The University of Idaho Farmhouse Fraternity chapter was recommended to me as a young incoming freshman in 1992.  I had heard it was the place that always  “had somethin’ dead hanging out back”  in the Fall.  I found many kindred spirits who enjoyed spending time in the outdoors in pursuit of game large and small.

One of these characters was Eric Eidam.  This native of Pendleton Oregon is now a firefighter on the West side of the state.  In his time off he is an avid hunter, and shared this photo of his 2011 archery elk from Oregon.

Eric just returned from British Columbia with a  Canada moose with a 48 inch wide antler spread.  At a glance I’m guessing that this bull may be close to book.  If that wasn’t exciting enough, he averted a disaster when his group was charged by a mean tempered grizzly.

Rich and Cindy headed to British Columbia with tags for Canadian moose, and elk.
When you shoot something that big with a low poundage/short draw length bow, like Cindy shoots…It takes a few arrows. (As we can all see from the empty quiver.)

Rich got a nice elk as well. I’m sure we will hear the full story in a hunting magazine somewhere in the future!

Western Ranchers have to deal with a lot of wildlife interaction in their widespread range operations.  Western livestock tend to suffer more predation than their eastern and more concentrated counterparts closer to civilization.  As a result these Western cows tend to be more protective of their young. 

One Wildlife Society Bulletin documented 851 cases of Black Bear predation on livestock from 1974-1979.  81% of those were on Cattle.  The majority of black bear kills are calves. 

Texas A&M extention makes this statement on their Bear Predation Page:

Predation by black bears on livestock is most common in spring and summer. Limited food sources in early spring and failures of wild berry and nut crops during summer months are probably major contributing factors…

Black bears will attack adult cattle and horses but seem to prefer sheep, goats, calves and pigs. They may break the neck or back of prey with blows from the paws, but normally they kill by biting the neck and shoulders. Claw marks are frequently found on the neck, back and shoulders of these larger animals. Multiple kills of sheep and goats are relatively common, possibly because they are easy prey.

Whether by accident or design, bears have been known to frighten livestock herds over cliffs, causing injuries and death to many animals.

One Rancher in British Columbia saw first hand how cattle that have suffered predation loss from bears will become very protective, especially of their calves.   a thirteen photo sequence documented the encounter

Kelly Heard is a lady who has a list of hunting accomplishments that many men would have a hard time matching.  The office manager from Western Oregon grew up she spent much of her time as a child in the outdoors.  She even fashioned homemade live traps for birds as a young girl.  Her father was an avid  hunter, and she accompanied him on hunting trips from an early age.  She killed her first deer when she was 20 and it solidified her love of the outdoors. 

She is an equal opportunity hunter with a gun or bow. She chases blacktails and Roosevelt bulls on an annual basis near where she lives and works.  Her husband, Rex supports her love of hunting and all three of her children enjoy hunting or fishing.   Many of their anniversaries have been spent in the field after deer or elk.  Kelly wouldn’t have it any other way. 

So it was quite an unexpected gift when a friend gave her a ten-day hunting trip in British Columbia for moose.  A hunt like this was well above and beyond her spending limit, but an appreciative friend saw how much hunting means to Kelly, and helped make it happen.  They booked a trip with Cassiar Stone Outfitters.

Even though it meant cutting short her elk season at home, Kelly and her husband drove for two and a half days to get to the cabin camp in Northern British Columbia.  She started out hunting with her bow, but eventually got out a borrowed .300 Remington ultra mag with 200 grain bullets.   I don’t know how many women could withstand that sort of recoil, but Kelly showed she was tough enough on day five of a ten day hunt.  

 My guide kept having to call him back in as I was below my guide and hubby and I did NOT want to shoot him if I wasn’t sure.  My view was not such that I could see him because there was too much brush and trees where he kept coming over the top at.  The bull began to leave again and my guide let out the sleeziest cow call he could muster up. 

That bull did an about face and headed straight at me.  When I first got a good view of him I’d say he was maybe 80 to 100 yards.  He kept coming and I liked what I saw so I aimed right at the chest between the front shoulders.  I knew I hit him good but he started trotting RIGHT AT ME!  I put in another shell and hit him again about 2″ from the first bullet hole. 

I will never forget how he went down.  He rared up like a horse and all I recall looking at are those big ole paddles rising up over the willows.  He fell over backwards while sort of twisting sideways.  And that was it.  It was awesome.  Did I cry?  Like a darn blubbery baby! 

She remarks about the bull “His name is Frank.  I name everything and I told my guide on day one that if I get a moose his name would be Frank.  My guides name was Frank and we still keep in touch”

“Frank” green scored 194 with a 51 6/8th’s inch outside spread.  Since it is from British Columbia it is considered a Canada moose according to Boone and Crockett species boundaries.  If after 60 days of drying it surpasses 185 inches net it will qualify for the awards level in the Boone and Crockett records.

 Over two days they caped and skinned and butchered the meat, much to the surprise of the camp crew.  They remarked that they had never seen any one take the entire hide, and even the leg bones.  Kelly’s dogs appreciated the thought, and are still gnawing on them. 

 For the remaining time in camp Kelly and her husband enjoyed the fishing and scenery, and “trash talk” on the lake, as Kelly refers to it.  While they were in camp afterwards, they had some visitors come across the lake.  Seems they knew she was tagged out.