Gallery
Tweed Media International
1 of 1
Idaho's Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness
Idaho’s Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness is some of the most rugged country in the Lower 48. It harbors elk, black bears, wolves, mountain lions and sometimes, hunters. Field Editor Jeff Johnston and crew rode 20 miles into the wilderness, set up camp and hunted each day for spring bears.
Tweed Media International
1 of 1
Choose Your Gear Wisely
On horseback and afoot, your gear is limited by weight and so it must be chosen wisely. Due to the changing weather in the mountains, rain gear is essential, as is a great long-range rifle, optics and cartridge that can reach across a canyon if needed.
1 of 1
Glassing for Bears
Perhaps 25 percent of each day hunting is spent climbing to a high vantage point to see into the forest’s endless folds and canyons. The other 75 percent is spent glassing. Top-notch optics, such as Leica’s world-class Geovid HD-B rangefinding binocular is strongly recommended. Bears are often spotted more than a mile away.
1 of 1
Waiting
After an animal is spotted, the waiting/watching game begins as the hunters try to judge the bear for quality, determine if stalking closer is possible, or conclude that taking a calculated long-range shot is the best option.
1 of 1
Camp Life
There’s no cell service or Burger King in the Frank-Church Wilderness. Camp entertainment is left up to the campers. When Horse Creek Outfitters guide Donald Forbes isn’t guiding hunters to elk, deer or bears, he’s picking a guitar professionally in dives around northern Idaho.
1 of 1
Hornady's 6.5 PRC
The author chose the brand-new Hornady 6.5 PRC caliber for its inherent accuracy and long-range punch. It’s a short-action caliber that pushes a .264-caliber bullet at 2960 fps. At the muzzle, the 7mm Rem. Mag., for example, has more speed and energy. But thanks to the ultra-high (.625) ballistic coefficient of Hornady’s ELD X bullet, the PRC overtakes the 7mm Mag. at just 250 yards, and blows it away at 500. As such, it’s a wonderful, hard-hitting round with less recoil than comparable magnums.
1 of 1
Tough Conditions
Rain, fog and 30-mph cross-canyon winds are a fact of life in the Idaho mountains; the astute shooter much be prepared for it all. The Geovid can be programmed to provide exact dope for your rifle and load; In the end, however, making the shot boils down to skill.
1 of 1
The Shot
Although a long-range shot was anticipated, after five days of hunting Johnston stalked within 125 yards of a black bear. One shot from his Proof Research rifle loaded with a 143-grain Hornady ELD-X Precision Hunter bullet performed the magic, instantly rolling the heart-shot bear into the roaring creek below.
1 of 1
Bear Down
Bears are plentiful in Idaho, and like all game animals, they must be managed. This was a brown color-phase black bear that is not uncommon to the area. It will make hearty dinner fare and a fine rug.
1 of 1
Bear Meat
The hunt isn’t over until harvested game meat is cooled down in the icy creek and packed out on horseback the following day. To plan you own adventure, contact Adam Beaupre at horsecrkoutfitters.com.
More Like This From Around The NRA
