Day 3, ontario bear hunt: I sat in my stand patiently, pondering the events leading to my being here. I signed up for this hunt with a bunch of my fellow United Bowhunters of Missouri buddies back in Feb when this hunt was auctioned at our annual banquet. Since that time I almost cancelled twice due to my youngest son having to have 2 stents put in his heart, and then surgery for me on my carotid artery to clean out blockage 4 weeks before the hunt. 2 days before I was due to leave, my next youngest son was tested and it was thought he had potential problems with his heart. He convinced me to go ahead and go ahead with the hunt. You can imagine the relief when I got the news that everything was great with him before we hit the Canadian border. Wait, there's a bear.
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My first sighting on this trip. I had killed a couple average bears a few years before so told myself to hold out for something better. It was hard to resist reaching for my bow, but could tell this was about a 150# bear at the most. He didn't stay around long, acting a bit nervous and looking around a lot.
The first 2 evenings I sat a different spot and hadn't seen anything. Tonite would be fun with sightings of 3 bears.
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The next day I went out and sat for 3 hours in the morning but didn't see anything. After lunch at the cabin, I heade back out the evening hunt wondering what I would see. Little did I know what to expect.
About 5 that eveing the biggest of the bear I had seen before came in very slowly and cautious. He only stayed for 9 minutes and took off.
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Now all these smaller bears would really take their time coming in as I could see them back in the woods standing and circling for quite some time.
With 25 minutes of shooting time left, I heard a couple twigs break and a bear just walked in like he owned the place. He did! There was no question of even thinking" Is he big enough". He walks in, sniffs the barrel, walks off about 10 feet, pauses there for about 10 seconds and walks off into the brush. My heart is hammering in my chest from this encounter. " Is he coming back? Will I run out of light?" These are the questions going thru my head. About 5 minutes goes by and I hear a branch break behind me. Now the previous evening, the smaller bears would circle like this, so I had an idea of where he might show up next. There was a hill sloping up to my left and I could see there easily because it was a rocky glade type opening. I saw bears cross there 4 times the night before.
There he is! Just standing there looking. Here he comes. He walks down into the woods angling for the bait. He walks right down into the opening and turns broadside behind the barrel. The barrel was on its side from the little one knocking it over earlier. The bow comes back and I watch the white splices on my feathers disappear into solid black. Is the shot good enough? I thought it was, but maybe a hair low. He crashes off and then about 30 seconds later I hear another crash back in the woods. I started to get my gear together as it is getting dark rapidly. Just get my gear on and hear a moan from where I heard the last crash. Is that what I think it is?
I got down and walked back to the truck, then it hit me. I hadn't been nervous before the shot cause I was so worried about running out of light.
Back at the cabin, when anybody walks in in the evening, everyone looks at you and says "Well".
I said I just shot a big $%#*&()^$@#@.
Everyone wants to go on the trail. 35 yds, there he is. I can't believe the size of him and neither can anyone else.
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This brute weighed in at 410# on a scale we double checked.
And my shot I was second guessing was pretty good.
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Later the outfitter gave my this trailcam picturs from that bait.
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This was some kind of ending for a hunt that almost didn't happen. Never did I even dream of a bear this size. I was hoping for a bear of maybe 220# - 250#, which I would have been exceedingly happy with.
9 of 10 hunters took bears on this hunt and the 10th guy had his chances. All traditional shooters and a great bunch of guys.
Here is a 180# bear.
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Awesome! All things happen for a reason.
Spectacular story and photos!
Ken
Nice Bear!
Very nice read sir!
Daniel :wavey: Congrats on your AWESOMEEEEE bear :clapper: Best of health for you and your sons :pray:
OH boy that would be so scary!! i think i would have to check my pants :scared: :laughing:
Good Bear! Congrats. Glad to hear all your family are doing good.
Jeff, just be sure to carry an extra pair of your "DEPENDS"!
Johnny/JAG
Glad to hear all is well for your family. That is an excellent bear! What outfitter were you guys hunting with if you don't mind saying?
God Bless,
Charlie
:thumbsup:
Nice bear !
Great story and bear, congrats!
congratts! a really nice bear! :thumbsup:
Now thats a beast and a half!
Outstanding......congratulations. :clapper:
God. Bless, Pierre
Congrats man, great story and great bear!
Well done, super bear :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice bear, Dan! He's a brute! I remember eating some of your cougar a while back at Flatrock. When do I get a bear steak? :)
Outstanding Dan. Congrats. RC
:thumbsup: :clapper: :clapper:
:cool:
Nice shootin'!
Excellent :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Nice bear and good shot,congrats
Great bear. Some years ago, I read a statement by an old timer who said that the best doughnuts in the world are fried in bear grease. Maybe you can verify that for the forum. Good job! Well, you hear the old saying, "Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you". I guess this was your turn.
Good Shoot'n!
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What a tank! Congratulations! :thumbsup:
A bear to be proud of
Awesome animal sir! :thumbsup: :thumbsup: What a brute!
Real nice one. :thumbsup: :clapper:
Awesome
Nice bear. I will say a prayer for your family.
God bless,
Nathan
Really nice bear!! Good luck with everyones health. Joe
What a beautiful bear! Congratulations on not only a super sized bear, but making a perfect shot under pressure! Way to go! :clapper:
Bernie Bjorklund
NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin
great to hear all is ok.
Nice story with great pictures. Makes me feel as if i am there.
Thanks for all the kind thoughts for the family. Everybody is doing well now.
Just for the info, we were hunting with Doug Park of Wolf River Bear Baits. Rumor is that he may sell out and retire, but I don't know for sure.
I was shooting my Mohawk longbow, 53# with cedar arrows I made myself, Zwickey 2 blade Delta. Got a pass through on the shot and had a blood trail we could follow walking.
RC, I only shot this one cause I wanted to write about like your adventures I enjoy so much.
John K. You need to get back this side of the river sometime. I could oblige.
Pretty amazing. I've killed a railcar full of deer and I always process the meat, use most of it and only give gifts of venison to people who will appreciate it.
Now, my question....I love the idea of a bear rug in my home but I loathe killing any animal I'm not going to eat. So...do you guys who kill these bears use the meat and if you do, what do you think of it? What does it taste like and how do you cook it?
Congrats!!
Congrats on a great bear!
That's one big brute!
Congratulations on a fine bear!
Great bear, nice job!
landman,
Every one of us brought back every bit of meat from the bear we killed. We boned in out off the carcass, bagged it, froze it for the trip home.
Every one who has cooked some by now said it was excellent. I took a bit Sat night and just seasoned and fried it up. While it was a bit tough, which I expected from a bear that size, it was good easting. Tasted pretty much like beef. A few recipes floating back and forth between us for pulled bear, crock pot type roasts, grilling secrets, etc.
We eat most everything we kill. Although I will kill coyotes, crows,etc and don't eat them and don't care.
Great bear :)
Congratulations!
Dan, I just finished grinding up all my scrap bear meat yesterday and made frying sausage out of all of it. The pulled bear and fried bear I have made so far were mighty fine vittles!
All: I can't recommend Doug Park of Wolf River Bear Baits enough! First off, he's a bowhunter himself so he knows how to think like you do. Secondly, his exclusive bear hunting lease is 600 square miles in size and it is full of the critters! And lastly, he is a really nice guy who does whatever it takes to give you the best opportunity to get a chance at killing a bear.
Darren
Glad to hear you and your family are doing well. Nice hunt story and that is one incredible bear!
Well done on a great trophy!
Nicely done, congrats on a fine trophy! :thumbsup:
Now thats a big Bear. Congrats on a great shot and a wonderful family!
Congrats! Great story and super bear.
WOW,Thats a nice bear. Congrats.
What a bear!! Congrats Daniel!!
Awesome bear! Great shot! :thumbsup: :clapper:
Congrats on an exceptional bear. Where abouts in Ontario were you hunting?
Congrats on a great bear!
Bisch
"Where abouts in Ontario were you hunting?"
Near Dorion; which is about 50 miles northeast of Thunder Bay.
Dan, great job well done, Very awesome bear.
Great bear!!! Way to go :campfire:
:bigsmyl: :jumper: :jumper: :jumper:
It was great trip and again Dan Congratulations!!!
I would be much help getting it out right now but then again your adrenaline was pumping and you didn't need much help!!
:thumbsup: :campfire:
Great story, nice shootin and thanks for sharing.
There is nothing like bear hunting. Well done!
Congrats on the great hunt!
Congratulations on a fine bear!!! :thumbsup:
Got my bear back. Had him on display last weekend at UBM banquet. Skull scored 19 1/16
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So glad all are fine and congrats on a great hunt!!!!
All good things!
......Philip
Congrats, nice bear!
Congratulations on an excellent bear.
Great bear!
Nice bear and mount,congrats.
:archer:
Thanks for fhe story, and congratulations on an outstanding bear!
NICE !!!
Daniel, that is super!! Congrats again!!
nice bear best wishes on you and your sons health
LOOKS GOOD, Dan....congrats! :thumbsup:
Great bear and cool mount!
Great story, picts and bear! Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup: