Bearing Down

[Birdbow]

There's a story to be told, and with the help of Tradganger Bill Carlsen with the photo posting I hope you'll follow along....
 The New Hampshire 3 week bear baiting season came and went with no visitors to my single bait site save for a few bruins just passing through.
Perhaps a super abundance of mast this year had its effect and the early season archery season opened and it was time to bear down and deer hunt. There were, however, some trail cam pics of a distinctive bear with a smoky hued muzzle...

[Bill Carlsen]

[Birdbow]

October 24 was cool and still and the pre-rut was knocking at the door. In the mountains where I hunt , benches with pinch points are natural travel corridors, and that is where I sat that morning waiting for the morning sun.
Shortly after sunrise, a shuffling in the dry leaves grabbed my attention. Coming down off the mountain to the bench where I waited was a bear who looked familiar. He turned on the bench and came toward my position. He paused at 6 yards and offered a quartering shot...
The shot was true with my Kanati longbow pushing a carbon arrow and Cutthroat broadhead. A 60 yard run and 10 seconds and he was down.

[Bill Carlsen]

[Bill Carlsen]

[Birdbow]

The terrain where I hunt lives up to the state's nickname - the Granite State. It's a post- glacial nightmare of steep, boulder covered mountains. Usual methods of getting game out, dragging, wheeled carts, sleds, etc. often don't work. That's  what I was faced with with this bear. So....I got the packframe and went to work. I was smiling with the rush of adrenaline at the start of the 1/4 mile pack out but the 165lb dressed weight boar but not at the end!!

[Bill Carlsen]

This last pic shows the exit wound made by the 200 grain Cutthroat

[Jerry Russell]

Awesome.  I love chasing those bears.

[Bill Carlsen]

Another view of the pack out.  I think it needs a caption.

[SAM E. STEPHENS]

Well done sir , awesome bear....

,,,Sam,,,

[ChuckC]

Nice bear, nice pack job.  That one pic of you ( and the bear) facing the camera NEEDS some sort of smart alec remark !

ChuckC

[deerhunter_w]

Nice bear. Congrats

Jeff

[NANUK]

That's awesome!!!  Congrats!!!

[Jakeemt]

Man! is that sweet or what!!

[Matty]

Definately a nice bear. Looks like a fun place too.

[Crittergetter]

Now thats what I dream of when thinking about getting my first bear! Awesome job and congrats!!!!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Thats too Cool.  Congrats Todd!

[tracker1]

Very nice

[goingoldskool]

Good job brother!  Very nice bear!

Congratulations!

God bless,

Rodd

Dang, I bet that walk got old quick!

Congrats on a fine bear!

Bisch