Last month I shared my thread on new Java headed north for my first bear hunt. Here's the update on how it went:
Four lifelong buddies decided to book Ontario bear hunt with Sioux hunts for our 50th birthdays. Three Trad hunters including myself, Huckbuck and a new trad convert we'll call Stinky along with one buddy that was fish only.
Maxed out the load on the Ford to start our drive from Kansas to Ontario.
The precious cargo included my new Javaman Elkheart, Huckbucks new Javaman Elkheart and the rookie a Java Helms Deep.
Leaving KS....
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Somewhere in Iowa (http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/lmyers2/Mobile%20Uploads/20160819_125153_1.jpg) (http://s1119.photobucket.com/user/lmyers2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160819_125153_1.jpg.html)
Stop in Duluth for some "essentials" from Frost River and Duluth Packs. (http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/lmyers2/Mobile%20Uploads/20160819_141503.jpg) (http://s1119.photobucket.com/user/lmyers2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160819_141503.jpg.html)
..... :thumbsup:
Mandatory stop... (http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/lmyers2/Mobile%20Uploads/20160820_083813_1.jpg) (http://s1119.photobucket.com/user/lmyers2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160820_083813_1.jpg.html)
Entering the North Woods (http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/lmyers2/Mobile%20Uploads/20160820_102715.jpg) (http://s1119.photobucket.com/user/lmyers2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160820_102715.jpg.html)
Arrive at lake cabin after 21 hour drive...not in KS anymore! :)
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There must be more than that . :campfire:
Getting late....the hunt begins tomorrow...
Thanks for the update .
And the pictures , us kids like pictures . :wavey:
Larry,
Really looking forward to this story!
Hunting this year with a new to me Elkheart & bear season starts today. Good luck!
Todd
Good luck. Welcome to our neck of the woods.
:campfire: :campfire:
Looking forward to this.
:campfire:
Day 1...
Spent the day unpacking and a good portion on the trek into the woods to hand stands.
All stands we set were about 6'-7' high. Lots of bear sign in the area along with other critters. Huckbuck had bear hunted a few times....but the others it was our first and excitement and some uneasiness ate at us as we anticipated the next afternoon.
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In for the win.
Keep us updated if you can. Luv me some bear hunting stories.
:thumbsup:
Good Start :thumbsup:
In for the rest :campfire:
Seems that as we get older times like this are hard to come by with work, family obligations and schedules. I'm glad we made it happen and have some great memories to share. :coffee: :archer2:
:campfire: :campfire: :campfire:
Having never bear hunted I'm anxious to hear more! :campfire:
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:biglaugh:
:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
Day 2: Finally Hunt Day! We'd planned this trip for two years and awoke anxious. Got the paperwork out of the way and spent some time getting equipment laid out and packs loaded.
Late morning we had several rounds of target practice just to make sure. Then took good care to resharpen broadheads.
Huck shooting Magnus single bevel, stinky shooting KK Trailmakers and me Ace Super Express. Shortly after lunch we loaded truck for drive further north to big woods.
As you all know...risk is low. But for Kansas boys...mostly first time up here...something about a bear hunt that gets the juices flowing. For me....the nervous juices. On the drive up we spent time joking about all the "stuff" that could go wrong sitting alone in a tree waiting for bears. I'm not feeling much better! :pray: Listening to Jim Bowman Bear Hunt on CD became the tradition each day.
We had drawn cards for stands we had hung previous. Dropped stinky at the gulley stand. Huck dropped me at the highstone stand and he moved on to moose River stand. We were all about 25 miles apart.
Weather was a bit warm....but I guess that's good. High 60's low 50's.
(http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/lmyers2/Mobile%20Uploads/20160822_154307.jpg) (http://s1119.photobucket.com/user/lmyers2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160822_154307.jpg.html) View from my stand
I'm here on stand...finally. What a view. Woods are silent except for a chipmunk. I was hopeful to see a bear sometime day 1. Little did I know it would be now! Only been siting less than 10 minutes when I see something black through the thick bush. Here we go I was thinking....heart pounding! What a great way to feel alive!! (http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/lmyers2/Mobile%20Uploads/20160822_162651.jpg) (http://s1119.photobucket.com/user/lmyers2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160822_162651.jpg.html)
A decent bear I suppose. No way would I be taking the shot on bear 1. Too many stories of how hard they are to judge. Which is dang true. So let him walk. Not long there was another.....then another... (http://i1119.photobucket.com/albums/k640/lmyers2/Mobile%20Uploads/20160821_180008.jpg) (http://s1119.photobucket.com/user/lmyers2/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160821_180008.jpg.html)
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Saw 7 bears from my stand day 1. Thrill ride when this one walked right at me...looked up at me and came to my tree. Pulled the pepper of my belt as she put one paw up....but a quick stomp of my boot and she walked away without issue.
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Other guys with similar stories. Huck had two bear sightings including nusence bear that made a day out of some aggressive behavior. Stinky saw 5 bears. All of us had shots but decided to hold off......
Day 2 starts with some time on the lake. The Man Upstairs was kind enough to provide us some fresh walleye for lunch each day.
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Guess the bears look bigger when they are staring at you. Man what a thrill.
Time to hit the stand. Day two I had made up my mind that this was way too much fun for me to finish the hunt unless I think it was a giant. For me another perfect outing. I saw five bears. Looking back...one big that I probably should have tried to take but I was truly having trouble with judging and a lot of fun watching so decided to wait. But the opportunity was there.
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Day 2 closes For me with an innocent close encounter with a bear as I walked out on my trail. Enough to get my blood pumping for sure.....but for Huck and Stinky it was even more interesting.....
Awesome, keep it coming!
When Huck picked me up he was missing an arrow in the quiver so I knew something was up! But his face was white and he proceeds to tell me this....yes he got a nice bear. But after shot he watched it go down. a bit later, he got down and walked to the bear. As he took a knee and reached for the bear he heard jaws snap and a quick growl. As he looked up...that nusence boar was headed for him. As he tells it....he went numb. Fell to the side of his bear and felt a bit paralyzed. After a few seconds passed he was able to wave his arms as the bear was within a few feet. Luckily it turned and moved away. Huck took that opportunity to head to the truck and come get me.
Before heading to get his bear we went to get Stinky. He was waiting with good news. Bear down! We grabbed lights as mostly dark and headed in the thick stuff. He had shot 40 min earlier but feft good and heard the moan. Several yards in we found the bear. A nice boar....but as we approached a huge chunk had been taken out of side. Another bear had bitten a clean cut through ribs just below chest. Made the field dress before the drag pretty intense to say the least.
We returned for Hucks bear late. His wasn't far with clean kill. We were glad not to run into ole nusence bear on the way out.
Day 2 ended late but with great success for both Huck and Stink and some good stories to share.
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Wow , that's awesome .
Day 4...day 3 of hunt.
Just me now. They boys decided to go up north with me to pick berries a few miles from my hunt.
I was on stand by 3:00. Same stand for me each day. Had to wait a bit longer this time. About an hour and a half in the first bear shows. A little latter a good representative bear makes an appearance. I decide then that if a shot presents I'll take it. She leaves without a shot. 20 minutes later she's back. Same scenario....almost but not a shot I loved. She leaves again. A little after 5 she's back. This time she takes another angle in presenting perfect qtr away at 8 yards. My arrow finds its mark and I watch her fall about 10 yards away. My first bear down. The guys show up later for much needed help with the drag.
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Great ending to a great hunt!
Spent the next three days with fishing and fellowship enjoying wildlife rarely seen for us. (Eagles, Lynx, pike) along with occasional evening lakeside sauna, whiskey and a fine pipe smoke.
I've hunted most of my life, but feel just blessed to have taken this hunt with the company I shared.
I'll definitely be back!!
Having a little fun back at camp.
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Awesome.
Awesome story, thanks for sharing it. Congrats to all !!
Well done all! You guys hit the trifecta!
Very nice!
I miss baiting bear.
What outfitter? How big we're the bear? Congratulations, a lifetime memory...
That was a great hunt! Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for taking us on your hunting trip .
Frank: Outfitter was Sioux Archery Hunts, Name Kai.
Bears were big enough for us. They were all mid 200 lb. we didn't weight them so just going from outfitters experience.
It is pretty much do it yourself. He ran baits prior to us arriving. Once we arrive were responsible for bait refreshing, hanging stands, taking care of bears etc. PM me and I'd be happy to provide more info. It was a good experience. Lots of bears.
Congratulations!
I love hunting Canada for bears.
Congratulations to all! Great story, thank you for sharing!
Great thanks for sharing
Congrats, It doesn't get better!
Awesome story. I'd love to get with a few other trad guys and do something like this one day. I will say though, I would have liked to see a good closeup of the three Javas together. A Helms Deep is on my bucket list.
:campfire:
Congrats on a very successful hunt, successful in every meaning of the word. Thanks for taking the time to share your hunt with us. :thumbsup:
Thanks for sharing! Well done.
Great story. Congrats to all