Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Man how time fly's! It seemed It was just yesterday that the baiting season opened for bear In Minnesota but It was not. It opened August 15th and Its now September 9th and my bear hunting Is over for the year, that stinks If you ask me!! It went by way to quick. Bear hunting was tough this year In the area that my/our small group has always hunted In. It seemed that there were was allot of natural food this year. The more natural food they have the harder It Is to get these bear to hit our baits on a consistent basis. I've been bear hunting for 19 years and at least one of us In our hunting party has gotten a bear. This year was a 1st. We were skunked for the very 1st time In the 19 years I've been bear hunting. The baits really never got rolling from day one. We had a few baits getting hit pretty decent before hunting rolled around September 1st but for the most part they were very slow and few and far between. For the people who think baiting bear is too easy, you are inexperienced and uneducated and that's putting It nicely!!! We've proved It year in and year out that Its the farthest thing from a guarantee. Opening night my dad had a 150lb range bear at 12 yards but the bear didn't stick around and give him the shot he wanted. He was there maybe a minute or so and headed out. The following night my dad seen a different bear that was a nicer bear probably weighing In that 200lb+ range but the bear never committed himself to the bait and thus the old man just watched him being he was to far for his longbow (30 yards). The 3rd night Is when things got real interesting for my brother. The bait my brother was sitting on had 2 dandy bear hitting hit. I'm pretty sure the one bear is a B&C bear (21"+ skull) and the other bear is a high 20" skull, allot like the big bear I got, maybe bigger! A few days before this we noticed that the one bear was very light in color from the other one in the infrared pictures that our cuddebacks and my RC60 was taking. That light colored bear finally came Into the bait during the day (4:00 PM) which Is odd being these big guys don't usually do this but anyway we got a picture of him and he's brown as can be which Isn't very common for Minnesota, just a beautiful looking bear. We usually don't get to our stands until about 5:00 pm, he beat my brother to the bait and was gone long before my brother showed up. What I just explained all happened on the 2nd evening of hunting for my brother. The 3rd evening was a hair raiser for him. At about 7:30 that evening browny showed up. He slowly came into the bait which Is about 10 yards from the tree my brother was sitting In. The bear knew he was there, the wind direction switched about an hour before dark and he had my brother pegged the minute he came In to the bait site. He looked up at him countless times and finally when he did present a nice broadside shot my brother pulled his longbow back and the bear darted away. My bro couldn't believe It, he was heart broken thinking he just blew It on a once In a lifetime bear. Low and behold the big bruin came back In and offered another shot but again he spooked! My brother Is thinking what the hell Is going on here, this sucker Is jumpy as hell!! Well It finally got to dark so he just sat himself down on his seat and watched the 300lb+ browny eat at the bait hoping he would leave so he can get out of the woods. I forgot to mention that every time this bear would bolt out he would woof and smack his lips the whole time, that right there was driving my brother nuts, he's a little on the nervous side anyway when bear hunting. 20 minutes after It was dark he thought the bear had walked away from the bait so he decided It was time to slip on out of there and get back to the truck to pick me up 3 miles down the road. My bro does carry a 45 with him when bear hunting, It makes him feel safer, whatever works to keep you comfortable Is what I told him. On his way down the tree he hits the last tree peg and is just about ready to step on the ground and all of a sudden something 10' away woofs at him and starts stomping the ground and smacking Its lips again. Up the tree my brother goes yelling at the bear and scared out of his you know what!!! As soon as he got back In the stand he pointed the light below the tree with his revolver ready to fire but no bear In site. He told me that If the bear would of walked below his tree and gave him any hassle he would of ate lead. When all of this was going on he also had heard some something bust away directly south of him about 30 yards. I told him that I figured that both of the big guys were at the bait the same time and that was probably why all the lip smacking/stomping/chasing around was going on. The bear that treed him probably thought he was another bear. Long story short I finally made my way to his pickup being I knew trouble was In the works being he hadn't picked me up yet so I was just heading Into the woods to go and get him when finally he came flying out of the woods with just his revolver and light on our walk In trail. He told me he left his bow In the tree so he could run like a SOB out to the road when he finally got down. He never did hear nothing when he finally did get down from the tree to get out.

The next night he left the bait cool off and didn't hunt It. The following evening I was planning on sitting with him being I knew he'd feel more comfortable with me with him but we got rained out. The following evening was our last night hunting so my dad said he would sit with him instead being he lives only an hour from where we hunt and he plans on hunting more after we leave, I won't be able to get up there again this fall so I hunted the last night where I've been usually going. Nothing showed for me. I didn't see a bear the whole trip. That's hunting and It won't be the last time It happens. I still had a blast!!

At 7:57 browny came In to the bait and was just as cautious as he was the last time he came In. He finally did give my brother a nice broad side shot but the hunting gods weren't on my brother's side this particular year. He hit the bear we think high In the back a little far back. He was pretty nerved up when the big bruin came In and It just didn't work out for him. Man I felt bad for my brother!! Whats a guy do though, that's hunting I guess and so many things can happen when your bow hunting and you have a once In a lifetime animal 10 to 12 yards In front of you. I know he will never forget that night. The trail camera happened to be in the right position where you can see my brother In the tree with the bear In front of him, Its pretty nuts looking at it. We also looked at the video of the bear when he shot and that's how we came to the conclusion of where the arrow hit. We didn't track It that night. We waited till the next morning and looked for It for 5.5 hours. Not one spot of blood was found. We did find part of his arrow, 3/4 of it. It was broken off and had no blood on It. He didn't get hardly any penetration. I'm sure the bear Is fine. At least we all hope so anyway.

We had more P&Y bear hitting our baits this year then any other year that we know of. We had some big bear there, just couldn't get them to hit the baits consistently! What worried me about this year Is that we had no sow and cubs and very few young bear hitting our baits. Something happened I think last winter that many of the young bear and sow and cubs didn't make It out of there dens. We did have a late snow storm last year that might have been the problem that kept these bear In there dens too long and thus starved and ran out of fat and died. Then again maybe Its just the area I hunted that was like this and nothing bad will come out of It but I'm thinking Its probably not the case.

Here Is a picture of the bear when he was 10 yards In front of my brother. When he turned broadside Is when he got the shot off. I drew a red arrow where my brother is In the tree.



He shot when the bear turns broad side In this pic. The camera didn't do to well with the flash In the picture. There Is still a good 5 minutes of shooting light left yet. It really shows the bear's size in this picture. The sack In the tree Is about 6 feet high. The bear Itself Is about 4 feet high on all fours, that's crazy tall for a bear on all fours walking!!


This was when we found out he was brown. These pics don't really do him justice though on his size being he's crunched up In these pictures.



Here Is a few more of browny that we got.













Here is the biggest of the 2 bears that was hitting my brothers bait, he's a hog!! We named him blackie.







I'll post more pics of the bear we got on camera In a different thread. We've got some other huge bear on camera as well.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Well Steve, you know what they say.....sometimes you get the bear, and sometimes the bear get's you.:D You had a good time, that's all that counts!;)

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Great stories and great pics Steve!!! Good read!! Too bad you guys didn't get a bear but like you said that's why they call it hunting. Thanks for sharing with us!

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Man, too bad you didnt get your bear. I was betting you would have another monster to post once you returned. Atleast you had a good time and spent quality time with the family, afterall, thats what hunting is all about.

Dont let high horse posters get to you either about how its unsporting to bait bears either. Im willing to bet that 99% of them have never done it and have no clue what its really about. I was floored when i saw how much work went into baiting bears on my trip to quebec.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Thanks Rob!! I appreciate that. Did you bear hunt this year?

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Cool pics and story. Atleast you got to spend time with family.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Sounds like you had a great hunt! Congratulations.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Thanks for sharing the story & pix from the hunt. Been waiting for it. Sorry it didn’t work out for one of you to take one.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

License, $20
Bear bait, $75
Gas,$150
Watching your brother run out of the woods after being scared by a bear, Priceless! :D:D

You will get them next year! and they will be bigger!;)

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Great story bro and pics bro!!! Thats why we call it hunting not killing, sounds like all had a great time!! Walt

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Hey Steve great story and photo's

thanks Jerry

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Great read Steve and the memories of the season, and the work and fun that came out of it will last just as long as the Trophy mount that eluded you, and make next years successtwice as sweet!

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Is there a cliff note version of this story available, it looks intersting, almost enough so to read it.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Cool post...missed ya Schultzy and glad your back.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

I thought it was awefull quiet around here.:DSounds like a fun trip even tho you didn't get a bear.

Better luck with the deer Shultzy.;)

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

-tough work
-big bears
-Draw...run Draw...run
-Dang!
-holy crap whats that behind me
-load chamber..walk quickly out!
- Wait'll next year

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Same boat, as you, Steve. Tough Hunting.

I may go home tomorrow and hunt. Then I got friday, and even debating going out sat night.

Sounds like a good time, anyway! Good to have ya back.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Seems like a no brainer, but what is the other side of this debate?

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Minnesota Bow Opener (deer) I told you that, you tool. [8D]

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

[&:]Cut some slack, I just finished my 3rd paper today.

I'd opt for bear, but thats because I have never hunted them before. But if the hunting this year sucks, maybe deer would be the better route.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Good story Schultzy, it's too bad you didn't get one, but that's why they call it hunting:)

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

This is an awesome sequence of pics....am i the only one that finds it amazing to have a trail cam pic of a bear the bait with the hunter on stand in the background looking down?:) That is just AWESOME.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Too bad you didn't connect (anyone for that matter). At least you were doing something you love with good friends and relatives. It don't get any better than that!

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Thanks bud!! You hit the nail on the head there Walt!!;)

Your so right there Bob! A hunter doesn't always got to be successful to have a good time hunting. If a person does I think there in it for the wrong reasons and are really missing out.

Thanks for the reply!

Smart ass!!

Now this Is some funny stuff right here!! I really should show him this but I think he'd get a little ticked at me.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

It's good to see someone caught that Trever! We didn't set the camera's up that way either. It just happened to work out that way on this particular stand.

You nailed It there Greg!! Your whole post says It all.

Thanks for the replys everyone. I hope next year I can get my brother set up again so he can finish what he started. I'm still feeling for the guy. But I guess thats why Its called hunting and not getting, that's how it goes sometimes.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Awesome story Schultzy. You may have to live vicariosly through some of your friends. I have another month or so. There are still a tonne of berries in the woods so we haven't even put out the cams yet. I've gone in 3 times to check my baits and they have hardly been touched. I mean the bears are hitting them but not frequently enuf to hunt the set. I guess I'm like your Dad, in that I have more time to hunt.
Anyways sounds like you and your family had a blast. Thats why I hunt. Good times with family and friends. There is always next yr. Maybe a spring hunt in your future;)

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

We will do that one of these years bud!!!

Good luck my friend!!

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Great trail cam pics of some Awesome Bears Steve. The story was great, really enjoyed it.
Looks like everyone is having the same problem this year, to much mast to compete with, around here the choke cherries are loaded and the bears are on them big time.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Nice Bear pictures!
Sounds like fun too me...
Sorry to hear Boo-Boo & Yogi got away, but you still have a nice documented hunt for your record books that you can read for many years.
You can pass them along to your little girl!!!

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Man, sorry you guys didn't get one down, but sounds like a great time anyway. That's cool you get to share those times with your family.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

You got that right Ed! I hope I'm sitting with her on a bear stand some day watching her arrow a bear. That would be something!

Thanks for the replys everyone.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Steve that was a hair raising story bud!! awesome read :)love the pics especially the one with your brother in it. glad to see you back ;)

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Great pics and story Steve. Good to hear you guys hada good time. Just too bad you guys couldn't connect.

You got it right about baiting bears is nowhere near a guarantee. My week in Maine without seeing a bear on stand is proof of that.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Damn, no luck for you either?? Sorry to hear that. Maine Is a hell of a bear state. That's hunting for ya!

Are you going next year?

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Great story.. you had fun, and afterall, that is what it is all about. That Reconyx takes some nice pics at night!

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Great to see you back Steve. Sorry bout the hunt in one way, but glad you made the most of it. You will get 'em next time. I know you like it too much to quit. Shoot me a PM sometimes. 2 weeks and 2 days before "it's on like donkey kong" here.:D

LT

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Great story and pics. What is the plaque by the bait? I'm guessing it states who it belongs to?

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Most likely we are. The couple that we are friends with that hosted us are just learning about baiting bears. This was the first year for them so we all learned a lot. It was a great time though. It was worth the trip just for the lobsters!

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

You have to have your name and license number and or phone number on a 8" or so plaque to establish your bait site. You also have to send in all of your bait info to the DNR with your GPS cordinates or plat book numbers so they can go and check the bait site's to make sure your following the guidelines that are out there for baiting bear.

RE: Our Minnesota Bear Hunt (Very long read)
 

Great story and pics!! Thanks for sharing! To bad it didn't work out for you guys though!