September 1, around 1:30 p.m. I couldn't take it anymore and told my brother in law that I was headed out to the pit to get set up. The northwest wind was perfect for the stand I set up. The bear trail's at the bait told me they were coming in from the west and north. Perfect. I drove my wheeler back to the pit just like during my normal baiting routine. This time though my idea was to trick any bear that was bedded close by to think that once I baited and drove the wheeler away I was gone. I made quick work of rebaiting, hanging the bow and restacking the logs. As I put the last log on the bait pile I heard a loud snap of a twig and a low growl. The hair on my neck stood up. The bear was close maybe 50 yards to the west in the heavy willow swamp. Oh boy.
As I walked back to my wheeler I kept an eye on my backside. I drove the wheeler about 200 yards away and snuck back into the pit and climbed into my stand. Once all strapped in I settled down and drew back a couple of times going through the motions of a 12 yard shot. As I sat there I noticed the binder on my longhorn hex release broke. With the binder off the hinge, the hook that attaches to the d loop was now swinging freely. Disaster. Luckily I pack a backup release that I practice with year round and pulled this out of my pack. With the new release strapped to my wrist I was back in business. It was now about 3:30.
All was quiet with only a little chipmunk coming into the bait. At around 7:12 I seen a big black form making its way straight at me from the North. It was light out and I had no doubt in my mind that it was a bear. A big one at that. The bear came in with authority and tested the air. It was now at 15 yards in the open as it eyed the bait. The bear stood broadside and swung its head back and forth. Had I been drawn back I could have taken a perfect broadside shot. The bear turned around and headed east, the way I came in. It was still within 20 yards. At this point the bear turned back around and came right in. It was now standing at 10 yards broadside in almost the exact spot it stood moments earlier. The bear turned its head away from me and scratched itself. I thought no better time so I drew the bow back.
At full draw I let the pin settle right behind the bear's front leg. I fought the urge to dump the arrow and focused on a spot in the middle of the bear. The arrow was there instantly and the big boar let out a growl. Bear's are extremely fast and this guy was gone to the North in a blink of an eye. What just happened. I was shaking badly and had to breath. Wow! There was no death moan, just a rustling of the leaves from the cool Northwest wind.
I couldn't see my luminock but knew I had a pass through. A thousand things run through a guy's mind at this moment. Did I make a good hit, will I find it. I waited what seemed like two hours before climbing down to look for the arrow but in reality it was 30 minutes. Once on the ground I saw the green nock lit up. The arrow confirmed good blood however I gave it another 15 minutes before starting the trailing. It didn't take more than 5 yards to discover a nice blood trail and the bear was there on the ground some 40 yards away. A big beautiful bear with a thick black coat and brown muzzle.
Bear hunting is probably my most favorite thing to do. The first sight of a bear coming into the bait is almost magical. They really are an awesome creature.
This bear dressed out at 225 pounds. It has a really wide head and measures 70" from tip of nose to tail.
Thanks for letting me share my story.
