I'm glad you got to make this hunt happen. Spot and stalk bears sounds like a great adventure. Can't wait to hear more!

I was riding with an older gentlemen named John from Medicine Hat, Alberta who was a rifle hunter. His health was on the decline and at 76 he wasn't keen on a mile walk and sneak on a bear so it was mine to try to get in close. Off I go up the opposite side of the road that the bear was on tying to keep a swirling wind in my favor the best I could. I slipped into the woods for a bit more cover but the bush was thick and loud and I ended up back in the ditch off the side of the road. The new grass and soft ground were dead silent. The bear was feeding as bears do with no particular heading, just biting off the the tops of the clover that was closest at the moment. I made it to within 75 yards fairly quick and slowed down to let things happen keeping contact by watching the top of his back as he feed. I'd see that nose of his periscope up now and then testing the air and I think that that swirling wind was sending trace amount of human scent his way. Not a full face full of smell just a wee bit otherwise he'd been gone. He kept feeding but was starting to get edgy I could tell.  I moved toward him and he feed my way. 50 yards, 40 yards, 30 yards. I'm kneeling low to the ground almost flat, arrow knocked, heart rate, well you know, and the bear is coming my way. My only cover is the crown of the road. I'm being still and if he keeps feeding the way he's feeding he will be parallel to me at 12 yards.  Oh yeah, and at about that time I noticed he was a rather large bear      :p

 .......cool!

Then that nose goes straight up, works the air current and he knows that smell is a bad, bad smell. He turns and heads for the woods 5 feet away and as he hits the trees I jump up sprinting like Jesse Owens making deep woofing sounds as I hit the spot where he entered the bush. I'm about 20 yards in and stop but don't see him right off. I scan 90 degrees to my right and there he is standing up leaning against a tree 10 yards from me looking right at the thing that ran after him with bad intent.  Fight or flight was on his mind but I made up his mind for him and sent a boardhead tipped cedar shaft through his chest. With those front legs up on the tree there where no big bones in the way just soft ribs and the arrow landed 20 yards past where he was standing.  The blood trail was a bit wet to say the least. And short. 30 yards and 20 seconds later, dead bear.

I walked out to the road and waved Chris and John to come on up the road. They where more then surprised  at one, I got so close, two, I chased the bear down, three I killed it and four I killed it so cleanly and quickly. They don't get many stick bow shooting guys in this camp.

  REALLY COOL!!!!!

That is unbelievable! You'll never forget that one! Having a real understanding of bear behavior (and lots of courage)allowed you to get it done. Wow! Now, if I could just get this pic posted....

Awesome

Wow

I can't even imagine the adrenaline rush from that!  Awesome

This is a cool hunt.  Someday...    

WOW....run em down and shoot em!  Talk about exciting.

Really cool! Hit well with a broadhead, bears sure quit fast........often done in 20 to 40 yards. Did you hear the death moan? That's not a nice noise for a non hunter, but music to a bear hunters ears.
Great tale, well told. Look forward to the pics.

OK Jim is failing me. Anyone able to help me out posting a pic? PM me your email and I forward. Thanks.

Photobucket is being funky for me.  Working on the photo post for ya Chris.

What a big ole noggin on that bruin!

Cool story so far!

Looks like tarpo came thru on the photo.  Great looking black bear!      

Really love the Bravado in this story, great bear to boot!

That's a whopper ... great story, congrats