I had bever hunted bear before and was considering going to new brunswick when a friend gave me a card for a young outfitter just starting out just down the road(25 miles). After doing rehab for months due to a broken bow arm elbow I decided to give him a try.
I got to camp and found I was the only hunter for three days. I had been practicing for about two months and I could smoke my targets and had been shooting a bear target for three weeks daily. I was ready or so I thought.
The first morning a 200 lb boar came in and I let him pass. later an 80 pounder came by and entertained me an hour (sporatically) or so.
Then around 7 pm the little guy came back and I watched him for twenty minutes until he bolted off. A big sow was coming in. I focused on her when I noticed a huge boar coming in . Two bears at once!
The boar was broadside at twenty yards and I fired an arrow over his back!he bears left and a few minutes later the sow came back and I again fired over her back. I was sick , mad , confused. how could I miss??? I was lmost ready to quit, so dejected and doubted my abilities.
The next day I decided to hunt a different spot, as I couldn't go back to yesterday's spot, and watched a large sow with two cubs.
On the final day of the hunt I sat and watched the little guy several times through the day. A good bear came in and I let him go. When he came again I drew on him twice but each time at the last second he moved and he was facing slightly forward. I sat down and let him pass.
We knew the big boar and another huge bear we called scar (due to a 4 inch scar on his side were coming in near the end of shooting time).The big sow came in at 6pm and I jut sat and watched her. I watnted one of the big boars and I had a little less than two hours to go.
Another good boar cam in at 7:25. I watched him and the clock. When he left I noticed my legs were shaking with anticipation. I told myself, this was crazy and I should just relax. Suddenly a feeling of calmness came over me. It didn't matter what happened , I had seen nine bear , it was a great hunt regardless of a kill or no kill. I was content and at peace. I sat down at 7:30 when I noticed a small piece of black moving through the bush.
It was Scar. His huge head peaked through the trees and he waliked past me at 16 yards. I stood up and as he angled away I reached for an arrow. As he turned and stood broadside at 20 yards the began my draw.
Unlike the previous times I had drawn on the bears there was no noise, no trees, no doubt about the shot, just silence and an almost tunnel like view of the bear.
A split second after my finger reached the edge of my lip and my thumb the underside of my jaw the arrow was on its way. I watched as it struck him in the back of the lungs. I didn't get a pass through with my 41 lb Chekmate fired 1916 Steel Force 125 gr Sabertooth but it was buried to the hilt.
We found the arrow and broadhead about ten yards from each other. Finding him was an incredible feeling. Bradley and I checked him and found that the broadhead had done it's job with a huge exit hole on his side.
It took Bradley and I two hours to get him back to camp as he weighed in at 320 pounds.
I'm going back and hopefully I won't be alone as sharing the experience with some more bowhunters would have made it even more special.
I'm hooked.
Congats! Great story too. Hope too hunt bear one day. One day.
I've got some nice pics as soon as I figure out how to put them on.
Just to be sure on my last day I put on my old Prince George Silvertip Archers tee shirt under my camo. I don't believe in luck but it couldn't hurt LOL
http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad282/just_me1962/P1020876.jpg
http://i944.photobucket.com/albums/ad282/just_me1962/P1020865.jpg
Nice bear! :bigsmyl:
Way to go! Good use of proper arrow and tuning for your bow and sharp two blade BH. Fine bear!!!!
Congrats!
Congrats on the beautiful bear.. Black Bears are just awesome! By far my favorite animal to bowhunt. That is saying something with all the whitetail deer in Missouri.
JDS III
Congrats on a beautiful bear,and thanks for sharing your story, I'm still chasing my first bear!
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You stuck with it and made it happen, congrats! I don't know much about bears, but 320 seems pretty big for a black bear.
Very nice bear!! Congrats!! :thumbsup:
Very nice.Most first time bear hunters don't have that kind of restraint.you did very well.What a great hunt and onlt 25 miles from home!It sounds like a great operation.
SWEET... way to go.
Awesome job. Congrats on your first bear.
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Congrats! :thumbsup: :clapper:
Awsome! Congratulations Sir!
Congrats on your first bear! He's really a handsome brute and his coat looks to be in fine shape.
Congrats great bear. :thumbsup: :clapper:
VERY NICE!!! When we calm down and let go is when it works so well! Give your self a good pat on the back. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :archer:
Very nice bear !! :thumbsup: and good shooting :clapper:
Mmmm...bear!
Congrats and good eating!
:clapper: :clapper: Good story! I felt like I was there with you. Congrats!!!!
Way to go , congrats :thumbsup:
Congrats :thumbsup:
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Nice story and great shooting, 3 is a charm! Congratulations!