Trad Gang

Way to go Tom!!!
You gonna make any sausage or pepperoni?

John

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At a "secret" location about 5 minutes from Homer (by air) we (my friend Scott and I) set up a camp over looking the salt/ tide flats where I know there to be lots of bears.  

 (http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt158/saltwatertom/hpim1096.jpg)

Thats one of my planes in the back ground tied above the high tide line, and Scott packing the camp to our tent site.

I'll skip to the end of the story for a moment here. We just finished wrapping the meat and putting it in the freezer, except for some back strap steaks that my wife just pan fried and we had for supper.

OH MY, YUM YUM YUM!!!!!!!!!!
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(http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt158/saltwatertom/101_1037.jpg)
This is the view from where I shot. Scott and I were walking very slowly up a creek in the timber when the bear appeared out of the bushes to cross the creek, moving from my right to left. As he got abouty half way across the creek he smelled us and began huffing, sniffing and popping his jaws. He would take a step or so and look around and look right at us but we didn't move and he apparently didn't see us. When I felt confident in the situation and he turned his head away from us I drew and shot for a quartering away shot. As I released he took a quick step and the arrow hit about 4 inches too far back for a heart lung shot.  (http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt158/saltwatertom/101_1038.jpg)
The bear was just to the left of the dead standing/leaning tree crossing on the dead fallen tree.

I was able to see exactly where my arrow hit thanks to some lighted nocks I just purchased. I've never used lighted nocks before and thought I would try them to see if they really helped. One reason is, I built all ( ok, mostly ) camo arrows for hunting. I am impressed with how visible the arrow flight becomes. The shot was a pass thru and when I walked over to where the bear was hit I found the arrow in the grass about ten feet past the tree he was standing on, lighted nock easy to see and find. My appologies to any one offended by this not being quite strickly trad.

After waitng half an hour we began following the blood trail.

The bear only went about 50 yards, but trailing thru this beetle kill, dead fall, devils club, alders and dense vegitation is a big job. Heck, just walking, climbing thru it is the worst part. At one point Scott and I were split up and when I looked under some alders there was a pile of black fur! I called to Scott and hollered here he is and he is dead!! WOO HOO!!.  Then he moved! It did't take much to finish him off as he was just about done for any way.
 (http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt158/saltwatertom/101_1024.jpg)
The arrow had clipped the liver and would have been a perfect shot if he hadn't jumped the string. We removed the intestines and built a dragging  harness out of some parachute cord I carry in my pack. ( rember that thread about what do you carry for you survival gear?)
(http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt158/saltwatertom/hpim1099.jpg) (http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt158/saltwatertom/101_1025.jpg)
I hope these pics give some idea how brushy it is where we were hunting.

When I opened the stomach all he had been eating was berries, I figured this would be a good tasting bear. I was right, as you know!   :D     :thumbsup:  

 (http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt158/saltwatertom/101_1035.jpg)
Together Scott and I drug the bear out thru a better path/ trail to the creek and then out to the tide flats.
 (http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt158/saltwatertom/101_1036.jpg)
I went and got the airplane and landed right next to the bear. We loaded him into the back seat/cargo area and put the seat belts on him for the ride home. String release was at 7:35 AM and we were back in Homer by noon. It took till 10 AM to get him out of the woods.  

I shoot a 62 inch Daala 55# cranked up some and goldtip 55/75's with 100 grain inserts and woodsman broadheads. I am very impressed with the performance of the woodsmans.

Thanks for asking for the story. Did I leave any thing out?    :thumbsup:

Oh yea, the bear was a 4/5 year old boar about 225/250 lbs (live weight). Squared out about 6 foot green, skull is 10 1/2 by 5 3/8, just a little guy, but,....... tasty!  :D    :D

i could see tom's plane from our set-net site ... never heard the shot, though  :biglaugh:  
pretty cool!!!!

Well done!  :thumbsup:

nice hunt.  :)

"Thats one of my planes in the back ground tied above the high tide line"  (At least you HOPE it is above high tide!)

I heard the shot over here Tom since the wind was WSW.

GREAT Job!

Eh Brahdah Tom,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!

I see you got dem gold tips flying straight an true.

You gotta show me how its done when you come back for a visit.

Aloha,

      Mark

Thanks,   Will do brahdah Mark, I hope it is soon too!

Steve, it IS for sure above the high tide line, I am VERY aware of the tides and VERY careful about my plane   ;)   and, ...... I've parke there lots of times before.    :thumbsup:

(http://i607.photobucket.com/albums/tt158/saltwatertom/hpim1103.jpg)