20 replies to this topic

[Soreloser]

Well I can't say that I'm glad to be back because I certainly would love to still be in Canada enjoying the cool weather and uncrowded spaces.But none the less our trip was a success to say the least. Myself and my Dad both ended up arrowing a nice bears during the week. Of course his came a lot quicker than mine.We started running the baits on Saturday afternoon when we got there and actually set the stands on Sunday morning and hunted for the first time on Sunday evening. I had a bear come in to the bait the very first night, but it unfortunately didn't present me with a very ethical shot and I chose to pass it up and it ended up walking off before it ever presented the right shot. Oh well, that's the way Bow Hunting goes I guess.Monday night my Dad scored on a nice Sow that came into the bait and gave him a perfect quartering away shot. Unfortunately he wears Bi-Focals and he says they threw him off a little bit while he was at full draw and he ended up shooting his bear dead in the ass, actually the right hind quarter, but between me, him and my cousin he shot it in the ass. We needed something to pick on him about. Anyway he ended up getting really lucky and destroyed the main artery in the hind leg and the bear bled out within 100yds of the bait. When we went out the next morning to search for it there was blood everywhere. The best part of his experience cam after he shot his bear. My cousin and just about everyone else who spends enough time up in that country will tell you not to get off the stand around the bait , whether you killed one or not, until somebody comes to get you with the 4wheeler or truck. The reason for this is that this country is wild and a lot of the creatures in that county have no idea what a human being is, to include the bears. Well anyway the old man shoots his bear and then climbs down out of his tree for some ungodly known reason then climbs back up and 2 minutes later this Volkswagon sized Bruin steps out behind the bait pile. My old man said he couldn't believe that he was just on the ground with that thing not 30yds from him. It was funny, the old man was bear bait..Well we kept having some baits hit throughout the week and this one bait inpaticular was getting hit everyday. Finally on Wednesday my cousin sent my dad to check this bait after he dropped us off at our stands and the bait was already hit. The next day, Thursday, which was also our last day to hunt, we decided to put a stand up when we re-baited it and I would just sit in it all day long. So at 10am I climbed into my little nest and waited. Napped, waited, napped, ate lunch, napped, drank, napped, pissed, napped, and then snap I heard a twig break and looked up behind the bait pile and saw a Pine Tree shaking like hell, then I saw him. I immediatedly got my bow ready and when he approaced the back of the bait he stopped to look around and then proceeding around the front of the bait pile to lick up the make shift bowl of honey we had pre-positioned for him so that it would offer a perfect shot. Needless to say when he started licking I came to full draw and the minute he stuck his front leg forward I slammed him. It was a perfect shot that entered his left lung and exited his heart. I instantly saw blood splatter on the bait pile as the bear spun, roared and started running RIGHT AT MY STAND!! I swear the bear only made it 10yds and piled up not even 4 yds from the treestand, made a death groan and was out for the count. I looked at my watch and it was 4pm.. The Hypershock 100 made an amazing exit hole and just devastated his insides.So we had a great time, did a little bit of fishing and caught some nice small mouths but really nothing with any size. I'll be sure to fill ya'll in on some other details as they come up but for now, I got to catch up on some Honey-Do's.Enjoy the pics..My Dad  1.jpg   37.88K   3 downloadsMe-Cousin Dan-Dad  2.jpg   37.31K   3 downloadsDan-Dad  3.jpg   37.64K   3 downloadsMe-Dan-Dad with Dad's Bear  4.jpg   35.66K   3 downloadsMe  5.jpg   37.01K   3 downloadsDad-Me  6.jpg   35.75K   3 downloads

[Thumper Dunker]

Way to go. I bet it was real hard to come home. good looking bears.

[ShooterJohn]

That's super Tim! Looks like a lot of fun and I bet hard to come home from. Nice that you and your dad both got your bears. Your dad probably just shot his in the ass because it was the biggest target! I guess around baits you don't want to be walking around.

[Bozsik]

Needless to say when he started licking I came to full draw and the minute he stuck his front leg forward I slammed him. It was a perfect shot that entered his left lung and exited his heart. I instantly saw blood splatter on the bait pile as the bear spun, roared and started running RIGHT AT MY STAND!! I swear the bear only made it 10yds and piled up not even 4 yds from the treestand, made a death groan and was out for the count.

I'm sure your backup Swiss Army knife was drawn. I guess the bear was lucky he didn't have to tangle with you in person, with that knife and all. Sounds like you had a blast and it's good to see everyone had a safe trip. Did you save the skin or are you going to have it mounted?db

[ShooterJohn]

I forgot to ask Tim, how big were they? Did you have a chance to weigh them or get a head measurement?

[Augnmike]

Great job Tim! Looks like you had a really good, welcome home. Look forward to talking to you about the trip. Call me so we can get the tire deal going this week. I am leaving for Canada for waterfowl next Sunday so if we can arrange to get these tires out of the garage my wife might start talking to me again.....on the other hand lets think this out a little more!!!

[Rimrock]

Outstanding.

[SpotandStalk]

Well I can't say that I'm glad to be back because I certainly would love to still be in Canada enjoying the cool weather and uncrowded spaces.

Great looking bears! Have you ever had any bear success in the California B Zones?S&S

[Soreloser]

Did you save the skin or are you going to have it mounted?db

I am having a rug made with a head mount and backed with double felt. It was dropped off at the Taxi on Saturday the same day we got back into Iowa. I am going to have both skulls whitened for display.Both bears were just under 200lbs, not a very reliable scale that they had there, but the camp owners son, who skins all the bears (he's done right around a 1000 or so in the last 26 years) said that they were definately bigger than the average for that area. I guess the average is around 150lbs. When you only have 5 days to hunt a year, you don't get very picky when it comes to how big they are. A good rule of thumb for that area is that if they look like they are twice as long as the 5 gallon bait bucket then you should sling an arrow at it.Hey Mike,We are thinking about hitting the beach this weekend, so hopefully it will be possible for me to swing by Friday evening or Saturday Morning, I'll try and give you a call sometime this week.

[Bozsik]

I didn't catch what part of Canada you were hunting. Doesn't look like you were too buggy though.db

[Soreloser]

We were in NW Ontario, I guess it is called JONES. It is just north of Kenora, Ontario. The bugs were almost non-existent this year and all the locals and regulars were amazed. From what I gather they are usually really thick. They were saying in camp that it hadn't been that dry in a long time, so that probably helped alot.

[A17Shooter]

Soreloser,Congrats on a successful hunt. :DA17Shooter

[Jason]

Congrats on a great hunt. Nice looking bears. I hope to be able to hunt them someday but not with bows. I'm a coward!Jason

[peeker seeker]

Nice bears. Congrats. I hope I get one someday.

[Shoot-it]

Nice bears ...........I thought real bow hunters shot them on the ground......

[bzzrd feedr]

Way to go, looks like a fun trip. Nice to see the pics of a successful hunt.

[Soreloser]

Nice bears ...........I thought real bow hunters shot them on the ground......

Ha, Ha, Hey the Bear was on the ground. LOL

[Python2]

Nice bears ...........I thought real bow hunters shot them on the ground......

Sure, it is done all the time with the guide behind holding a 500S&W. Just wondering though, did you try the meat? I am told some part of Canada, they do not care for the meat and in some area you are not allowed to just dump the carcass in the field. Sure hate to shoot a bear and just dump the meat. Sure like to have a bear rug in my trophy collection though.

[Soreloser]

Sure, it is done all the time with the guide behind holding a 500S&W. Just wondering though, did you try the meat? I am told some part of Canada, they do not care for the meat and in some area you are not allowed to just dump the carcass in the field. Sure hate to shoot a bear and just dump the meat. Sure like to have a bear rug in my trophy collection though.

NO, NO No meat for me thanks. After you get a whif of some of the bears up there trust me, you wouldn't want to try the meat either. Not even the locals or the indians in the area want anything to do with them.They are allowed to dump the carcasses up there where we were. they have a little spot dug out just outside of camp.

[Tundra]

nice bears! I sat in a tree from 2pm til midnight one spring and looked at about 10 bears before picking the one i wanted just as it was getting dark. I smacked him down but found it was too dark and he was too heavy for me to even roll over. I had to walk out about a half mile to the truck and then go get my buddy to help. I've had lots of run-ins with bears, mostly grizzlies and it only got hairy one time but my hair was up on the back of my neck that night.Black bear meat is actually pretty good, especially spring bears. Very mild, almost like venison. I have a bunch of it canned in the pantry right now and a few roasts in the freezer. In Alaska you are required to salvage the meat of spring black bears but not fall ones, i guess because they get in the fish all summer. Many of the fall bears i have cut open smelled just like a blueberry pie though FWIW.Anyways, good story and great pics!