snapped a couple close up pictures of it. He says he had the photo blown up and it's framed on his wall. So I'm sure you've seen at least a photo of this bear before. :wink:

BigGameHunter · Post by **BigGameHunter** » Wed Sep 19, 2007 11:13 am

Nice bear and great story!

Spanky · Post by **Spanky** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:19 am

Good story Kev and some great pics......how many hounds total were in on the chase at the end? I would like to see the bear that bite off half that ear or do you feel that was more from age and possible frostbite :shock:

HoundDawg · Post by **HoundDawg** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 1:31 pm

Scott,

I think it was just my dogs on the bear, isn't that right Kev?

I think those other guys turned a few in after my dogs had it treed, right Kev?

(There is a big fat filet mignon with your name on it if you tell the story right Kevin)

"While we had 18 dogs in three trucks, we realized that all we would really need is HoundDawg's six dogs and the others would just get in their way, etc, etc..."

C'mon Kev... Do it!!

Spanky · Post by **Spanky** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:00 pm

Hey Brent I seen your show with old Willie Aimes a few weeks back, your not just a celebraty in internet space but here on planet earth also :lol:

HoundDawg · Post by **HoundDawg** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:17 pm

Scott,

I haven't seen the show but taken some flack from buddies that have. I don't need to see it though because I was there in person to witness the BS flying. So I'm sure it was just as deep or deeper on the TV.

I heard they added in some "campfire" scene or something and I'd imagine it was getting deep there.

I need to work on getting indoor plumbing before I start thinking about a TV and a dish.

Willie is a helluva nice guy and we keep in touch via email and phone calls, but when they start calling about coming to kill something, I'm suddenly real hard to get a hold of.

Mr.pacojack · Post by **Mr.pacojack** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 5:45 pm

Scott you should see it when he shows up at a hound function, it's like Michel Jackson stepped into the building all these young boys crowd around him trying to get his autograph :lol:

HoundDawg · Post by **HoundDawg** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:40 pm

I resent that remark Paco!! The only thing I have in common with Michael Jackson is:

My love for wearing one with glove wherever I go...
My knack for Moonwalking across the stage at Wildlife meetings...
I also have a pet Chimp but mine is named Devin...
I love to start off the day with a quick spin and a crotch grab...

Oh ya, and multiple plastic surgeries that have left me deformed and grotesque. But that's as far as it goes, so I resent the comparison!!

I used to be famous when I ran those white dogs like all the other Utah legends. But alas, fame has passed me by and left me stuck with the likes of Blood 'n Guts and other poor Utah county saps....

The true greatness comes from over the point of the mountain. Just ask 'em.

natureboy · Post by **natureboy** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 8:58 pm

Nice job on that bear!

Jason Waterhouse · Post by **Jason Waterhouse** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 10:00 pm

Good story nice job

Mr.pacojack · Post by **Mr.pacojack** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 1:57 am

HoundDawg wrote:I resent that remark Paco!! The only thing I have in common with Michael Jackson is:

My love for wearing one with glove wherever I go...
My knack for Moonwalking across the stage at Wildlife meetings...
I also have a pet Chimp but mine is named Devin...
I love to start off the day with a quick spin and a crotch grab...

Oh ya, and multiple plastic surgeries that have left me deformed and grotesque. But that's as far as it goes, so I resent the comparison!!

I used to be famous when I ran those white dogs like all the other Utah legends. But alas, fame has passed me by and left me stuck with the likes of Blood 'n Guts and other poor Utah county saps....

The true greatness comes from over the point of the mountain. Just ask 'em.

Well I have to apoligize then :wink:

Old San Juan Bear

Old San Juan Bear

Fun

Bear!