From signs I read around my bait site, I knew that I had two adult boars (besides the usual anti-social mix of bears).
One was a fully mature boar whose sign I had been paying close attention to for a couple of years back, and whom I figured was up in age. The other was a new guy that I thought hadn't reached his full potential yet.
After filling my tag elsewhere last year, I had guided a friend at this site and I had spotted the old guy for the first time for all of five seconds... before my buddy inadvertently spooked him, even though he was still a ways off. People are often surprised how wary big bears can be.
So anyhow, this season, on this particular evening, I was watching an average bear work the bait about 14 yards away when (to my satisfaction) he left abruptly.
On alert and anticipating a bigger bear appearing at the bait in front of me at any moment, my peripheral vision picked up black fur moving quickly towards me from the side.
An energetic bear of more than respectable size with a shiny black coat that showcased his solid musculature was now within reach. Unfortunately, this wasn't the bear I was hunting.
He seemed in a rush to check everything out and when he got up on two legs to look around he was taller than I thought he would be. Problem was, he was so darn close to my blind when he stood up and swiveled that periscope like neck around, something caught his attention inside my blind.
He circled behind me to see if he could check things out from the back and I slowly turned my head to keep him in sight. I remained still since I didn't want to be discovered and have him raise a ruckus, thereby more than likely ruining my chances for the old bear later. Even when he appeared to be trying to push his head through the brush wall I didn't move.
Like I mentioned before though, this guy was fast... and brazen, so when that didn't work, he got up again and looked inside. I still had my back up against the large tree that is part of my blind and he didn't know that I was there.
When I saw him beginning to shift his weight on his front paws that were now well positioned on top of the brush wall, I knew what his plans were. I didn't think that both of us would fit comfortably in a 4'x5' enclosure so I sprung into action.
I keep a fresh cut birch stick about 2 inches thick and about 2 feet long in the blind for cases like this, and when I raised it over my head and faced him at less than three feet (I had to look up a little), he just about fell over backwards from the surprise (remember that he had been up on two feet, leaning inside).
He sprinted off about twenty yards in front of the blind now, stopped, turned, and started towards me again. He just had to figure out what the heck I was. When he got to about 10 yards from me I displayed "grumpy" body language and hit the stick once hard on the tree to my right (I kept silent because I didn't want to make an unnatural noise in case the old bear was within hearing distance). He got the message and backed off... but to my surprise, he circled, giving me wide berth, and made his way to my bait barrel for his evening meal.
He was there for at least twenty minutes, every once in a while glancing in my direction to make sure that the miserable creature remained bedded in it's nest.
That was my final action for the day.
Two days later, I put a a VPA tipped cedar arrow through the lungs of an old worn toothed monarch. He was in his decline, but he was still wary. I usually try to arrange shooting big bears in good daylight, but this guy wouldn't have it that way.
I had to shoot him as late as my 59+ eyes can see to shoot something that black well instinctively ... there was still 15 minutes of legal hunting time remaining but it's always darker in the bush. He was still checking things out before committing himself but I didn't have the luxury of waiting for a better shot at the barrel.
I heard his last breath only 15 yards away.
The rest is another story in itself.
I can hardly wait for next spring.
Front view of my blind
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab16/Mehikan/DSC_2420.jpg)
My June 2012 Bear.
(http://i845.photobucket.com/albums/ab16/Mehikan/IMG_5511.jpg)
Looks to be a nice one..... :thumbsup: :notworthy: Well done!!
Great story I about crapped my pants reading it!!!
Great bear!! beautiful coat :thumbsup:
Congrats on a nice bear AND taking it from a natural ground blind.
:thumbsup:
Absolutely awesome story and bear!!! Nothing like hunting those guys from the ground and having them right in your lap! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Great read!!! Congrat's on a fine bear! :thumbsup:
He is a good one congrats
Even with my meds I think I would've been changing my shorts! That is a toad, and what a rush!!! :thumbsup: :notworthy: :clapper: WOW!
Definately had my attention reading that one.I've always wanted to hunt bears but the more of these stories I read the more I want to go.From a tree of course.
great hunt Ken, super looking bear.! congrats!
Well that was a most entertaining hunt :scared:
Nice bear :thumbsup:
Eric
Great story, and super nice bear, congrats!
Very cool , I love me some Bear hunten , CONGRATS...
,,,,,,Sam,,,,,
Nice one, great looking blind. Hard to see any "shooting lanes".
Beautiful bear!
Love to see more of the blind. Pretty cool hide.
CK
Awesome
Now that's the way to do it. :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Thanks for sharing.
Great story and nice bear. Congratulations and that blind is something. Iron nerves you must have to saty still that close it paid off.
Wow! Awsome bear, very exciting story. Thanks for sharing it with us. :thumbsup:
Congrats on a great bear! Sounds like a fun hunt!
Great hunt, and well told. Can't beat that with a stick! :biglaugh: Sorry I couldn't resist. Congrats on a fine harvest done in a most Trady way. I'm jellouse as heck.
Great story to go with a super bear. Congratulations!
Fantastic story and bear! :clapper:
Thanks sincerely guys! Your response was more than I had anticipated.
As far as the blind goes, It's hard to see in the picture that I took at that distance (I was standing at the bait barrel), but I have two excellent shooting ports, one in front and one one my right side. I built each opposite wall higher to "merge" my silhouette.
I use a tree seat to save space and to draw my bow unobstructed.
Very nice bear sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Wonderful story. Congrats on a great hunt.
Good plan and a nice bear.
Incredible,
Congrats! :clapper:
Awesome!! Great looking bear!!! :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Thanks Ken. Always something to learn here. Beautiful bear!
I can't imagine being that close to a bear and being able to remain calm! You must have nerves of steel! Great story and bear! :thumbsup:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
As far as my comfort zone with bears, that comes with a lifetime of experience, an innate ability to read animal body language, and a sincere desire to continuously explore deeper into the bear's world.
But then, having good nerves doesn't hurt either, LOL!
I made up a saying years ago... no risk no adventure, no adventure, no pleasure!
You guys can be sure of one thing, everything I write is the absolute truth... and it's nice to have Trad friends to share with.
Exciting...good sized bear too. thanks for the story and pics.
:thumbsup: :notworthy:
That was a great read. Thanks for sharing.
Ken,
Give some more particulars, what was the weight of the bear, what equipment were you using, bow, #'s etc....I'm always fascinated by the details (Quality Inspector).
Thanks again guys.
South MS Bowhunter: o.k., here are a few details.
I couldn't weigh the bear but although he was a good sized bear, he was on the skinny side and definitely would have been heavier in earlier years.
For those of you who know about skull size, his front teeth (where the length measurement starts) are very worn and the crest at the back of the skull where there measurement ends is eroded but he should dry at a minimum of 19 3/16" anyway (length plus width - which is good considering Quebec bear skull genetics too).
I was using my 75 lb @ 30" Caribow longbow, J&M Traditions custom cedar arrows, and 3 blade 200 grain 1 1/4" VPA broad heads.
That was the first time that I used VPA broadheads for black bears and they're excellent.
Gosh thats a handsome bear. Great story, way to go !
Thanks Ken, he is a beautiful bear.
Ken, I look forward to reading about your bear hunts every year. Simply amazing and what a fantastic adventure. Congratulations brother on another fine bear. Thanks for sharing your hunt. :campfire: sometime soon!
Chinook907 - Thanks.
Brown eyebrows give a nice effect too (not that many bears have them).
Gatekeeper - thank you, much appreciated.
Your right about the campfire... life goes by so darn fast!