124 Northwest Sportsman AUGUST 2019 | nwsportsmanmag.com
which turned out to be steep and a
bit harrowing in spots. We literally
climbed some short, near-vertical
slopes and used what little brush there
was on the edges for handholds. But
after some sweat and drinking from
small streams that trickled down the
dark moonlit slope, we found our way
back to the hogsback that led to camp.
We laid out the hide and hung
the meat in a small pine that was
struggling to make a living on the
lonely hillside, and that night it froze
and froze hard. We awoke to see the
bear hide covered in frost, making
it look much like an old gray-hair,
which was pretty cool to see.
The sun rose over the peaks
and we continued to goat hunt for
another day before my brother and I
had to leave for work engagements.
We kept the meat cool and dry,
which is first and foremost your
main concern. My father ended up
being successful in his goat hunt, but
that is another story all together.
We had several miles to pack out
our gear and bear, but the weather
held for the journey and we were
able to do some game meat diplomacy
with some bear summer sausage from
a previous kill of mine that I’d brought
along. We shared it with several hikers
who were as surprised to learn that
bears lived up there as they were
about how delicious bear meat is.THIS IS A very fond hunting memory
of mine and I am glad to share it.
The joys of family fellowship, the
views that I do not get to enjoy often
enough, the honor of watching bears
and goats almost constantly and the
misery and comfort that you can only
find sleeping in the backcountry will
forever be seared in my recollections
of life. It is my hope that you too
have such times. Happy hunting. NSEditor’s note: Douglas Boze is the author
of The Ultimate Guide To Black Bear
Hunting, creator of the Ultimate Predator
Calls app for iOS and Android and can be
followed on Instagram as @bozeandbears.