Hunting last night in Georgia

[emptyquiver]

Went hunting tonight.  This time I only went 45 - 55 minutes away.  Dawson Forest WMA.  It has deer, bear, and pigs.  Deer and Bear start next Saturday, so today was pigs and just looking around to see what next weekend might look like.

I did see some sign of pigs and deer, so that was encouraging.  Not a lot, but I think once I hunt this area longer, I'll learn it.  Most encouraging was NO ONE ELSE WAS AROUND!  Compared to last weekend's Labor Day disaster.

I stayed near the creek beds, as it was very hot and was counting on wildlife getting thirsty.  The bonus was it rained briefly before I arrived, so the wood debris and leaves were very quiet to move through.  I heard things that kept the interest up while I was hunting, but the breeze was not really cooperating for the direction I was hunting.  I did not see any of what I was interested in, but it was a beautiful evening in the woods. 

As I hunting my way back to my truck it was getting near dusk.  I get braver when I know an area.  I was about 1/4 mile away from the truck and moving very slow and quiet.  I then saw a black figure walking through the woods on track to intercept me.  I was hoping it was a very large pig.  NOPE!  It was a black bear, and it had no idea we were about to collide.  I put an arrow on my string and then realized I'm an idiot.  This animal's season does not start for a week.  This was not a harvesting situation.  It was a self-defense occasion.  I put the bow down and return the arrow to my quiver.  The bear still had no idea I was there.  I pulled out my pistol and "jacked" a round into the chamber, hoping that noise would wake him up!  It did, but he didn't go far and turned around to see what startled him.  We were face to face about 20 yards apart.  I remembered my "studies" about encountering bears and what you should do.  I raised my arms, with fully loaded gun in my hand and shouted at him.  It worked.  Thank God.  He bolted away.

What a great day!  I have never needed to kill something to enjoy hunting.  Sometimes encounters like this makes for better stories and memories.