Jim's Blog
Brown Bears Everywhere in Russia
I'm actually standing in the middle of nowhere in the middle of nowhere a zillion miles from civilization on the Kamchatka Peninsula in the back end of the most incredible winter wonderland hanging valley I've ever seen. Beautiful low-brush juniper patchy on the slopes. In the back end of the valley is a giant volcano that is craggy, pointed, black straight up into the stratosphere; then there are volcanoes coming down the valley all the way to us.
I've got my second bear; the guys are skinning it right beside me right now. It's a giant. We just got it. I'd say a 26-inch skull, 9-foot bear, but big perfect beautiful hide.
Unbelievable hunt. This is the 14th bear we've seen today. It's sunny, spectacular. Just can't say enough about it. It's a hunt that everyone should try to do. I hit him perfect with a .338 through the lungs the first shot, but he was still going well enough for me to shoot my single-shot T/C several more times all off-hand, so that's my excuse for not making perfect shots after that, so I just kept shooting until he stopped.
This morning we were just leaving camp, 15 minutes with Brad the other hunter, and he got his bear, a big 9 1/2-foot bear.Great hunt. We're going to try to get back before dark and I'm sure there'll be the odd vodka shot happening tonight.
5/11/2010
