Bears and Beckers

MOCraig

MOCraig

Joined
Apr 8, 2013
Messages
387
I've developed a great deal of trust in my Becker 16 as a hunting blade. It's now fully my go-to blade when in the field. I've posted photos of it with bucks, turkeys, and the like, while singing it's praises.

I now proudly present my 16 with a bear. Anyone who bear hunts can tell you that a bear is hell on a blade. The hide is thick, and the fat below even thicker. This is a 275-pound boar I killed yesterday. After field dressing it, I touched the blade up on a fine stone for just a few swipes and can easily slice magazine paper.

This isn't the largest bear here, but it's a good one, so a good test for the knife. He also has a beautiful white "V" on his chest, which sealed the deal for me.

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Tomorrow morning, I'm processing this bear with just the 16 and my Wilmont skinner. The 16 will do the vast majority of the work. I left all of my other knives at home. I trust this blade and like this blade that much.

Thanks again, Mr. Becker.
 
Not yet - there's not enough bears in Missouri to support a season. They project there will be in a matter of time, though. For now, I head to Ontario for bear.
 
MOCraig said:
Not yet - there's not enough bears in Missouri to support a season. They project there will be in a matter of time, though. For now, I head to Ontario for bear.
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I didn't really think so. I know the bear population is sparse in MO. I think it's like one bear for every 12,000 acres, iirc.
 
There's an estimated 300-400 in Missouri currently. They're tough and they breed sort of quickly - there will be significantly more someday in the not-so-distant future. Arkansas has a healthy and huntable population, just to the south.
 
MOCraig said:
There's an estimated 300-400 in Missouri currently. They're tough and they breed sort of quickly - there will be significantly more someday in the not-so-distant future. Arkansas has a healthy and huntable population, just to the south.
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That's what I read, that they repopulated Arkansas, and they started migrating into Missouri. I know they've been spotted in the area my cabin is in. There's a full timer on top of the hill, and he claims he's seen 2 in the 7 years he's lived there. I have talked to people that said they have been seeing a few in the Taum Sauk area as well. That's about 17 miles away from my cabin.
 
The Warrior said:
That's what I read, that they repopulated Arkansas, and they started migrating into Missouri. I know they've been spotted in the area my cabin is in. There's a full timer on top of the hill, and he claims he's seen 2 in the 7 years he's lived there. I have talked to people that said they have been seeing a few in the Taum Sauk area as well. That's about 17 miles away from my cabin.
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They're doing a nice job of studying them and publishing the findings. You might like this:
http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/wildlife-reporting/bear-reports
 
Gun or bow? Any mounts being done? Nice trophy for sure. I got one of similar size in PA a few years ago and it's my greatest trophy so far in my hunting career. Field dressed with a buck knife, no Becker at the time though the bk24 I have now would probably do quite well because of all the hair, thick skin, and fat.
 
Turk88 said:
Gun or bow? Any mounts being done? Nice trophy for sure. I got one of similar size in PA a few years ago and it's my greatest trophy so far in my hunting career. Field dressed with a buck knife, no Becker at the time though the bk24 I have now would probably do quite well because of all the hair, thick skin, and fat.
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I love bear hunting - I may mount this guy as a shoulder mount because of that white V. I told my hunting partner on the drive up that I would love to take one with one of these white patches. Usually, on the nicer boars the white patch (which is somewhat rare) is small. This one is pronounced so I may need to clear some space.
 
Brad "the butcher";15135079 said:
my family has always added a deer to the bear for sausage/burgers etc, if its lean add a box of pork fat
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That is an excellent idea. I will have to try it for the skinny deer we have out here.
 
Ferahgo said:
Never had it. What is bear like?
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Depends on where its from and what it's been eating. Dump bears leave a bit to be desired. Up here they gorge on blueberries to the point the fat has a blue tint. The meat from these bears is really good.
 
MOCraig said:
Depends on where its from and what it's been eating. Dump bears leave a bit to be desired. Up here they gorge on blueberries to the point the fat has a blue tint. The meat from these bears is really good.
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That sounds dang good. All the bears out here are scrawny...
 
[superfan] Ok, so which animal is tougher on a blade. Da Bulls? Or Daaaaa Bears? What if Mike Ditka was holding a Becker blade?[/superfan]
 
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