Yesterday was a busy day. Up at 0530, and finished bagging sausage at 1130 last night.

Gotta start off thanking bronko2200. He invited me to his bear camp in North Central PA four years ago. Introduced me to some of the guys and showed me a good spot to hunt. Where he, and a few other camp members, have taken some bear in the past. I've made it over there three of the last four years, last year was a nasty winter storm so I didn't go over.

Due to my work schedule I could only hunt Saturday, but you can't get them staying at home. So, Friday morning I got home from work at 8am and took a two hour nap. Then got up, loaded up and started the 4 hour drive over to camp. I had a 45 minute delay due to a wreck on 80. Then had to stop and see the elk on the way by. Saw about thirty elk including allot of small bulls.




Made it to camp just before dark and got everything ready for Saturday. We had 7 guys and the cabin was pretty full. We had a good evening.

Saturday I started up the mountain right at daylight and went slow watching for bear. Found a nice spot to spend the morning and set up to wait there. Got the range finder out and ranged some logs, rocks, stumps, etc. I could see a long way down through the woods.




At 1030 I saw a bear trotting its way up through the woods. I thought to myself "you're going to get a bear!" It was farther away than I would have liked and I was hoping it would turn and come towards me, but it turned the other way and headed for some thick brushy briars. I figured if it got in there I'd never see it again. I found an opening in front of it, got rested off the tree in front of me, and sent one flying when the bear hit that opening. It immediately dropped, as I worked there bolt it jumped up and spun around several times biting at it's side. It jumped over a log and disappeared down the hill at a run. At this point I was worried that I didn't make a good hit.

I waited a few minutes and went down to where i shot it at. Immediately seeing good blood and feeling better about the shot. I climbed over the log and could see it piled up just below me. The shot was a little far back, but effective still.



Wasn't a big Bear, but I'm sure excited and happy.






They pull a tooth at the check station for aging and I should get an age back next summer some time. They did say it was an adult. Rolled her down the hill towards the road and met some of the guys from the camp to celebrate. Then I loaded up, headed to the check station then started the 4 hour drive home.

Got home, got it caped and butchered, then made a batch of sausage with the grind meat. Finished everything up a little after 11. Had some tender loins cooked up for dinner, and it was delicious with butter, salt and pepper. Have a roast going now and will try some sausage here shortly for breakfast.

Fun day!

-Jake