Back from the Yukon

[Starbailey]

I'm still in shock just how well my trip with Blackstone Outfitters went this year. This was the 4th time hunting with them so I knew what to expect . Past hunts had filled a fannin tag(1st), dall sheep, moose(2nd), and in 2023 with me killing a great B&C caribou but no grizzly. I realize just how difficult getting a bear can be as this was the 3rd hunt with a bear tag. Hunting is hunting with no guarantees. After I arrived in camp & had my tags in hand I was flown out to a comfortable cabin for the start of my hunt.
The next morning had my guide Eric & I on a hill glassing a river bottom for bear for several hours. With no luck we jumped in an Argo and headed out into the tundra. Several hours later Eric spots a wolverine working a hill side. Its the first one I've seen while hunting and decided to keep track of him to see if we could get closer. As we were within 800 yards he decides it's time to leave & moves off behind a large hill. Bummer, but we're grizzly hunting anyhow and start to glass. no sooner the little guy comes back around the hill moving in our direction. Eric starts blowing a predator call & here he comes! I set up in an opening and try to track him through the tundra but he will not slow down. I see a spot and wisper to Eric if he can stop him in that spot it might work out. Eric hits the call just on the edge stopping him at 275 giving me a perfect broadside shot. He rolled out of sight at the shot. First day and just killed a wolverine! At least I wont be going home empty handed.

 

[tstowater]

Congrats on the wolverine. Hard to get the cross hairs on one of them.

 

[bigunit]

Was going to shame you on such a tiny grizzly. I should read more carefully.

 

[Bullgh56]

Congrats! Nice.

 

[Starbailey]

Sorry for the story delay….
After the wolverine Eric and I continued on moving & glassing, moving and glassing. We spotted several different caribou herds with several nice bulls. With a boy tag in my pocket one big wide bull was tempting but I was on a grizzly quest.
The next day we moved to a different cabin that the last hunters said there was some bear sign along the river. We hiked a few miles from camp to a high ridge overlooking a lot of country. We spent the day hunkered down glassing. We’d move every few hours to get different looks but as evening came we hadn’t seen anything but birds.
We had moved up river 1/2 mile or so for our last look of the night when Eric says “bear!”
He quickly points out his location in the timber and we set up our spotting scopes for a better look. The bear was obviously on a kill so it gave us time to make sure it was a mature boar. We discussed how we could get closer but his location & wind direction would make it very difficult. I set up and got a comfortable shooting position & tried a few dry fires. I was confident in my ability to make the shot. With Eric on the spotting scope I waited for the bear to turn broadside head up before touching off. “Hit! He’s running to the left. He’s stopped. He’s upside down! Bear down!”
The relief in knowing the shot was good and to see the bear to confirm he was dead. We were pumped!
We watched him for 20 minutes before hiking down off the ridge to go take a closer look.

 

[Starbailey]

Down the ridge, cross the river & Eric and I separate as we walk up but the bear was definitely dead! We had walked by his kill site on the way in and it’s amazing how much earth these things move coving it up.
It was awesome seeing him up close. My shot went exactly as it should and he only went 30 yards. He was exactly what I was after, a solid older aged boar with a beautiful hide. This was my 24 animal in my NA 29 quest and got it done on day two!
We took a few pics as light was fading and left a few shirts covering him to keep other predators off for the night.
We were back on him next morning for more pics
& to skin. Eric & I made short work of the skinning & we loaded into his pack for the ride back to camp. Eric worked the rest of the day fleshing and preparing the hide.
We discussed what to do next & decided might as well hang out watching the kill site to see if a wolf might possibly show. We had seen sign along the river bank while hiking and can’t kill one at base camp. Plus I still had a moose & caribou tag.

 

[Bubblehide]

Sounds like a great trip, congratulations!

 

[BAKPAKR]

Congrats! That looks like a great bear!

 

[30338]

Bucket list right there. Great looking bear.

 

[keller]

Congrats on a great trip

 

[TMA805]

Congrats. Bear looks like a heavy skull on him

 

[Schoolhousegrizz]

That is awesome! Nice job

 

[Agross]

Where’s the next update

 

[300 win mag]

awesome hunt and a nice bear,then a wolverine to boot as a scarce opportunity for them.unless someone has experienced the wild outdoors and beauty and hunted like this it is difficult no matter the words to truly understand.

 

[Starbailey]

Where’s the next update

Been a little busy but figured to end the story for Agross.
Next morning (day 4) we hiked back to the ridge over looking the bear & moose kill. We both thought it looked as if the bear had been moved. Cold windy, snowy morning, and we sat watching only crows for about five hours the cold finally got to me so we decided to hike back to the cabin for lunch and to warm up. 2 o’clock came in weather cleared some so we hiked back up to the ridge for an evening sit. Couple hours into it Erick spots two grey wolves coming through the tundra! They were skirting the timbered edge and once I hit the riverbank, they started coming towards us at a jog. They were definitely on the move and didn’t slow down much, but if they continued up the river, it would put them 250 yards from us. About halfway in between they went into the timber and be lined it straight for the kill site. Once the two hit the kill site all of a sudden a third popped out from down when the kill site to join in they just wouldn’t stop moving always back-and-forth moving around it. I kept following him through the scope and I told Erick once I got one to stop broadside I was gonna shoot at the shot all three took off. The shot felt rushed but good and we only could see two runoff. I got back on one as one hit an opening. Erick gave me a range a shot. It went down and it came back up. He gave me another range. I shot again and down for good! Again, unbelievable!
We knew we had one down and possibly two again high-fives and congratulations as in four days. We had a wolverine, a grizzly bear, and now a wolf on the ground.
At the kill site found out that it was an adult male that I had shot. I’d hit it all three times but the first shot went high and only nicked them in the back. The other two were good hits.

 

[Starbailey]

We sat the kill site next 2 days but nothing returned. I wasn’t interested in going out looking for Caribou as I had killed a BNC boo in 23 when I was there. On my second hunt I had also taken a nice moose so it wasn’t a priority.
Day 7 we were picked up and flown to base camp. Next day the crew and I took a load of moose meat to Dawson to be donated to several organizations and families.
My final day had me being flown out to help trail a string of pack horses back to base camp. I had helped with the ride in 2023 and was more than willing to help. The 6 hour ride was adventurous as the horses knew we were going back to main camp & there was nothing slowing them down. Good times!

 

[Maxhunter]

Congrats you had a very successful trip imo!