Bear Quest 7, Start Your Engines!!!!

[bruinman]

Thanks Sean, sorry you could not make it this year. Hope you are healing up well.

[Gator1]

Great story and photos looks like a great bear to me

         

[Yellow Dog]

Ed, beautiful bear. It was an honor to be on the trail and in camp with you.

               

[Yellow Dog]

There were two Mike's in camp for week one. Myself and "Wapiti" Maddog Mike O'Connell. Mike did the the bait trip with Tom the week prior to the hunt and set alot of the stands we hunted out of. Mike surely knows what he's doing with a bow in his hand and is the perfect sparing partner for Bowdoc. Mike is a Bear Quest veteran and if you've spent time in camp with him you know there's never a dull moment for sure. I hope Mike weighs in with his tale of his week hunting and filming at the Beaverpond. It's a dandy of a story.

       

[Yellow Dog]

The bear assembly line, or I should say the disassembly line. All hands on deck, everybody pitched it.

 

[Greyfox54]

Great stories and very nice bears ! Congrats Ed on a good looking bear ! And congrats to you Mike I enjoyed sharing a camp with you . Who sat the grouper stand this year ? I can't wait to hear Maddog's story . Between him and Bowdoc I don't know whose got the upper hand !

[Yellow Dog]

Fred, the Grouper was given a rest this year and went unbaited. I killed my first Bear Quest bear there and I know you took a dandy there yourself a few years back.

[Sean B]

The butchering don't look right with out Tippit doing his necropsy on table 1!!

[Yellow Dog]

A few pics on the trail for Ed's bear.

[Yellow Dog]

Downtime at Bear Quest. I think Bowdoc might be putting something in the chow    

[tippit]

Sean,
I just got my SC Veterinary License...so next I'll do Redneck Necropsies    

Ed,
Nice bear.  Glad you got to see a bunch of Black Ghosts!

[Yellow Dog]

Rugged beautiful country.

[Yellow Dog]

My hand after changing a tire with a four inch tear in the sidewall after a logging truck ran me off the road heading to the Relay Station to get some gas. No bug dope or Theracell to protect me during that adventure. Trying to find a tire 900 miles from home when nobody can speak English and I can't speak French was even more fun! But that's another story!

 

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Originally posted by Skipmaster1:
  I was perched just 7 feet directly above this pissed off bear. It was great.

Best Quote Greg!!!

I was there when you called Jamie. My heart sank when I heard the news.  better luck next time and sounds like you had a great trip!!!      

[Whip]

This is always a highlight thread of the summer!  Great stories, and nice looking bears.  Keep it coming - I'm loving it all!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Congrats Ed on a nice Bear!!!

[AR RidgeRunner]

Mike O'Connell tried to get me to go sit the Beaver Pond Friday morning as time was running out but being the hard head I am I went back to the Bird. His trail cam showed later that morning that he was right with a nice bear at the barrell about 9am. You can bet next time I'll take Mike's advice. I think he saw more bears than anyone did all week. I think his Dachsunds were givin him pointers. May bring a couple with me next time.

[Yellow Dog]

Just a little more about what Bear Quest is really about. On my first Bear Quest, Bear Quest 4, I had the opportunity to share camp with Denny Scicchitano from Pennsylvania. In all my years of bowhunting I've never met a finer fellow. Spending time with Denny and the rest of the hunters in camp made my trip and I vowed I would return as often as I could for future Bear Quests. Denny goes by "Shick" here on Trad Gang. Denny has a true appreciation for traditional archery and its history. Shortly before the hunt Tom Phillips received a small package in the mail from Denny. It contained a small bottle of water, complete with a wax seal, that Denny and his wife Marg had collected in 1994 from Michigans Au Sable river during a trip to the original home of Bear Archery in Grayling Michigan. The Au Sable river was a special place to Fred Bear and he fished its upper flys only water near Grayling often. This very place was the birthplace of Trout Unlimited in the late 1950's. It's affectionately referred to as the "Holy Water" by hardcore fly fisherman. We took that little bottle of "Fred's favorite water" and Bowdoc did the honors of splashing a little on our bows for a little luck from Fred. The pictures tell the story.

       

       

       

       

[Kip]

Congrats on a great trip guys. It is killing me seeing pics of people and  places I have seen in the flesh. Next year if God willing.Kip          

[shick]

WOW, Mike; I've never felt so humbled.  I appreciate the kind words and you know I feel the same way about you.  My wife Marg and I went to the PBS banquet in Traverse City, Mi, in '94 and you know I had to stop in Grayling.  She still thinks I was nuts for wanting some of the 'holy water'.  Been sitting on it forever.  I thought in the hands of 'BowDoc', this magical liquid would be some good mojo.  The pictures of "The Annointing of the Bows" should be all time classics.  We thank you for your detailed reports and photos.  Perhaps the next "Quest" we will share camp together.  Stay Safe.
Shick