Hi folks! Just got back from my 1st bear hunt this Sunday. I have been busy catching up at work but I finally found a few minutes to fill you folks in on the hunt. My two buddies John and Leon and I were hunting with Smoothstone Lake Lodge which is run by Lyndon and Carolyn Gliege. Lyndon and Carolyn are really awesome folks with a beautiful lodge!!! If you stay with them you are guaranteed to gain weight because Carolyn is a phenomenal cook. The picture below is a picture of the lodge. My buddy Leon is talking to Carolyn in the picture.
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/SANY0110.jpg)
The next picture is a group picture. Seated from left to right are myself, Carolyn, Lyndon, Hunter (the Gliege's son) Leon and John.
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/ResizeofSANY0107.jpg)
Below is a picture of Smoothstone Lake. We bought three day fishing licenses and caught some nice northerns that thanks to Carolyn were excellent table fare. I guess I should have taken some pictures of the fish but I was too busy getting ready to catch the next one.
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/ResizeofSANY0111.jpg)
This is an old trappers cabin I saw when I was out stump shooting with my bow in the woods adjacent to the lake.
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/ResizeofCanadaBearHunt008.jpg)
I have to head out for an appointment but I will try to finish this up as soon as I get back. I promise I am not going to "Lamb" this thread out. Sorry Charlie, couldn't resist the reference! :biglaugh:
That cabin looks like it would make a great blind. Great pix so far... Can't wait to hear the rest of the story.
Looks beautiful. Can't wait to see the rest of the pictures and hear your story.
Magnus
Awesome!! Can't wait for the rest of the story.
Bear killed by a firefly! Great title :) Can't wait for the story !!
Bad bug !!
(http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c210/coaster500/firefly.gif)
:campfire: :archer:
you have my attition!! what a great start to a story
you have my attition!! what a great start to a story :cool: :thumbsup:
I can wait for more.... :campfire:
My bow for this trip was my recently purchased Firefly takedown longbow. Jim Jones had promised me the bow in 4 months but luckily had finished it a month early so I could bring it along on my hunt. I only had the bow about two and a half weeks prior to leaving but there was no question in my mind that it was going to be my go to bow for this hunt and for the forseeable future. I have posted pictures of this beauty previously but for those who may have missed them I will post them here again. The limb veneers are Waterfall Bubinga, the riser is Cocobolo and Yellowheart and the limb tips and caps are Cocobolo.
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/ResizeofFireflyBowandLandPicture-3.jpg)
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/ResizeofFireflyBowandLandPicture-4.jpg)
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/ResizeofFireflyBowandLandPicture-1.jpg)
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/ResizeofFireflyBowandLandPicture-5.jpg)
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/ResizeofFireflyBowandLandPicture-6.jpg)
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/ResizeofFireflyBowandLandPictures06.jpg)
The hunt was scheduled for 5 days. The 1st 3 days saw multiple bear sightings by everyone in camp but me. Steve, a real nice guy from Alabama shot a nice cinnamon bear with his bow the very 1st night. It weighed 175lbs and had a 16+" skull. The outfitter figured it was probably a 4 or 5 year old bear.
In the meantime I was seeing no bears at all. The 1st three days all I saw was grey jays, squirells and several pine martins. I am going to try and post a short video clip of the 1st martin I saw.
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/th_SANY0065.jpg) (http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/?action=view¤t=SANY0065.mp4)
Great pics there. Hope you got some time to look around that old trapper's cabin. That lodge sure looks like a great place to rest up and eat while in between hunts and fishing! Looking forward to the story, and I like the "bear killing firefly" lure you tossed out to us.
:campfire:
On the 4th day my buddy Leon shot a really nice bear that will make Pope and Young easy. The skull was 18 and 9/16th's" and it weighed 205lbs. His bear had been crippled and came in hobbling on three legs. Leon got the shot on video and boy did that bear get over hobbling when the arrow hit!!! I would like to post a picture but all the pictures show his compound bow in it and I beleive that is a violation of this site's rules. I finally saw bears but not of the shooting variety. I had a pair of yearling (siblings?) come in and scrap over possession of the contents of the bait barrel. Entertaining but no opportunities to shoot a mature bear. With about 2 hours left of the last night of my hunt a mature color phase bear showed up. The bear was very cautious coming in and it circled and sniffed for at least 45 minutes prior to approaching the barrel. I made up my mind not to move an inch until the bear had knocked down the barrel and gotten comfortable feeding. When the bear first knocked down the barel it ran full speed back out of range and really checked things out again before coming back in to feed. I let the bear feed for about 5 minutes and slowly stood up and turned on my video camera. I bet I drew my bow and let off maybe 6 or 7 times as every time I was just about to shoot the bear would move or change angles on me. Finally it looked like I was going to get a broadside shot so I decided to focus the video camera in tighter so I would be able to see the arrow hit. When I looked up at the camera I noticed that the camera was no longer recording. When I tried to turn the camera back on a voice came from the camera saying "Your memory card is full". In a panic I flipped the camera shut and looked back to see if the bear had heard the sound.
Sorry folks ... more later. I have client to see. I promise to get back to this right after we are done.
talk about suspense, good story so far.
:campfire:
Keep it coming :coffee:
:readit: :coffee:
Waiting....waiting....waiting.... :)
"I promise to not Lamb it up"
YEAH RIGHT!!! LOL
When I looked back thankfully the bear was relaxed and totally engrossed in trying to eat all of the contents of the barrel. It took a short time to compose myself to the point that I would be able to make a good shot if the opportunity arose. Finally, the bear moved into a position slightly quartering away from me at about 20 yards. My bow came up, I reached full draw and while focusing slightly high (to compensate for the downward shot) and slightly back I released the arrow. The arrow hit right where I was looking but did not pass through. I could see the yellow fletching sticking out of the bear as it ran into the bush. I could hear the bear crashing through the bush for 4 or 5 seconds and then nothing. I felt like the shot was perfect but was a little concerned that I had not heard the infamous death moan I had been told to expect. I waited about 10 or 15 minutes and tried to radio Lyndon but he was out of radio range. I decided to get down and take a look to see if I could see any blood close to the barrel. I found bright red lung blood right away. I knew that Lyndon did not want me to follow up the bear until he got there so I got the radio out and this time I got a hold of Lyndon. Lyndon showed up with Bruce who is a guide for Lyndons operation. After a few questions to me from Lyndon regarding the placement of the shot Lyndon loaded the shotgun and we set off tracking. After a short distance Bruce pointed out a big smear of blood on a tree. While he was looking for more blood I looked up ahead and saw my bear laying there very dead. The bear went less than 50 yards total and I doubt he lived much over 5 seconds after the shot. It was no surprise to me that the bear was pretty badly rubbed as I could see that when the bear was at the bait. I was happy to have made a good shot on a nice, mature bear on my 1st hunt. Being that there was only a couple hours left I definitely did not do any second guessing about shooting this bear. Our camp ended up going 4 for 5 on bears that week with John being the only one not to fill although he had shot opportunities. My bear ended up being the heaviest that week at 230 lbs and its skull was 17 & 1/4". Lyndon figured my bear to be 10 or 11 years old. The shot ended up being a double lunger with the broadhead burying in the offside shoulder. This is a picture of my first bear. Who knew a bear could be killed by a firefly? :biglaugh:
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/IMG_1470.jpg)
What a beaut...congrats bud!
Congrats on a beautiful bear and bow! :thumbsup:
Nice bear.
Monster! :thumbsup: :archer: :goldtooth:
Outstanding!!!! Love the coloring on that bruin!
Nice looking bow too!!
:thumbsup:
Congrats!! :thumbsup:
Thanks for sharing, and congrats :thumbsup:
Nice job! Looks like you really "roughed it" up there in that lodge. Beautiful pics and great story telling! Thanks for taking us along. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thanks everyone for the nice comments, it was a real fun hunt with a bunch of good people!!! As alluded to above we really were roughing it ... I wouldn't be surprised if I roughed it right into gaining 10 pounds on the trip! :bigsmyl:
Nice! :thumbsup:
Beautiful Bear and Great Story!! Thanks for taking us along Dan... :clapper:
beutiful bear!! I've always wanted to take a chocolate phase blackie.....mabye one day!
What an awesome and unique colored bear! Congratulations and that bow is a beaut too. :thumbsup: :clapper:
Nice story and great pictures.
What brand of camera was used ?
Hey Dan,Great bow,Great bear,welcome to Canada my friend,Thanks ever so much for taking us all along.
Thanks for taking us along.
Congrats.
Hey guys thanks again. I am leaving for a long weekend with my wife in the Black Hills(trying to make up to my wife for being gone on the bear hunt)! :^)
Steve, I wish I had had some extra time to try and catch up with you beings that I was so close. Anyway, I will check back on this thread either tomorrow morning if I get access to a computer or next Monday. You all have a great weekend!!!
Dan
Congratulations! :thumbsup:
Great story, great bear, sweet bow, good people,...congrats and thank-you.
Great story and pics Dan!! Congrats!!
Great story, thanks for taking us along!
Wow that is great. :clapper:
Nice firefly. Mine got a chipmunk last week. Head shot at 17 yd. Not a bear, but maybe next time. :D
Great story and great looking bear! Using electronic equipment during a hunt always freaks me out too. Never know when an unexpected sound is going to come out. My cell phone on vibrate sounds loud to me when I'm out in the woods.
Looking forward to some more pictures.
Great looking bear!!! Thanks for the story :)
Well done........
Great read and a beautiful bruin. Congrats!
That is a gorgeous bear! Congrats :thumbsup:
Gorgeous bear & bow. Great story and even better broken up in parts. Sounds like a place I should try hunting some day.
Well done mate. goto love them Fireflys
Nice bear. Love the bow.
Awesome job!!
What a cool hunting story ... great looking bear, good shot, good photos. Not funny at the time I'm sure, but every time I think of you hearing that "Your memory card is full" with that bear so close I start laughing. Glad it worked out OK for you, and sure glad bears are noisy eaters. Thanks for taking us along on your hunt! :clapper:
great job what a really nice bear
Great story, Thanks for sharing. Bear hunting is exciting and addicting.
That was a great story, and what a bear! Good job!
Great story
:clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
Great bear, great story, great shot... congratulations and thanks for telling us all about it.
Dan, Congrats on a fine bear!!!
VERY NICE!!..Pm sent :notworthy: :clapper:
Great bear,Congrats.You my have said it and I just missed it but where was the lodge located?
Great story!!!
From your description while on stand, it sounds as if a bowhunters most deadly weapon came into play. PATIENCE! Waiting for the PERFECT opportunity!
Great story, pics, bow and bear!!!
Many happy returns! :thumbsup:
Me like story.. Congrats !! :thumbsup:
thats a fine bear.
I was surprised to see this thread resurface. Thanks for all the nice comments. Northern Fisher the lodge was in Saskatchewan north of Big River. I have loaded a couple of video clips onto Photobucket that I am going to try and post here, hopefully they work. One clip shows two yearling bears in a brief scrap over the contents of the bait barrel. The second clip shows a creature that I think is a fisher but maybe it is just a bigger pine martin? For those of you who know the difference let me know.
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/th_SANY0087.jpg) (http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/?action=view¤t=SANY0087.mp4)
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/th_SANY0042.jpg) (http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/?action=view¤t=SANY0042.mp4)
As long as I am posting these short video clips here is one that shows a close up of one those yearlings when it passed by my stand at close range. At one point it started trying to climb up the ladder to my stand unfortunately I did not get any video of that.
(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/th_SANY0078.jpg) (http://s104.photobucket.com/albums/m174/bohuntr77/Saskatchewan%20Bear%20Hunt%202010/?action=view¤t=SANY0078.mp4)
WOW. Thanks for sharing.
Dan in KS
Thanks for the story. Cool hunt!
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!! Fine looking bear.
Thats a female Fisher.
Thanks Sergio, I thought it probably was a Fisher but having never seen a pine martin or a fisher previously I really had no experience to draw from.
Dan
Awesome, great vids,and congrats on the really nice bear!
Yep, thats a fisher for sure!
Thanks for sharing with us!!