Alright, guys, I'm back and in one piece. Don't have much time but will try to throw together a little story and some pics for you here and then check back in a day or two to answer any questions or take abuse for the ground shrinkage on one of my bears. :oops:
Flew from Omaha to Denver to Calgary to Ft. McMurray, Alberta. Getting so far north on most almanacs that Ft. Mac doesn't show on the Alberta page. Spring has barely arrived there compared to last year and it is just now starting to green up (new buds/leaves on only some of the trees). This first photo shows a particularly cool bend on the Athabasca River enroute to camp.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0481.jpg)
Every time we got out of the boat there were bear tracks on the shore. Here are some pretty fresh ones.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0496.jpg)
And just as similarly, every time we hit the shoreline there were wolf tracks on the shoreline as well. Compare to the size of my hand and realize how big a wolf's print is. (By the way, I have HUGE hands. :wink:
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0501.jpg)
One of the stands was in the spruce right next to this aspen holding an active eagle's nest which helped pass the time when things were slow. Not too many folks can say they were almost hit with eagle poop. :)
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0509.jpg)
This was the site at a stand downstream about 15 miles from camp in an area that time has forgotten. The hair on my neck went up immediately upon entering this bait site and for good reason. Here is an old fallen tree with many inches of moss worn through on one part from bears continually crossing there. Note also some fresh bear crap in lower right which had some berries in it (can't think what they'd be, but if some obscure fruit suddenly came into season it might explain why things started slow). This stand produced in a big way for the other hunter in camp.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0521.jpg)
Sorry for all the poop pictures but this is a LARGE diameter specimen and there is a correlation. :) It's about as big around as the objective of a zoom lens on a camera.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0522.jpg)
I'll post this one and get started on the next right away...
This is how we got to our baits in most cases, using a Lund 16' semi-V with 15hp motors. Here, Jason is taking out the other fellow in camp, a Derek Dombrzinski (sp?) who runs Appalachian Archery in Maryland. He was a good partner in camp and apparently his archery shop is quite popular in and outside the Beltway. Note how this river has carved a DEEP channel among otherwise largely flat terrain up on top. It's a LONG way to the top of these bluffs, longer and harder than it looks, as I was to find out one day.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0546.jpg)
Jason goes in the dead of winter by snow machine over a partially-frozen river (he's crazy) to bait these river sites with 55 gal. drums of oats and grease. Ideally, the bears come out and find the baits and we get there just as they're about empty. Well, you can't control when the bears come out of hibernation nor when AB sets their season. By the time we got there, all the pre-baiting had been cleaned out and it looked like a riot had taken place at each site. But the bears had obviously gone elsewhere to look for new stuff. Jason contends that they "check back" on the baits, but knows this first week of hunters may have to deal with a slow week to get the bears back on the baits. Derek and I were skunked our first three days on stand, but the trail cameras on each bait showed that bears were starting to find them again and things picked up after that.
Because Jason's AB deer camps are also in the area, and mostly up on the top of the bluffs where they come in via Argos or snow machines, he also has a couple baits up on top in case some of those hunters also have fall bear permits. My brother Scott killed a good bear up on one of those baits last spring, but it is a serious hike to get to from the bottom. Serious enough that it took 45 minutes of forced march to get there, and that was with Jason carrying my gadget-laden pack. The grade in many places was maybe 60 degrees and I was using my longbow and another stick as walking sticks for stability. This was my second afternoon about 2/3rds of the way up when I paused to suck serious air. The photo does not do justice to the grade nor the beauty of the woods. Real wilderness country.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0552.jpg)
With things slow, we were going several miles upstream and about 15 miles downstream on the Athabasca freshening the baits and checking the cameras for the latest action. To try to make better time, we had two 15hp motors on the stern, here with Derek and Jason doubling up on the gas.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0584.jpg)
Derek was sold on an upstream bait that had a frequent visitor even though I tried to talk him into the big poop/mossy tree bait I'd seen (but where the Cuddeback camera failed). One of the things you guys need to understand is that when there are other unfilled tags in camp, the policy is we Lambley Bros. are obliged to sit the lesser stands until people have killed a bear. But with Derek passing on the bait that just screamed to me with the best sign, I was headed down to that bait, and a possible date with destiny, when a closer bait showed recent daytime activity by a bruiser (300 lb.?) so Jason talked me into hunting that shorter bait instead. Nothing shows (this was the third day) for either of us.
So on the fourth day, Derek finally goes for the bait I SHOULD'VE sat. But they drop me off at the same bait as the day before and 20 minutes after they left, a bear came out. I really couldn't decide, and for that reason alone I should not have taken him, but I was getting an itchy tab and let the air out of this bear. A bunch of ground shrinkage, but double lungs at 18 yards and it went maybe 25 yards before giving a series of the eerie death moans. The Woodsman broadhead had BROKEN the offside leg bone; very impressive. Dragged it to the river's edge to take pics and complete the many hours that remained before dark (you could shoot up until maybe 11 p.m. MST).
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0587.jpg)
Meanwhile, Derek and Jason go to one bait further than the Mossy one to freshen it and check the camera and while walking in at about 3 p.m., run off a bear. While they're checking the camera, the bear walks back in and it's a pretty good black-phase bear (greens about 18 2/16). The bear is woofing at them (these bears don't see many people) and Derek shoots it while they're still on the ground and with Jason videoing the whole thing over his shoulder. The bear shoots up the nearest tree, gets 20-30 feet up in a matter of a second or two, and then crashes down...dead. All on video. I don't have his pictures yet, but will post them when I do.
They take pics and then head over to the Mossy bait and about 9 p.m. in walks a fat pig of a chocolate bear, well over 300 lbs. and maybe a 20" skull (BIG). It poses at about 13 yards and Derek drills him and is tagged out with two bears in one day. It's a gorgeous bear with a blondish back and I guarantee you half of us would have been asking ourselves if it was a grizzly. Again, pictures when I get them from him. And all I can think of is the old Billy Ray Cyrus song, "It Should've Been Me...". Ha. Actually, was very happy for the client and he is too...he's booked two more years.
Well, the Eagle's Nest stand had started to show some activity at all hours and it was close to camp so on day five I decided to go for a mid-day hunt and got there about 10 with Jason supposed to pick me up at 2:30 for a quick decision about what to do with the remainder of the day. Well, I can hear his motor coming down the valley when the bear walks in and bypasses the bait and is probably coming over to smell my tree when he locks up. He's at 10 yards but facing me, no shot. I try to shield my hands from the bear while attempting to communicate with Jason (who can see me from the river) and wave him off but it's too late and the bear scalds off into the brush. I wave him in then and he pretends to bait the site and I tell him to come back for me at dark (it's going to be about 13+ hours on stand).
About 4, the bear comes back in but is wired now. Moultrie cameras had shown he often stayed at the bait 20-45 minutes so I wanted to wait for a good shot. I got greedy and took some still photos, a couple of which follow.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0597.jpg)
He'd come in and grab a chunk of peanut butter and then sneak back about 25 yards and eat it and then come back. Each time, staying longer at the bait and getting more broadside. Again I got greedy waiting for the slam dunk at 13 yards, and passing up this shot that most of you would've smoked.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0600.jpg)
Last installment here...
Suddenly he heard something and ran off. Crap! It wasn't me, and later photo evidence showed another similar or slightly bigger bear on the bait. Darn it. I just hoped that he hadn't got his fill and would make one last appearance. And if so, I wasn't going to wait around. And that's exactly what happened. About 9 p.m. maybe, he came in from another direction, and I didn't wait for him to even get to the bait, and let the air out of him at about 17 yards. He ran about 100 yards (long for a well-hit bear) and gave the moans that signaled I could get down and claim my bear. Turned out to be a one lung hit. I saw where he went down but as I always do, I followed the blood trail first. Some of it was great (see picture), some very challenging, and he often followed the bear paths (which are eerie in that they are not a path so much as a series of footfalls where bears step in the exact same footfalls for years) and even ran down a log through a small bog.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0604.jpg)
At the end of the trail was this bear, borderline P&Y if you're interested and I'd guess a legit 250 lbs. or better (which is 300+ by the way most guys drastically overestimate bear weights).
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0622.jpg)
And here's a picture down by the Athabasca after we dragged him through a bunch of deadfalls.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0634.jpg)
There's more pictures, but I'm running out of time. Here's a good look at the plane we came in on...a Caravan that has wheels AND floats at the same time. Pretty slick.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0646.jpg)
And when the next crew flew in with hunters from NJ, my brother Scott flew in to help Jason with the camp and the skinning and additional baiting. So for a few minutes, there was a quorum of the Lambley family brothers in Alberta, from left, Scott, Jason, and yours truly (the fat one but to be fair I've got cameras and videocams in my pockets, etc). :D
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/IMG0647.jpg)
One last thing. Both Derek's bears were shot with Rage-2 and both blades fell off both times even though they were double lungers that didn't hit anything hard. Derek was not happy; his accuracy had killed those bears but if he'd hit something hard I'm afraid we might have had trouble. I am happy to say that I was pleased with my Pronghorn longbow and Woodsman heads. It was a great time, and there's lots more stories, but this will have to suffice for now.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :clapper:
Good for you Bryce. As a teacher I know its tough for you to find time for extended hunts. Thanks for sharing.
Wow what a hunt
Congrats Bryce thanks for sharing. Thats a heck of a little story, your pretty good at this writing thing ;) must be all the practice. Also enjoyed your story in the new Bowhunter. Nice pics and beautiful bears. Congrats again Joe
Most excellent bro...congrats!! :notworthy: :clapper:
Congrats! Good story. I'll stay tuned for more.
Nice Bears Bryce! congrats
Way to go Bryce.
Jack
Congratulations on both bears.... That last one is a bruiser! :campfire:
Not too many folks can say they were almost hit with eagle poop. :biglaugh: We all seem to be getting hit by a lot of eagle poop lately coming out of DC. :rolleyes:
I do enjoy your pictures and story. I hunted northwest of Ft. McKay a few years ago and the country looks familiar. Makes me miss going bear hunting this year.
Congrtas! Great Story and Pictures. :thumbsup:
Thanks for sharing, nice bear too!!
the chef
:thumbsup:
That sounds like a awesome hunt and experience! Were those your first bears? or did I miss that somewhere? Sorry to hear about your buddies broadheads that is why it is never best to leave something mechanical to chance! Good job and thanks for the pics.
Wow, an excellent photo essay that was ALMOST as good as being there...and no long, drawn out dramatic pauses along the way! (A welcome change!!)
Nice going Bryce, sounds like a great trip. Thanks for sharing! Will be looking for the "Griz" pics. :thumbsup:
>>--Ron--<>
thanks for taking us along, Bryce :thumbsup:
:campfire:
Great story and pics.. Thanks for posting them.
Bears are just,,, Awesome!!
John III
Hey Bryce! I was wondering how it went. Looks like awesome country. That green Pronghorn just doesn't miss :thumbsup:
Way to go Bryce. I'm proud of you! As usual, detailed writing that makes another of your adventures another great story. Good job! Welcome home. When you coming to see me again?
Talk about an added bonus.Im smack dab in the middle of your book as we speak Bryce.I got this one before it hit the press.congrats on a good hunt and great pics.
Thanks for all the kind words on the little tale... In answer to one question, I've been most fortunate to have killed three previous bears in four trips to Manitoba, which is really my brother's home base. I get the 'family' discount, but then again we're put to work as well. On one of those trips, I also killed a timber wolf with a Pronghorn bow which was obviously a lucky fluke.
Trips to bear country are really special for me because it is so different than the normal places I hunt, and also because the spring hunt gives us adventure to do while we'd otherwise be twiddling our thumbs (or getting fish guts on our nice bows) back here in Nebraska.
Plus, for me, it is a chance to spend time with my little brother who I rarely see otherwise except at Christmas. Bear camps are perfect for family or friends to share hunts. When I look back at my previous bear trips I shared camps with: 1-Dad, brother Jason, brother Scott and his wife Tracy; 2-Dad, brothers Kevin and Jason; 3-Jason and a then-brother in law; 4-Dad and Jason; and this trip, 5-Jason and Scott. Family remains very important to me.
Some day I hope to take my daughters with me. :)
<<<<<<>>>>>>
Oh, and Gatekeeper, you are so correct in your keen analysis of what's been coming out of Washington lately. Dang, I wish I'd have thought of that. :)
Wow Bryce, very cool!!! Thanks for sharing the stories and the pictures!
Good going Bryce! That makes me want to go bear hunting again. Congrats.
Bryce strikes again! (Make sure you check out my bear-tale on here, it is a bit more drawn out since as you already know, I am a little Drama Queen!)
Awesome! Congratulations!
Claudia
Wary,
I just noticed the Alberta part versus Manitoba. Someone tell Jason to "head west young man"?
Nice story Bryce! Thanks for sharing with us all.
Out standing... that bear hunting could be addicting couldn't it..
Nice bear!
Congrats on the Bears and thanks for sharing, I love to read the storys and see the pics of these hunts as my chances of ever doing this is slim to none these days!! Thanks again!!
Thanks for sharing the story and pics...
good hunt...good story and pics. Thanks!
Guru--totally understand on the non-compound pics. Not a problem. I will add that stickbow enthusiast Joel Riotto followed me into this camp and killed two BIG bears but I haven't seen pictures yet. One of his was brown phase I believe and both over 300#.
Would I rather kill a bear with spot and stalk? Sure. And I've actually killed a fair number of my whitetails from the ground. But it would be next to impossible in an entire month afield in this particular location with almost zero visibility. And since I participated heavily in the intense labor of baiting this entire camp, etc., I feel the bear was well-earned.
For the rest of you that posted, thanks for the kind words. All I was trying to do was take you guys and gals along on my recent trip. Here are a couple more photos some of you may enjoy. In this first picture, several big chunks of petrified wood are on the left, the upper two from WY and the bottom left from this recent trip to AB. It is maybe 9" long and the sap on the ends is whitish and petrified too. Very cool. The smaller pieces on the far right are all various forms of petrified wood found on the same trip with a minimum of looking for them. The lighter colored stuff in the middle will be in a close-up on second photo.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/Fossils001.jpg)
Here is a closeup of the two stones with fossils that I found at the mouth of a stream that emptied into the Athabasca River in AB. I was waiting for my brother to pick me up, and with my flashlight in the dark I found these two. I wish now I'd gone back to try to locate more. I'm not sure if they're invertabrae (sp) or some kind of plant life, but each rock has literally dozens of individual specimens. If any of you have any further information on what they might be, I'd appreciate it.
(http://i118.photobucket.com/albums/o94/WaryBuck/Fossils002.jpg)
And thanks again for the nice comments from the TradGang.
Great pics and story thanks for sharing!!!
Congrats :thumbsup:
Bryce, You do know that you do know a paleontologist, right...?
That said, I'm not sure! Almost looks plant cause of the non-symmetry but I guess next time I'm in state I'll have to look closer.
Steve,
Dang, I thought you were more of a geologist; how closely related are they to paleontologist? (Probably why I theoretically can teach USHIST, WORLD HIST, SOC, GEOG, PSYCH, ANTHRO, and even ECON. Trust me, I'd be okay on the first four but wouldn't even attempt the last three.
And Steve, I forgot to answer your question earlier. Yeah, little brother guides deer/bear/waterfowl in MB and now deer/bear and sometimes wolf/moose in AB. He's pretty excited by what he's seen in AB these last maybe five(?) years. Big country, that's for sure.
Catch you next time you're back in eastern NE.
Later,
Bryce
Wow, I sure enjoyed the pictures and story.
Thank you, and congratulations on great times
in the woods.
Congrats. :bigsmyl:
congrats man!! :clapper: if i saw somthing that big i would crap myself.
COOL BEANS DUDE! KILLED A BLACK IN SAS. UP IN THE CARROT RIVER AREA THREE YEARS AGO. THUNDERHORN AND A WENSEL WOODIE PRODUCED THE DEATH MOAN. THAT IS TRULY A WEIRD SOUND. BEAR HUNTING IS EXCITING! THANKS FOR THE STORY. :clapper: