Post by bowman on Jan 14, 2008 6:23:50 GMT -5
We arrived in camp on Sept. 16 of 2006, and as normal for Canada that time of the year it rained 6 of the 7 days. The first morning in camp we unpacked checked equipment. A
t about 10am the guides started taking us to our baits so we could set up stands for the evenings hunt, and guess what it's raining. Tracey's and my baits are about 3 miles apart and about 30 miles from camp. By the time we set up our stands and baited and drove back to camp it was 2pm and we were hungry and soaking wet and Tracey's pneumonia was kicking the crap out of her. Tracey elected to stay in camp hoping to salvage the rest of the week. After some lunch I took my ceremonial shower (can't go hunting without it) and headed to the stand. I climbed into the stand about 3 hours before the end of legal hunting time with a steady rain coming down. After about 1 1/2 hrs. a bear appeared about 20 yards from the stand walked right in like he owned the place flipped the barrel and started eating. After about 20 min. he had emptied the barrel and started to mill around. By this point still hadn't decided how big he was and I was looking for a P&Y since I had already taken bears on earlier hunts (that's another story). With the rain still coming down I decided to pass on him that night. I did get a 1/2 hr of great video including some straight below my stand. As he's leaving he must have heard something to the south and stared hard for a minute before leaving. Of course I'm hoping for another bear, but nothing shows up. On my walk out to the truck I see bear prints of a small bear in the mud on the two track about 40 yards from my stand. When I get to where my bow case is, it has been flipped on end. I figure that the smaller bear had played with the the hard sided bow case and the practice arrows inside rattled and that's what the bigger bear had heard. I now have holes in my bow case where it was bit! I showed the video to every one in camp and the guide over beer and they all harassed me for not taking the Bear that day.
Day 2: We left a little earlier for the stand, the rained was on and off. After about 3 hr. in my stand my Bear came back, but he was acting very nervous and wouldn't commit to the bait. Afraid he was going to leave without hitting the bait I drew back my Martin Shadow Cat and took the shot when he paused in a shooting lane at 15 yards.He traveled about 70 yards into the thickest swamp I've ever seen. It took Tracey, Me and my two buddies 1 1/2 to drag him out. He weighed 310lbs. and P&Y scored 18 5/16.I also got the whole thing on video.
Here's the picture of Tracey's Dads Bear 320 lbs and mine taken on the same night!
t about 10am the guides started taking us to our baits so we could set up stands for the evenings hunt, and guess what it's raining. Tracey's and my baits are about 3 miles apart and about 30 miles from camp. By the time we set up our stands and baited and drove back to camp it was 2pm and we were hungry and soaking wet and Tracey's pneumonia was kicking the crap out of her. Tracey elected to stay in camp hoping to salvage the rest of the week. After some lunch I took my ceremonial shower (can't go hunting without it) and headed to the stand. I climbed into the stand about 3 hours before the end of legal hunting time with a steady rain coming down. After about 1 1/2 hrs. a bear appeared about 20 yards from the stand walked right in like he owned the place flipped the barrel and started eating. After about 20 min. he had emptied the barrel and started to mill around. By this point still hadn't decided how big he was and I was looking for a P&Y since I had already taken bears on earlier hunts (that's another story). With the rain still coming down I decided to pass on him that night. I did get a 1/2 hr of great video including some straight below my stand. As he's leaving he must have heard something to the south and stared hard for a minute before leaving. Of course I'm hoping for another bear, but nothing shows up. On my walk out to the truck I see bear prints of a small bear in the mud on the two track about 40 yards from my stand. When I get to where my bow case is, it has been flipped on end. I figure that the smaller bear had played with the the hard sided bow case and the practice arrows inside rattled and that's what the bigger bear had heard. I now have holes in my bow case where it was bit! I showed the video to every one in camp and the guide over beer and they all harassed me for not taking the Bear that day.
Day 2: We left a little earlier for the stand, the rained was on and off. After about 3 hr. in my stand my Bear came back, but he was acting very nervous and wouldn't commit to the bait. Afraid he was going to leave without hitting the bait I drew back my Martin Shadow Cat and took the shot when he paused in a shooting lane at 15 yards.He traveled about 70 yards into the thickest swamp I've ever seen. It took Tracey, Me and my two buddies 1 1/2 to drag him out. He weighed 310lbs. and P&Y scored 18 5/16.I also got the whole thing on video.
Here's the picture of Tracey's Dads Bear 320 lbs and mine taken on the same night!
Can you tell me the outfitter serviced you used? I went to Ontario last year in august and shot my first bear with a bow. I had a great time and the guides put me on some some nice size bears. I shot the first bear that gave me a good shot, it happened to be a smaller one but still a trophy. 
Was that outfitter fine with you using your bow? Would you use them again?