First Bear hunt
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First Bear hunt
So after 9 years of applying for a Michigan bear permit I was able to buy a license this year.
I had never hunted bear before but have seen them on a few occasions over the years deer hunting .
I got some baiting tips and advise from some Excal Forum members and decided to give it a go.
The hunting property is a 3 hour drive from my home so baiting was a commitment .
My first time up I had buckets of feed to haul back on a 4 wheeler well the property gate was locked and I did not have a key , I was able to pass the buckets over the fence and get into the garage to the 4 wheeler, however I soon discovered keeping 5 gal buckets on a 4 wheeler with bungee straps is almost imposable on the long ride back.
Also I was the first person back on the path to the property for the season and had many new wind falls to deal with and only a machete with a saw back to cut myself a bypass trail around the worst spots ,mind you its hot out and many misquotes .
Just to put out the first bait was an all day event
The next week I wired milk crates to the 4 wheeler for the buckets , bought gear to clear the wind falls and got things in order but still a good amount of work to bait .
To make a long story shorter
The first day I hunted I get out before day lite to my tree stand and realize that I forgot my lunch at the trailer but I had 6 meat sticks and water in my pack so I am ok I was planning on an all day hunt in my stand as I had only 4 days to get this done ,
I am hunting firearm season with my x bow .
I sit from first light to 4:30 in my tree stand with only very happy chipmunks to keep my company raiding my bait , when I see a bear working its way towards my bait.
I was immediately very excited.
It was a lone bear and I never let it get to the bait , I went into deer hunting mode I picked out a shooting lain the bear would step into , guessed the yardage and when he stepped into it took the shot with my Matrix 350.
I waited a hour before looking for it even though I herd a death moan before that.
I should have let it come into the bait so I could size it up it was only a 100 lb bear I wish it had been bigger.
I was just getting quick looks at it as it came in and I was very much in an adrenalin rush, I took the shot at 30 yards out but it would have come in all the way I am sure .
I got the bear out , packed it with bags of ice and extra bags along the sides and tied it up in a tarp over night and then took it to get registered with the DNR the next day.
I skinned it that day when I got it home and processed the rib cage that night and put the front and hind quarters on top of ice bags in a cooler over night until I could butcher the next morning.
Killed Sunday night , registered Monday skinned / quartered and into coolers, finished the butchering on Tuesday.
I must say the meat is really wonderful , I had only had some Bear bratwurst many years ago and never a Bear loin or steak .
Wow Bear is excellent table fair I have had it a hand full of times now and I am impressed.
This was all last month I have been stretched very thin these last few weeks and just got around to this post .
I have a picture but posting pictures never works for me.
I had never hunted bear before but have seen them on a few occasions over the years deer hunting .
I got some baiting tips and advise from some Excal Forum members and decided to give it a go.
The hunting property is a 3 hour drive from my home so baiting was a commitment .
My first time up I had buckets of feed to haul back on a 4 wheeler well the property gate was locked and I did not have a key , I was able to pass the buckets over the fence and get into the garage to the 4 wheeler, however I soon discovered keeping 5 gal buckets on a 4 wheeler with bungee straps is almost imposable on the long ride back.
Also I was the first person back on the path to the property for the season and had many new wind falls to deal with and only a machete with a saw back to cut myself a bypass trail around the worst spots ,mind you its hot out and many misquotes .
Just to put out the first bait was an all day event
The next week I wired milk crates to the 4 wheeler for the buckets , bought gear to clear the wind falls and got things in order but still a good amount of work to bait .
To make a long story shorter
The first day I hunted I get out before day lite to my tree stand and realize that I forgot my lunch at the trailer but I had 6 meat sticks and water in my pack so I am ok I was planning on an all day hunt in my stand as I had only 4 days to get this done ,
I am hunting firearm season with my x bow .
I sit from first light to 4:30 in my tree stand with only very happy chipmunks to keep my company raiding my bait , when I see a bear working its way towards my bait.
I was immediately very excited.
It was a lone bear and I never let it get to the bait , I went into deer hunting mode I picked out a shooting lain the bear would step into , guessed the yardage and when he stepped into it took the shot with my Matrix 350.
I waited a hour before looking for it even though I herd a death moan before that.
I should have let it come into the bait so I could size it up it was only a 100 lb bear I wish it had been bigger.
I was just getting quick looks at it as it came in and I was very much in an adrenalin rush, I took the shot at 30 yards out but it would have come in all the way I am sure .
I got the bear out , packed it with bags of ice and extra bags along the sides and tied it up in a tarp over night and then took it to get registered with the DNR the next day.
I skinned it that day when I got it home and processed the rib cage that night and put the front and hind quarters on top of ice bags in a cooler over night until I could butcher the next morning.
Killed Sunday night , registered Monday skinned / quartered and into coolers, finished the butchering on Tuesday.
I must say the meat is really wonderful , I had only had some Bear bratwurst many years ago and never a Bear loin or steak .
Wow Bear is excellent table fair I have had it a hand full of times now and I am impressed.
This was all last month I have been stretched very thin these last few weeks and just got around to this post .
I have a picture but posting pictures never works for me.
Hunt eat sleep repeat.
Re: First Bear hunt
Congratulations on your successful hunt. Great story too. Sound like a lot of work....but you did it!
Take care
Hatchet
Take care
Hatchet
Re: First Bear hunt
Awesome! Congrats on the hardwork and successful hunt Jerry!
Send me the pics if you want them posted.
Send me the pics if you want them posted.
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Suppressor 400TD
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Suppressor 400TD
Assassin 400Extreme
Re: First Bear hunt
Cool story, your hard work paid off and the younger bears sure taste good !
If you want a rug wait for a bigger bear, if you want great table fare shoot a younger bear .
Next year you will utilize all your recourses to their full potential after a good 2021 season under your belt.
How far from the shot did he drop? Describe your hit wound characteristics?
If you want a rug wait for a bigger bear, if you want great table fare shoot a younger bear .
Next year you will utilize all your recourses to their full potential after a good 2021 season under your belt.
How far from the shot did he drop? Describe your hit wound characteristics?
EXCALFFLICTION 1991 ->>----------> 2024
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Teach Your Family How To Hunt So You Don't Have To Hunt For Your Family
Matrix 355
Huskemaw and Leupold crossbow optics.
Boo Strings
SWAT BH's and TOTA heads.
Teach Your Family How To Hunt So You Don't Have To Hunt For Your Family
-
- Posts: 3427
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:41 pm
- Location: Southern Michigan
-
- Posts: 3427
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:41 pm
- Location: Southern Michigan
Re: First Bear hunt
In Michigan you get 1 point every year you apply for a bear permit no one with less than 9 points gets a license in my area so no chance soon to do it again soon for me.Normous wrote: ↑Wed Oct 06, 2021 10:20 pmCool story, your hard work paid off and the younger bears sure taste good !
If you want a rug wait for a bigger bear, if you want great table fare shoot a younger bear .
Next year you will utilize all your recourses to their full potential after a good 2021 season under your belt.
How far from the shot did he drop? Describe your hit wound characteristics?
I used a 350 matrix , 2219 aluminum , 175 grain slick trick, Blazers.
Hit was farther back that I wanted but the bear only went about 70 yards, good blood all the way.
I thought the death moan was kind of folk lore but I herd it, I still was in no rush to track it . I always wait an hour on a bow shot even on deer.
A month of work and it was over in a moment.
Hunt eat sleep repeat.
-
- Posts: 3427
- Joined: Mon Nov 30, 2009 7:41 pm
- Location: Southern Michigan
Re: First Bear hunt
gerald strine wrote: ↑Wed Oct 06, 2021 10:45 pmIn Michigan you get 1 point every year you apply for a bear permit no one with less than 9 points gets a license in my area so no chance soon to do it again for me.Normous wrote: ↑Wed Oct 06, 2021 10:20 pmCool story, your hard work paid off and the younger bears sure taste good !
If you want a rug wait for a bigger bear, if you want great table fare shoot a younger bear .
Next year you will utilize all your recourses to their full potential after a good 2021 season under your belt.
How far from the shot did he drop? Describe your hit wound characteristics?
I used a 350 matrix , 2219 aluminum , 175 grain slick trick, Blazers.
Hit was farther back that I wanted but the bear only went about 70 yards, good blood all the way.
I thought the death moan was kind of folk lore but I herd it, I still was in no rush to track it . I always wait an hour on a bow shot even on deer.
A month of work and it was over in a moment.
Hunt eat sleep repeat.
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- Posts: 13618
- Joined: Wed Sep 14, 2005 3:51 pm
- Location: Western Ky
Re: First Bear hunt
Yo congrats on your nice Yogi
Re: First Bear hunt
Sounds awesome! Save the bear grease for cooking and patch lube!
- nchunterkw
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Re: First Bear hunt
Nice! Congrats!
Keith
Stand by the roads and look, and ask for the ancient paths; where the good way is,
and walk in it and find rest for your souls. - Jer 6:16
Micro 335 & 355
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[email protected]
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Stand by the roads and look, and ask for the ancient paths; where the good way is,
and walk in it and find rest for your souls. - Jer 6:16
Micro 335 & 355
deerboyarchery.wixsite.com/trinitystrings
[email protected]
<{{{><
Re: First Bear hunt
Congrats on a great first hunt! Nice bear!
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- one shot scott
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Re: First Bear hunt
Congratulations! a good eater!
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Re: First Bear hunt
Congrats Your smile says it all!!
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Custom Wood Stock
Gold Tip II 311 Grain
Meat Seeker, 3 blade, Mechanical 100 Grain
Boo Astroflight String
Varizone Sighting