We are there to hunt moose but Bear hunting is also on the schedule . This year we drew a bull tag . Last year we had one hunt that had 3 different bulls come to the call . Last year I had a beast at 25 yards but could not get a clear shot on it ...the memory still gets my heart pumping ...This year we had much anticipation of a us getting a Bull in this productive area.....Well things change ----many of the areas we were hunting were sprayed this summer , we had at least 5 new /different groups of bowhunters in the area ( we did help 1 group get a bull they wacked a bull on the way to our call -----had no idea they were set up along the lake behing us ) . The weather, about 4 days of heavy rain and wind along with most days being way too hot helped keep us from seeing many moose ! But bear hunting was better .
My group has 2 members that have never taken a bear . The past 3 years have been my mission to get them one . I found the spot for a bait last year , refined the spot a bit this year and it was very good . After delpying the Seceret Sauce ( u do not want to know === it gag , burp === yak , is not for those with a weak stomach ) it took all of about 2 days for the bear to find the bait . There we 5 different bear on the bait .
Hunter 1 was the 1st to sit on the bait . I went to pick him up after legal light . Are guys are to stay in the stand till pickup time ....i got to the stand a saw a zombie Slayer and luminock sticking in the ground ... Bob was a bit excited to say the least . He told me his story that it was BIG BEAR and it had came in about an hour before sun set . There was a lot of blood so off to camp for lights ( and to arm my self with and Axe ). The blood trail started out great but soon became sparse . Long story short , I tracked it for a few hours that night and lost the trail . We went back in the am and found the trail trail again and tracked it to a marsh where I lost the trail for good .....My thoughts are that he shot was very low and the arrow sliced the offside leg as well . I had found the arrow buried in the sand at too steep an angle for our stand set up ,a glancing shot
2 days later I sit in the same stand with Super Dave .......Well it was about about an hour or more before sunset and I detected some movement in the trees , Dave there is a bear coming in ....Lets just say when I saw the size of the think I started to shake ---it takes a bit to get me going ---it was a BIG BEAR -----Dave whispers is it 200 pounds -------me , gulp -----SHHHHHHHHHHH, be quiet ! I did not want to get him as wound up as I was .....Another Monster on this bait ---Daves 1st bear will be a Beast ....... Well Mr Bear knew something was up and paced the perimiter for 45 minutes and left ...Oh well it was quite the show Dave ...maybe tomorrow ......10 minutes go by and Bam I look to my left and the Big Hog is laying on the top of the sand hill watching us . He starts pacing again getting a bit bolder getting closer to the bait but running back to the trees 30 yards away. We are now at the end of legal light and he decides to come in and eat ...He gets a mouth full of dog food runs of crunch crunch crunch and come back in for another repeat . Dave says how we going to get out of here ? I reach into my pocket for a rock and remember I took them out $&!+ ...So I break a few branches in our tree , wrong ! Growling , woofing , teeth popping the full show . Well Dave I better stop I am just p---ing him off ----We sit and watch as he now lays down to put the feed bag on ------The I remember the bottle of water in my bag , I stand up and lob it doing my best to bean him , he gets up and runs a bit looking back. I break more branches and try to make an intimidating growl . The bear runs off , lets get out of here !!!
2 nights later Dave is in the stand again , I go to pick him up he lower his bow case and I feel an arrow missing . U shoot , yep , good shot ? I think so ....He tells the story, I look but can not find the arrow ( no luminok this time ) my flash light is dying and I can find no blood . Lets leave it .....Dave said it blew out twice and a small moan ... I was pretty sure it was dead.
Up early and off to the bait . I find the arrow 9 yards from the barrel with about 8 inches sticking out of the sand ... Whoa look at the blood trail here , climb the hill and the see no blood ----dam not again . I am looking close to the ground for sign nothing and it starting to rain poop, three more steps I look up and to the right there he is !!!! 30 yards !!! Dave you have a beauty !!!
I was able to get a line on it and drag it out with my commander . It then took 4 of us old guys to get it in the commander ! Upon skinning the monster Dave had took out both lungs and clipped the heart . My 380 , zombie slayer arrow and 125 Ramcats did Dave proud !!
Kevin ---this is why bear hunting gets me pumped !1
