Some hunts you will always remember because you shot your biggest animal, some because you hunted alongside your best friend or a family member, some you remember because of some unique circumstances. This hunt I will remember because it was the shortest hunt I have ever been on.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/3a26e433e051ccc3e9c1788d07a1c424.jpg)
June 1st marked the beginning of my fourth visit to Manitoba hunting black bear with TradGang sponsor Ryan Derlago with his outfit Stickflingers. I always enjoy rolling into camp and catching up with Ryan and finding out what has been happening in the woods. What stands are getting hit and which ones are showing big bear or color. Ryan knows me well by now and knows what kind of set up I like. He told me that this year they made a new bait site and named it "Lancelot" – "because Brian Lance will like it a lot". The stand is pretty low and right close to the bait for some real in your face bear hunting.
As luck would have it Sunday was looking like it might be a rain-out and even if it did stop raining the wind was all wrong to hunt Lancelot. Ryan and his first year assistant guide Manuel discussed options while I unloaded my gear onto my tent. This year I would be hunting in camp without any of my usual colleagues. I had learned earlier I would be in camp with Bill and Tracy Dunn of Zipper Bows fame. So it was to be just us three and the Dunns in their own tent and me in my own tent. Finally I would not have to hear complaints about my snoring.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/5c89fb0d10818ee3b35ec123c0821b90.jpg)
Ryan had an enclosed trailer nicely set up with cooking equipment and supplies and a dining table. A first rate shower had been constructed that made a daily shower a real treat. The practice target was in place. And all of the quads were fueled up and ready to go.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/041d6a57cfbb84145ff12dc0fca1940a.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/28392738e6da47929d728542a6f30384.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/76e378081f2dba2f0976f03563781dec.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/a14964992787520a86b0049a4bc2b3e1.jpg)
:campfire:
Bill
I really have to get it on one of these bear hunts!
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/f53a82268e298dae58acd91a907bdb65.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/e1589b205fc7c1b3fef782a998ba283b.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/e2898dc526364d5792ff147f631c02f5.jpg)
i want to do this hunt so bad! Looks like a lot of fun.
[edit] :dunno:
43 minutes!!! What took so long??? ;)
Can't wait to hear the rest of this story!!! :campfire:
I need to book this hunt one day!!!
Sounds good!
:campfire:
Bill and Tracy rolled into camp in good time, paperwork was completed, and arrows started flinging in a slightly damp moderate breeze. :archer:
Ryan and Manuel figured the best bait for me that evening with the wind we had would be South Bell. I was very familiar with this stand from last year's hunt when I sat there 3 evenings. I had seen a monster there last year chasing a cub up a tree and then himself climbing as high as he could before being stopped by branches too close to pass through and too delicate to not break under his mass. It had occurred to me that there were no such branches between me and the ground should that beast end up coming into the bait. He did not come into the bait that evening, and in all honesty, I was a little pleased not to make his acquaintance. He was an angry bear.
Bill and Tracy would be guided by Ryan while Manuel would cut his teeth guiding at Stickflingers with me. Ryan told Manny I was easy... just set me up close and low to the ground and he knew I would try my level best to do the rest.
Bill and Tracy would be hunting P.R.B. Pressure Relief Bait was created close to the older Determination Bait that was a hot steamy cauldron of witchy sows all checker boarding each other to get the most time on the bait with their cubs. Heaven help the boar who decides to take on that challenge. P.R.B. was the first bait made less than 3 miles from any other bait. Its sole purpose was to help alleviate all the pressure on Determination so both stands hopefully would be huntable. Tracy was going to be the shooter and Bill was to be pointing the camera. The rest of their story is theirs to tell. But I can tell you, that Tracy is one wicked good bear hunter.
And Bill... well... it has been said in some corners that he is a mighty fine catch and not too hard to look at. :confused: :confused:
I missed your snoring...naw who am I kidding :) I did miss you my friend as well as Ryan and the guys. We gotta get back on the same cycle :campfire:
Back from taking the MRS out for supper... figured the least I could do.
Mike.. back at ya. I never knew how quiet Manitoba was until I was there without either you or Pags. I even got to tell some stories this year. :goldtooth:
In the truck while heading to South Bell, Manny and I chatted a bit, guide and client, getting to know each other. When he asked what time I wanted to be picked up I told him "early". Being as polite as he could he said he sure would hate to get there too early and spoil it with the big one just coming into the bait. Since South Bell is just a couple hundred yards in from the main road on an old two-track, I suggested just doing a drive by about a half hour earlier than he would expect to come in and I bet him he would see me on the road. I don't like staying too late. Can't see too well in the grey light so I tend to get down early... Maybe I miss some opportunities, but I am never tempted to shoot at silhouettes that way either.
Manny humped in a Lone Wolf stand, 50lb sack of trail mix (new bait for this year – and the bears kind of like it) and a pail of cooking oil. I easily carried in my bow, quiver, and a back pack bursting with stuff I never need. But I was ready for anything. You got to love having a guide for all the heavy lifting. As we walked in he took me to the new pod trail that lead into the bait. He mentioned this is the one the big bear likely would come in on. Then we backed up and went into the bait through the brush so as not to have the bear hang up on the pod trail covered in our scent.
Manny got my stand ready, platform at eye level and slightly angled to the right of the bait. As I got myself adjusted in the stand Manny pointed out the pod trail as it came into the bait passing directly under my stand. I said "that is where the big one comes in? From behind me? And under me?" "Oh yeah" Manny nodded and turned and went over to the bait barrel to freshen it with more trail mix and oil. Now to a Canadian bear guide it probably didn't seem so bad that the bear would come in from behind you, but since my feet would be only a couple feet above his back I had to take some time and reflect on my decision to hunt low and up-close. After all, the "big one" might likely be the same monster I saw last year and he could easily stand up and be armpit high to my tree stand platform. Oh well. This is real bear hunting, not Huntmaster 2013 for Xbox 360. I began accessorizing my stand.
I clicked on my safety harness to the tree. I like to use a bow holder arm overhead for my bow. My pack attached to the tree to my left side and shoulder high for grabbing stuff easily. I hung my Safari Tuff quiver to my right side and screwed in a single second-chance arrow holder to the tree with the fletchings high enough to grab while standing. I grabbed some Carbomask face paint and slathered up my shiny face and hands. I took a few sips of water from my freshly filled backpack bladder. My watch... I like to take it off too since it automatically lights up when I rotate my wrist. Into the quiver pocket it went. 17:00.
Oh yeah! I'm tuned in!
Bisch
:coffee:
I sat there quietly for a minute or two. Looking. Remembering. I was familiar with this bait. The bears I saw here last year all circled me from the road behind me moving from my left to right then slipping into the dense brush on my right side and coming into the bait from behind some nice evergreens. I saw them before they reached the bait or the evergreens so I would have time to stand before they arrived.
(picture inserted from last year's hunt – at South Bell)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%205_13/9e85376a820f17250493fb12d54d439f.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%205_13/3b3908a40e318b2b7013de44bb38b1d0.jpg)
It was quiet. The light sprinkles disappeared. The sun began pushing through the remaining clouds. The mercury had started inching higher.
It was going to be a nice evening sit. I knew it would get dark after 10pm, too dark to shoot by 10:15ish depending on cloud cover. I would likely be heading for the road around 10:00.
Five hours to wait and watch. That would not be bad for the first night I thought. Later in the week I would ask to be taken out to the stand earlier and earlier to increase the amount of time for opportunities. I was beginning to relax. I was back in the bear woods and it felt good to be back.
I tried to look over my left shoulder to see the road. Some back, neck, and SI joint issues had me at a bit of a disadvantage and I could not get a glimpse back there. Also, I could also not see anything coming down that pod trail until it was well under me and moving in front of me. I started thinking I would just need to sit there, as motionless as possible, until something came in. Bone still. 5 hours. It started sounding a lot longer than it did just a few minutes ago.
Now I started feeling vulnerable, like I was being watched. It is funny what starts going through my mind when I am stuck sitting there alone with just myself. Again I tried to look over my shoulders, again I realized I would have to twist my entire body to see back there. The amount of movement would just be too much. Sit there.. sit still... wait.
The feeling that I was not alone grew. I thought if anything came in behind me I would have no chance at grabbing my bow from the bow arm. I needed it in my hands. Now. At the ready. I eased my bow hand over to my Yew and Bubinga Black Widow friend and slid my hand around its grip and we were once again connected. I heard a stick snap.
:help:
You have already made us wait longer than your hunt lasted! :laughing:
:scared:
quote:
Originally posted by Hermon:
You have already made us wait longer than your hunt lasted! :biglaugh:
:coffee: :coffee: :coffee:
I love this stuff!!!
And???
Even at 5pm there are a lot of black shadows in the woods. My eyes scanned each one that was in view. A second or two on each. Which one is moving? Which ones are just the absence of light and which ones are prey? There! That one moved! It was silently working its way into the bait from behind the ever greens. It was looking coming in quicker than most bears do, with some confidence, but still cautious. I knew by the approach it was aware that someone else (me) was already somewhere near. It came in careful of its footing, like it was embarrassed by that stick that had snapped just moments ago. I took to my feet.
Just under the trees it stopped short of the bait. It scanned the area, head up, checking the wind. I could tell it was wondering where I was. It spotted me. I scrutinized it.
I guess figuring I was already up the tree I had taken my proper subordinate position and given him the bait. Fresh trail mix was being served, appetizer, main course, and dessert. The bear wasted no more time sorting things out. It was time to eat.
My immediate impression was that this was a fine bear but certainly no monster. His back came within inches of the barrel top but did not clear it. I thought about Ryan's suggestion to imagine stuffing the bear into the barrel and if it would fit, give it a pass. Well, I figured it would fit if well-greased but a good number of parts would still be hanging out. A shooter. I told Ryan all I ever hope for is a 6-18 bear. 6 foot squared hide and an 18 inch skull. This one would be close. Wednesday, I told myself. Wednesday this bear would get an arrow, but not tonight. It turned to look behind itself. Another bear was coming in and caught us both by surprise.
Back to waiting for more - after sniping at the auction. :D
The second bear wasted no time coming in. It was huge. Fat. It looked like a swollen tick on feet with a head glued on the front. I was going to try for this one.
The first bear jumped back a few feet while the porker took over the feeding spot, which of course, was opposite the barrel leaving me no good shots.
The first bear assessed the situation quickly and decided the porky was no big threat and it came back for seconds. Now they both fed at the barrel, both occupying the space behind it leaving me no shots at either. I am quickly looking each one over in turn. 1st Bear = Tall, lean, standing well up high on the barrel and having to crouch down to eat, slight blaze, tan snout, long head. 2nd bear = Fat, Fat, Fat, almost as tall, eating with its head just slightly above the barrel, not as tall, not as long, grey snout, shorter head. Back and forth I looked.
The second bear did not seem quite as big next to the first bear. The first bear looked quite impressive length wise compared to the first. I was confused. Both nice bears, both Wednesday shooters, both giving me no shot.
be patient with me gents.. trying to type and upload pics as fast as I can (while sippin some bourbon and enjoying a cigar)... :biglaugh:
How many hands do you have ? :biglaugh:
Yeah.. right? It aint easy. :D
Love it so far. Now I was in bed last week with the windows open and I thought I could hear you snoring. Like I was only 30ft away like last year. Poor mike d and David.
I had forgot to mention...
Before I hung up my bow...
I took a practice shot at a spot just past the barrel. There also happened to be a trail cam active on this bait. You can see my practice arrow in the pics
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/590f6999a65cbf740a643e4cd483980a.jpg)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/e7a4fbcee7cc84b6cb794eddf2f27a8b.jpg)
Was Magic Mike in camp?
Magic Mike was in camp for week one. Manuel is his brother. Trust me, those two are cut from the same cloth.
Magic Mike is a machine
Magic Mike is a machine
So now the 1st bear was hogging all the good eats and piggy wasn't getting its fair share so it decided it was time to pull the barrel over and lay in front of the opening.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/046559610510eaaccd9bd28386d9e3d6.jpg)
Being cut off from the food supply did not sit well with the 1st bear so it comes around in front of the barrel, passing me broad sided, to get to the trail mix generously pouring out of the opening. Shot opportunity. Broadside (check), walking (-), neither looking at me (check).
I did not draw the bow.
The 1st bear nudged piggy out of the feeding slot and laid down to devour more vittles.
"Hey, lookie there" I thought, "a perfect quartering away 45 degree angle".
If the trail cam had gotten its picture, you would have seen its rump in the center of the frame above the 16C and its snout in the front of the barrel. I thought " if this bear gives me a perfect shot..."
45 degrees quartering away (check).
It stood up to get a better angle on the food.
It moved its right paw forward to dig at the trail mix coming out the hole.
Open and exposed rib cage (check).
Then it did the most unbelievable thing.... It rotated its body on its nose-to-tail axis dropping its left side and raising its right side eliminating my downward shot angle and turning it into a parallel shot.
Begging for it (check).
Bow went up.
String went back.
Arrow went through the bear.
:archer2:
Both bears bounded off into the cover. Piggy out through the trees and my bear bounded off with a couple hurt grupphhss directly away from whatever just stung it.
I was sure I saw a pass-through. Now I watched and listened. Branches were snapping straight ahead and then I spotted the bear walking, circling to the right, back to where he came in, back toward where the other bear had run. It stopped. I saw its head motionless. It dropped. A second or so later it was back up and facing left. It stopped and did a little Stevie wonder head wobble and disappeared again. Then I heard the raspy, gurgly sounds of heavy breathing like blowing bubbles through a snorkel into a 55 gallon drum of water. There were no moans, just gurgles. Three or four heavy gurgly breaths. Then silence.
I looked back to the bait. Was there blood? I only saw one arrow. My practice arrow.
Now I know what I was supposed to do. Sit and wait. Maybe an hour. Give him a chance to die undisturbed. But where was my arrow? Was there any bood? A spray? I had to get down and see. I gathered up my accessories, put on my pack, lowered my bow, put on my watch, and climbed down from the tree stand. 17:43.
This is Good. Congrats Brian!
Awesome, Brian! I can't wait to see the pics!
Congrats,
Bisch
Sure enough, two arrows were sticking out of the dirt. They were less than one inch apart. One was covered in blood the other was clean. My practice arrow was indeed practice for a shot I would take less than one hour later. I saw no blood and decided I did not want to bugger anything else up since I was already out of the tree, so I just slipped out of there as quietly as I could and headed back to the road.
At the road I realized I had not taken a single picture that evening and my hunt was now over win, loose, or draw. So what was I to do?
Selfie time.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/d19d4784a94945356c3aaa935c92f19a.jpg)
Manny showed up at about 9:30pm. Early. Just like a good guide does when his hunter asks.
After telling him my tale we went in to look for blood or bear. If the sign was not good we would wait until morning.
We found little blood by the bait so he wanted to go into the woods to where I had last seen the bear. I went back to the tree and pointed out the direction of the last sight of the bear. Manny took four steps into the woods, turned, smiled that big smile that successful guides have when their client connects, and waived me over to join him. The bear died less than 30 yards from the barrel.
:saywhat: Worth staying up for...my wife is snoring, softly. What you do is recreate the Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Nightly.
So I got this so far...
1. Your typical stand height (3 feet)
2. Your typical OCD prep and meticulous care of gear (check)
3. Your typical shot (deadly)
Bring it Big Sexy :campfire:
The arrow had entered through the right rib cage just behind the diaphragm and exited the left side of the bear through the rib cage and then through the tricep of the left front arm.
The boar squared 6 feet 3 inches. The skull appears to be short of 18 inches but should go better than 17.
I was using my Black Widow PAX 60" and 52#@28"
My arrows were Easton Legacy aluminum 2117 with 160gr 3 blade VPA Terminator broadheads.
Outfitter = Stickflingers Manitoba Bowhunts – Ryan Derlago
Guide = Manuel Hildebrandt
Location = Birch River Manitoba
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/f3edd261611992a6f811c44aa6dfb9da.jpg)
Great looking bear!
Congrats Brian!
Bisch
Great photos!
Sounds like a fun bear camp!
Thanks guys. You gotta believe, I get nearly as much enjoyment sharing these stories with you all as I do experiencing them.
Bisch... got to read you story today. Wow! Great hunt and a nice bear. What a winning combo.
I finally got the last photos to upload to PhotoBucket. What a pain.
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/bear3.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/bel007/media/Manitoba%206-14/bear3.jpg.html)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/bear2.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/bel007/media/Manitoba%206-14/bear2.jpg.html)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/bear1.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/bel007/media/Manitoba%206-14/bear1.jpg.html)
Awesome story Brian, thanks for sharing it. I could visualize what you were describing. You definitely have a way with story telling. I loved the quote "Begging for it (Check)". It was a pleasure to meet you at Ryan's bear camp and share a few stories around the fireside. Congrats again on a great bear.
Earl
P.S. Manny (& Magic Mike's) last name is Hildebrandt.
Great stuff Brian !!! Congrats :campfire:
Bill
Congratulations on a fine hunt and animal .
Sometimes cameras are distractions while hunting .Kinda hard to do @ the same time , and some hunts just need to be told anyways ;)
Good job Brian!
Great story! Congrats on a fine Bear . Thanks for sharing
Another great bear huntin' story! I'm more than a little jealous! Congrats! I'm lookin' forward to Bill and Tracy's story too...
Great story Big Sexy. My hunt last year wasn't quite as fast, but close. I would love to share a camp with you at Ryan's, but by some of the comments others in camp may not like two world class snorers in camp at the same time. Great job !
wonderful looking Bruin, wonderfully told too
A parallel shot? that tree stand really is low!
QuoteOriginally posted by Bel007:
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/bear1.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/bel007/media/Manitoba%206-14/bear1.jpg.html)
Man that is AWESOME!!! :thumbsup:
Glad to hear you had a fantastic (albeit short) hunt! Thank you for sharing the story, I savored every bit of that reading!
Thom
Way to go brother :clapper:
Great looking bear!!!
:campfire: Thanks for sharing your hunt. Congratulations.
Thank you for the story. It makes for a good read as we make the LONG drive up to Stickflingers right now.
Congratulations.
Great story Mr. Lance! I cant' tell you how much I miss being in camp with you and Mike D., Tim, Mike, just seems like the place to be. I would have loved to toast your bear with celebratory Bourbon!
I remember that bait from the one night I sat there. You must have been on the opposite side of the barrel this year.
Great job on the shot, but no surprises there. I have seen that shooting form.
D.P,
Awesome hunt!
Congrats and thanks for taking the time to post this.
Todd
Great job Brian! Beautiful bear. And great job taking one of the shortest hunts on record and stretching it into a novella. :biglaugh:
Well done Brian! Mike Vines and Bryan Burkhardt stayed over last night on their way to Stickflingers, I fed them and sent them on their way this morning.... wishing I was in the truck with them. Mike
man I love bear season, nice bear and story.
One thing I learned about shooting a bear with a blaze is that conventional skinning for a rug effectively loses the blaze...hope you skinned that one for a full body mount...that looks like an interesting blaze
DDave
Awesome job and fantastic story!!
Brian, congrats on another Manitoba bear.
Fine story-telling and a beautiful bear. Thanks!
Pags... this one is for you brudda
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/7ccde360157e49b416348d2e11814a3b.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/bel007/media/Manitoba%206-14/7ccde360157e49b416348d2e11814a3b.jpg.html)
Congrats, Brian...
I'll say one thing...the years since Ray's Hog Heaven, didn't make you any prettier!
:laughing:
I don't remember snoring but Tony and I were in the back corner...
Awesome!!! Congrats Brian!!! :thumbsup:
The best part of getting the hunting done early is enjoying some other Canadian pass-times...
Here is soon to be bear guide Earl Bargen (Hunter 709) showing me how you catch some Pike
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/afa20280d9125d6dfa9ac5d6ee044ba0.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/bel007/media/Manitoba%206-14/afa20280d9125d6dfa9ac5d6ee044ba0.jpg.html)
(http://i261.photobucket.com/albums/ii47/bel007/Manitoba%206-14/44c8baf84aa050edc12a8785f440f417.jpg) (http://s261.photobucket.com/user/bel007/media/Manitoba%206-14/44c8baf84aa050edc12a8785f440f417.jpg.html)
Finest kind can't wait to get there myself could have got there this year but had another engagement. Beautiful, thanks for sharing Brian.
Cat
Congratulations, Brian. Thanks for sharing.
homebru
Oh yea! That's the Big Sexy I know.
D.P.
Congrats Brian on a great bear and a great story.
Congrats Brian! What a great bear :thumbsup:
Good Stuff . :thumbsup:
Awesome hunt! Congrats on a beautiful bear.
Bogged down with a few things...but will read this next week...I LOVE bear stories!!!!
Well told my friend. gives me the itch to be out there.
Congratulations on a fine animal.
Nice bear....my only wish is Ryan had openings for next year (2015) as myself and 3-4 other bowhunting friends are looking for a place there or near Carrot River SASK.
Great bear and good story...congrats.
Congrats on a great bear. Thank for sharing the story with us!
Beautiful bear. I can't wait to get up there someday.
CONGRATS !!!
Great bear
We will arrive tommorow at camp !!!
Will be a great week and hopefully can post a pic a and a good story
Good luck Gerardo. This week should have many more sows going into heat....that brings the big boys running in.
I never seem to be able to wait for them myself...
We are in Winnipeg right now ready to drive to camp !!!!
Pretty excited !!!!
Congrats! :clapper: :clapper:
Well done Brian... The picture with you in your Black Widow shirt takes me back to the camp we shared, I had mine on yesterday. :-) I will some day get to Ryan's, would love to share the travel & trip with you... Happy for you! KAZ
Very well told, Brian! Just as exciting as hearing it in camp.
Congratulations once again!!
Another great well told story! Congrats! Thanks for taking us along.
Very good indeed!!! I'm headed to Ontario in Aug to try for my first Trad bear and these spring bear hunting stories are getting me all kinds of pumped up!!!! I'm gonna have to go out and shoot some arrows now!
Thanks again and congrats!
Rodd
:thumbsup:
Neat looking bear. Nice job in a speedy hunt.
Great Bear, great Hunt, great story, Winner all around! Congrats!
LD
Beautiful bear and great story! Thanks for sharing.
that is a well told success story.. good job.
Joe
ps 2 months, 2 weeks and 5 sunrises until Elk season
Good bear and story Brian!
Another great bear story coming out of Ryan's camp. Year after year the bears go down to the stickbows. Congratulations on a great bear and fine shot..
John
Congrats on a great hunt!
Sorry for the delay! Congrats BIG SEXY!!! Wish I would have been there to experience Stickflingers with you again. I am super happy for you my friend.
:clapper: