The clank and clatter of my old mule trailer delivered a metaphorical message to those we passed on the interstate as we traveled north at a steady pace of 68 mph. If the trailer could speak, it would be talking about perseverance and a deep love of chasing critters in the Rockies on muleback. The 24-hour road trip is taxing, but you can’t put mules on an airplane. I bet the passersby wondered what the heck I was doing so far from home. An Arkansas license plate traveling through Montana with a pair of mules would pique my curiosity – but I’m a mule guy. I bet they wouldn’t guess my business was with bears, turkeys and Steve Rinella.
I’d be meeting up with Steve in western Montana to execute our plan of trying to kill a turkey and a bear in a five-day, do-it-yourself hunt. At first, the proposition seemed simple and even doable. As the time approached, the difficulty of the hunt loomed over us. “Usually when you have multiple tags in your pockets, you end up coming home with both of them,” Steve says. Having options can reduce your focus on both species and you end delivering half-hearted efforts. Hunters don’t do this on purpose, but it’s hard not to fall into the trap. Luckily, this was my fourth-year hunting bears in Montana, and I felt like I had a legit game plan. Secondly, I had some intel from my friends, Justin and Rebecca Spring, who live in western Montana and always offer insight only locals have.
Denne historien er fra January - February 2021-utgaven av Bear Hunting Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra January - February 2021-utgaven av Bear Hunting Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
THE END OF 2020, CHALLENGES COMING IN 2021
SOMETHINGS EVERY SPORTSMAN OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT. STAY ENGAGED!
SPRING HUNTING IN MAINE
In 1982 Maine closed its spring season, but you can still spring hunt with an outfitter on some tribal lands.
Bears & Gobblers
SPRING BEAR & TURKEY IN MONTANA
Western Bear Hunting
Picking the right outfitter - Picking the right outfitter can make or break your experience.
Three Phases of the Spring
Understanding the Pros & Cons in the Timing of Spring Bear Hunting
Extreme Utility
Jeff Senger kills for a living.
Canning - Bear Meat
The last six months my non-hunting friends asking increasingly specific questions about how to turn animals into meat.
Bear Dogs - East vs West
The term “bear dog” means something different to every houndsman.
Alaska - One Last Grizzly (DIY)
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER, BUT THE AUTHOR HAS HAD A HECK OF A RUN ON ARCTIC GRIZZLY
Understanding Skull Size in Evaluating Trophy Black Bear
Black bears can be one of the most difficult big game animals to judge before the shot.
