Not M: but what a night
10-27-2014, 04:39 PM
#1
Boone & Crockett
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,746
Not M: but what a night
Thought I'd share with my buds:
I was in the treestand this evening hoping for a nice buck to come by. About an hour before dark I caught movement 100 yards or so out. Black and my first thought was turkey. But nope. It was a bear casually working its way in my direction. As it came to the trail I walked on he stopped and smelled the ground and turned toward my stand. I thought, that is a good bear. And the closer he got the better he looked. At about 15 yards he was close enough to accurately judge his size. I estimated him to be about 24" - 30" wide across the shoulders, close to 36" at the highest point on his back and an easy five feet long. The closest he got was 13 yards and broadside. His coat was gorgeous especially with the sun shining on it. He would take 4 or 5 steps and check the wind. But he never winded me. It was a real treat to watch him. And amazing how an animal so big could make such little noise in the dry fall leaves. And of course I was in a hurry today and forgot my camera. Grrrrrrrrr.
I was in the treestand this evening hoping for a nice buck to come by. About an hour before dark I caught movement 100 yards or so out. Black and my first thought was turkey. But nope. It was a bear casually working its way in my direction. As it came to the trail I walked on he stopped and smelled the ground and turned toward my stand. I thought, that is a good bear. And the closer he got the better he looked. At about 15 yards he was close enough to accurately judge his size. I estimated him to be about 24" - 30" wide across the shoulders, close to 36" at the highest point on his back and an easy five feet long. The closest he got was 13 yards and broadside. His coat was gorgeous especially with the sun shining on it. He would take 4 or 5 steps and check the wind. But he never winded me. It was a real treat to watch him. And amazing how an animal so big could make such little noise in the dry fall leaves. And of course I was in a hurry today and forgot my camera. Grrrrrrrrr.
10-27-2014, 06:41 PM
#5
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 21,193
That picture really tells the story. Big bear like that sure are intimidating. But they are fun to see.The year I hunted bear at my house I was in a cloth ground blind. And in come a momma bear and two cubs. I was sitting there with a .54 Renegade loaded with a round ball. The cubs got within 5 yards of the blind and I had a no hands grip on my seat so tight, if I had to run it would have followed me. But Momma finally got enough to eat and walked off, calling her kids with her. I was never so glad to see a bear leave in my life.
10-28-2014, 04:48 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Penns Woods
Posts: 1,628
The encounters I've had with Black Bears while bow hunting or early ML season have been very similar so I'm amazed at the same thing. How an animal that big that looks as though they would naturally be awkward can be so stealthy...
Nice that you had an enjoyable hunt Bud!
BPS
