Well our fall season came and went just to darn quick for my liking, let me tell you. We had eighteen days of rain free weather, mind you one
night it looked like it was going to snow. By far the weather and the animals all were better than usual, if that's possible. But not to get ahead
of myself lets start at the beginning shall we. The end of August was rapidly approaching and I just couldn't wait to head out for our Elk & Bear
hunts. There is nothing better than being in the woods in the fall, as the woods seem to come alive with colors and magical sounds of the
animals. As always the labor of putting up camp just seems to be one of love, it goes up very quickly as spirits are soaring high on the first
day. No one gets much sleep on the first night as we burn the midnight oil around the campfire. Everyone has a story to tell and the warmth of
the fire and the crackle of the wood just seems to be the perfect ambiance needed. I helped Larry around camp then we prepared the gear for
the morning trip out, as the elk hunters had an early day ahead of them. I slid into my sleeping bag and it wasn't long before I drifted off into
dream world thinking about a big bear for me this fall. The early morning calmness was rudely shattered by the alarm clock, as I heard
Larry's voice whisper into my ear. YOU COMIN OR STAYIN SNOOZE QUEEN, after a good stretch I just rolled over and
murmured I'm tired. The aroma of coffee and bacon soon drifted through camp, but I fought off the temptation to get up
as I'd rather sleep in, us girls need our beauty rest I'm afraid. Of course it wasn't long after and it was time to get up anyways and
put the coffee on as camp started to come alive. As all camps experience, time just flies by too quickly as before you know it the guys were
back from their morning adventures with stories to tell. Of course I slept in so you just know I missed something good, and you just know that
Larry is going to tell me about it. The video camera was rolling all week as the elk were bugling and pounding the poplars and pine, and the
bears were coming in early on the bait sites and doing what they do best...being clowns. Every evening was filled with the day’s events as we
sat around the campfire eating lunch or dinner telling the heart pounding stories of the day. I love the looks in their eyes as they tell of the
unfolding events as they occurred; their faces light up in a way you just can't describe - priceless. By the end of the week a gentlemen and his
wife went home with a big black and a good size chocolate bear, the elk hunter had chances everyday on elk but just could get a shot off.
That's hunting. But everyone limited out on geese daily. A new hunter was arriving for elk next week, and my bear spot was really beginning to
turn red hot. I was super excited to say the least when we rebated my spot only to see scat as round as my arms. All of the droppings had a
blue color to them, as they were full of Saskatoon’s and acorns. So these bears had not really been on the bait site for very long as there was
no sign of oats in the scat. Even Larry said there are some real big bruisers on that bait site as there was far too many scat piles to be just
one or two bears there. Doesn't seem to be anything but big bears on there.........YAHOOOOO!. Our first morning came in with zero wind and
the air was alive with music as the geese coming off the lakes were headed out to the fields for the morning. As we slipped through the trees
quietly the woods started to breath life as the squirrels and birds went about their business. The air was disrupted by the sound of Larry's elk
tube, it seem to carry off into another province as it echoed across the lake. You could still hear it softly drifting across the country side, when
right out of nowhere a bull blasted his authority right back at us. Yikes; it made the hair stand right up on the back of your neck let me tell you,
as the hunt was on. Our encounter took us off on a morning journey that took us and kept on right on the edge of our seats, as we got so
close we could see this monarch of the big timber. As it started it ended, but that is elk hunting a journey of ups and downs highs and
lows...........But what a rush. On the way back to where the quads were parked we saw good-sized bear scat almost everywhere, I just couldn't
wait to sit in my spot tonight.Well after a monster size lunch we all decided that a little nap was in order and it sure didn't take long for
everyone to drop off into a world of dreams where the big ones live. I woke up just pumped to go, so I grabbed by bow for a few practice
rounds and got my gear up and ready. The guys laughed at me when I struggled to hook up the trailer to the quad, as I told them we will be
needing it for when I shoot my monster bear tonight. I was worse than a small child patrolling around camp with "Is it time to go yet'. We
finally left and worked our way up to my bait site; all I could think about was smoking a biggin as I just felt it. I stalked in quietly with the
anticipation of my big bear with almost every step. I climbed up into my stand and pulled up my bow as the guys left for their evening elk hunt.
I knocked an arrow, hung up my bow and tried to settle in for the evening. Man I had a hard time sitting still as I was just to pump up for the
evening action. I had too close my eyes and try to just relax, I kept talking to myself saying just be cool and just focus on being quiet. Things
were going good till I heard a good snap, moments later I could hear crunching coming in slowly. Oh Yea it's a bear, it’s a bear, it’s a bear,
the crunching kept coming and it's almost where I can see.... just a tad further. Crap it's a ruff grouse, OH MAN I can't believe I thought that
was a bear, come on Rosemary snap out of it. The rest of the evening was a bust; Larry took my picture as I came out of the stand of pine
where I was hunting. I'm not going to show that picture to anyone ever. Yikes who is that crazed woman, looks like Me? I was super
disappointed to say the least, back at camp during dinner around the fire I never said one word and I retired early that night as I was just
drained. I drifted off pretty much after my head hit the pillow and slept great, with a new day ahead I was ready to go with the guys the next
morning with a new out look on life. We were into elk right out of camp and the action was so good it took my mind off of yesterday’s
uneventful evening. On the way back from our morning’s encounters we saw a big bear headed up towards a ridge that straddles where my
bait site is. That got me back into the frame of mind that I needed to be in, but I am relaxed and focused on what I need to do this evening. We
went through the same routine as the night before, the guys left and I was really calm tonight sitting in the stand. There was all kinds of
noises coming from all directions, it was almost eerie at times but I wasn't rattled............I'm back baby. Time seemed to pass by ever so
slowly but the birds and squirrels kept me entertained for the better part of the evening. Wow I can't believe it two nights in a row skunked,
that's just unheard of for me. The sun slowly started to drop down into the big pine and the woods got very quiet as the coat of darkness fell
upon me. I came down as I could hear the guys coming along the ridge to the backside of me. They were anxious to hear my story and even
more shocked to hear me say I had nothing come in, Larry said you mean just not a shooter...Not even a cub I replied. As luck would have it
the guys again were into elk, and worse they saw two big bears at the end of my ridge while coming for me. OH MAN...What’s with that, on the
way back I was just shaking my head and talking to myself when I spotted a huge bear scat pile with oats in it, guys look at this. Well this isn't
exactly what I had planned for or ever expected either let me tell you. But I was cool as I wasn't going to let this slow me down one bit, I'll go
out in the morning with the guys for elk...that's always good. We sat around the campfire after dinner talking about the day’s events, even
though I had nothing to add to those stories I remained optimistic for tomorrow.
night it looked like it was going to snow. By far the weather and the animals all were better than usual, if that's possible. But not to get ahead
of myself lets start at the beginning shall we. The end of August was rapidly approaching and I just couldn't wait to head out for our Elk & Bear
hunts. There is nothing better than being in the woods in the fall, as the woods seem to come alive with colors and magical sounds of the
animals. As always the labor of putting up camp just seems to be one of love, it goes up very quickly as spirits are soaring high on the first
day. No one gets much sleep on the first night as we burn the midnight oil around the campfire. Everyone has a story to tell and the warmth of
the fire and the crackle of the wood just seems to be the perfect ambiance needed. I helped Larry around camp then we prepared the gear for
the morning trip out, as the elk hunters had an early day ahead of them. I slid into my sleeping bag and it wasn't long before I drifted off into
dream world thinking about a big bear for me this fall. The early morning calmness was rudely shattered by the alarm clock, as I heard
Larry's voice whisper into my ear. YOU COMIN OR STAYIN SNOOZE QUEEN, after a good stretch I just rolled over and
murmured I'm tired. The aroma of coffee and bacon soon drifted through camp, but I fought off the temptation to get up
as I'd rather sleep in, us girls need our beauty rest I'm afraid. Of course it wasn't long after and it was time to get up anyways and
put the coffee on as camp started to come alive. As all camps experience, time just flies by too quickly as before you know it the guys were
back from their morning adventures with stories to tell. Of course I slept in so you just know I missed something good, and you just know that
Larry is going to tell me about it. The video camera was rolling all week as the elk were bugling and pounding the poplars and pine, and the
bears were coming in early on the bait sites and doing what they do best...being clowns. Every evening was filled with the day’s events as we
sat around the campfire eating lunch or dinner telling the heart pounding stories of the day. I love the looks in their eyes as they tell of the
unfolding events as they occurred; their faces light up in a way you just can't describe - priceless. By the end of the week a gentlemen and his
wife went home with a big black and a good size chocolate bear, the elk hunter had chances everyday on elk but just could get a shot off.
That's hunting. But everyone limited out on geese daily. A new hunter was arriving for elk next week, and my bear spot was really beginning to
turn red hot. I was super excited to say the least when we rebated my spot only to see scat as round as my arms. All of the droppings had a
blue color to them, as they were full of Saskatoon’s and acorns. So these bears had not really been on the bait site for very long as there was
no sign of oats in the scat. Even Larry said there are some real big bruisers on that bait site as there was far too many scat piles to be just
one or two bears there. Doesn't seem to be anything but big bears on there.........YAHOOOOO!. Our first morning came in with zero wind and
the air was alive with music as the geese coming off the lakes were headed out to the fields for the morning. As we slipped through the trees
quietly the woods started to breath life as the squirrels and birds went about their business. The air was disrupted by the sound of Larry's elk
tube, it seem to carry off into another province as it echoed across the lake. You could still hear it softly drifting across the country side, when
right out of nowhere a bull blasted his authority right back at us. Yikes; it made the hair stand right up on the back of your neck let me tell you,
as the hunt was on. Our encounter took us off on a morning journey that took us and kept on right on the edge of our seats, as we got so
close we could see this monarch of the big timber. As it started it ended, but that is elk hunting a journey of ups and downs highs and
lows...........But what a rush. On the way back to where the quads were parked we saw good-sized bear scat almost everywhere, I just couldn't
wait to sit in my spot tonight.Well after a monster size lunch we all decided that a little nap was in order and it sure didn't take long for
everyone to drop off into a world of dreams where the big ones live. I woke up just pumped to go, so I grabbed by bow for a few practice
rounds and got my gear up and ready. The guys laughed at me when I struggled to hook up the trailer to the quad, as I told them we will be
needing it for when I shoot my monster bear tonight. I was worse than a small child patrolling around camp with "Is it time to go yet'. We
finally left and worked our way up to my bait site; all I could think about was smoking a biggin as I just felt it. I stalked in quietly with the
anticipation of my big bear with almost every step. I climbed up into my stand and pulled up my bow as the guys left for their evening elk hunt.
I knocked an arrow, hung up my bow and tried to settle in for the evening. Man I had a hard time sitting still as I was just to pump up for the
evening action. I had too close my eyes and try to just relax, I kept talking to myself saying just be cool and just focus on being quiet. Things
were going good till I heard a good snap, moments later I could hear crunching coming in slowly. Oh Yea it's a bear, it’s a bear, it’s a bear,
the crunching kept coming and it's almost where I can see.... just a tad further. Crap it's a ruff grouse, OH MAN I can't believe I thought that
was a bear, come on Rosemary snap out of it. The rest of the evening was a bust; Larry took my picture as I came out of the stand of pine
where I was hunting. I'm not going to show that picture to anyone ever. Yikes who is that crazed woman, looks like Me? I was super
disappointed to say the least, back at camp during dinner around the fire I never said one word and I retired early that night as I was just
drained. I drifted off pretty much after my head hit the pillow and slept great, with a new day ahead I was ready to go with the guys the next
morning with a new out look on life. We were into elk right out of camp and the action was so good it took my mind off of yesterday’s
uneventful evening. On the way back from our morning’s encounters we saw a big bear headed up towards a ridge that straddles where my
bait site is. That got me back into the frame of mind that I needed to be in, but I am relaxed and focused on what I need to do this evening. We
went through the same routine as the night before, the guys left and I was really calm tonight sitting in the stand. There was all kinds of
noises coming from all directions, it was almost eerie at times but I wasn't rattled............I'm back baby. Time seemed to pass by ever so
slowly but the birds and squirrels kept me entertained for the better part of the evening. Wow I can't believe it two nights in a row skunked,
that's just unheard of for me. The sun slowly started to drop down into the big pine and the woods got very quiet as the coat of darkness fell
upon me. I came down as I could hear the guys coming along the ridge to the backside of me. They were anxious to hear my story and even
more shocked to hear me say I had nothing come in, Larry said you mean just not a shooter...Not even a cub I replied. As luck would have it
the guys again were into elk, and worse they saw two big bears at the end of my ridge while coming for me. OH MAN...What’s with that, on the
way back I was just shaking my head and talking to myself when I spotted a huge bear scat pile with oats in it, guys look at this. Well this isn't
exactly what I had planned for or ever expected either let me tell you. But I was cool as I wasn't going to let this slow me down one bit, I'll go
out in the morning with the guys for elk...that's always good. We sat around the campfire after dinner talking about the day’s events, even
though I had nothing to add to those stories I remained optimistic for tomorrow.
| Rosemary's Bear Hunt |
ALL BY MYSELF! Damn that was exciting. I sat down on my bear I couldn't
believe how warm his body was, and then I noticed that I was shaking just a
tad bit. I walked out to the edge for a look and kinda got my senses back, I
couldn't believe what just took place. I went back and got my gear then
realized I need to take a picture of my bear. I had to tie a rope around each
leg and pull till it hurt just to get his paws on the log then his head, to big for
me too move around. When The guys came they didn't think I shot anything
as I was waiting at the same place as the night before. They were freaked
when they saw the bear and whereabouts I shot it from. It took all three of us
to get him in the trailer; back at camp it was a breeze as we have solar
panels and almost unlimited lighting. By the way, Larry found a dead cow
that was hit by lightning while standing too close to a fence. The bears were
all over it, which explained why they just were not coming to the bait early
enough. Hope You Enjoyed Reading About My Hunt...I HAD A HOOT! Here a
picture of my bear!
believe how warm his body was, and then I noticed that I was shaking just a
tad bit. I walked out to the edge for a look and kinda got my senses back, I
couldn't believe what just took place. I went back and got my gear then
realized I need to take a picture of my bear. I had to tie a rope around each
leg and pull till it hurt just to get his paws on the log then his head, to big for
me too move around. When The guys came they didn't think I shot anything
as I was waiting at the same place as the night before. They were freaked
when they saw the bear and whereabouts I shot it from. It took all three of us
to get him in the trailer; back at camp it was a breeze as we have solar
panels and almost unlimited lighting. By the way, Larry found a dead cow
that was hit by lightning while standing too close to a fence. The bears were
all over it, which explained why they just were not coming to the bait early
enough. Hope You Enjoyed Reading About My Hunt...I HAD A HOOT! Here a
picture of my bear!
Finally I saw a Bear, well no doubt I'm going back in there tomorrow for a chance at him or another one. The guys didn't have much luck
finding the elk as the blood trail went a long ways and petered out. The guys decided everybody gets to sleep in and tomorrow evening
they will look one more time for that bull, while I come back here. I was excited and I was a little nervous about being on the ground All By
Myself, but the guys kept telling me I would be fine...besides I have the walkie talkie. Well I tipped toed my way into that pine grove very
slowly and quietly, got my gear out and settled my self up for the evenings hunt. I have to admit I was a little nervous for a while, but as the
evening progressed I calmed down. I just sat there and looked around taking in all of the fall colors, as they are so beautiful this time of
year. I had a squirrel come in behind me slow close on the tree that was overhead I could hear him breathing above me. A while later a
flock of Canada's flew right over me headed for the lake, they were so low I could hear the whistle of the air through their wings. Things
calmed down for a while and the area was very quiet, then suddenly I heard an elk bugle off in the distance. I strained to hear him again
but it was faint as he was moving away, then right out of nowhere to my side an owl swooped right in front of me. My heart skipped a beat
for just a second or two that sure got my blood moving again. Then it got quiet again in which seemed like forever, I was beginning to
think maybe I'm just to spoil of having it always go my way and this will just be one of those seasons. I was just thinking about going to
the edge for a look when ...YEP.... Crunch...Crunch...Crunch from over my left shoulder and I can't move to
look...Crunch...Crunch...Crunch it's almost out of the hazel brush.... Just a tad bit more...Crunch...Crunch...CRAP ANOTHER RUFF
GROUSE! My poor little heart was pounding pretty well and I was almost going to scream I was so mad. When I looked ahead and there
was a Bear standing there right out of thin air, he just kind of looked around and then started walking RIGHT TO WARDS ME.
20yds...15yds...10yds...5yds he stopped right there and sniffed the ground then pawed at the ground there. I couldn't draw back my
bow...HECK I couldn't even move. I could hear him breathing and blowing air out his nose and in through his mouth. The next thing I hear
is Crunch...Crunch...Crunch the bear turned his head and just stared at that direction of the Crunching. But it is still coming so the bear
turns broad in front of me at about three yards and I draw back my bow which seemed like inch by inch till it was back all the way. I placed
the pin on him perfectly as at that range you sure can see them good. The air went still for a brief second then all you could hear was
Twang...Whack that bears spun right around, as he really didn't know just what just happened. He bolted back the way he came from then
turned and ran right back where I shot him at, then turned and ran towards where the Ruff Grouse came from and dropped dead. I sat
there for a good ten minutes before I even moved, and then I slowly walked over to him and poked him with my bow on his butt. Wow my
second bear on the ground....
finding the elk as the blood trail went a long ways and petered out. The guys decided everybody gets to sleep in and tomorrow evening
they will look one more time for that bull, while I come back here. I was excited and I was a little nervous about being on the ground All By
Myself, but the guys kept telling me I would be fine...besides I have the walkie talkie. Well I tipped toed my way into that pine grove very
slowly and quietly, got my gear out and settled my self up for the evenings hunt. I have to admit I was a little nervous for a while, but as the
evening progressed I calmed down. I just sat there and looked around taking in all of the fall colors, as they are so beautiful this time of
year. I had a squirrel come in behind me slow close on the tree that was overhead I could hear him breathing above me. A while later a
flock of Canada's flew right over me headed for the lake, they were so low I could hear the whistle of the air through their wings. Things
calmed down for a while and the area was very quiet, then suddenly I heard an elk bugle off in the distance. I strained to hear him again
but it was faint as he was moving away, then right out of nowhere to my side an owl swooped right in front of me. My heart skipped a beat
for just a second or two that sure got my blood moving again. Then it got quiet again in which seemed like forever, I was beginning to
think maybe I'm just to spoil of having it always go my way and this will just be one of those seasons. I was just thinking about going to
the edge for a look when ...YEP.... Crunch...Crunch...Crunch from over my left shoulder and I can't move to
look...Crunch...Crunch...Crunch it's almost out of the hazel brush.... Just a tad bit more...Crunch...Crunch...CRAP ANOTHER RUFF
GROUSE! My poor little heart was pounding pretty well and I was almost going to scream I was so mad. When I looked ahead and there
was a Bear standing there right out of thin air, he just kind of looked around and then started walking RIGHT TO WARDS ME.
20yds...15yds...10yds...5yds he stopped right there and sniffed the ground then pawed at the ground there. I couldn't draw back my
bow...HECK I couldn't even move. I could hear him breathing and blowing air out his nose and in through his mouth. The next thing I hear
is Crunch...Crunch...Crunch the bear turned his head and just stared at that direction of the Crunching. But it is still coming so the bear
turns broad in front of me at about three yards and I draw back my bow which seemed like inch by inch till it was back all the way. I placed
the pin on him perfectly as at that range you sure can see them good. The air went still for a brief second then all you could hear was
Twang...Whack that bears spun right around, as he really didn't know just what just happened. He bolted back the way he came from then
turned and ran right back where I shot him at, then turned and ran towards where the Ruff Grouse came from and dropped dead. I sat
there for a good ten minutes before I even moved, and then I slowly walked over to him and poked him with my bow on his butt. Wow my
second bear on the ground....
Next morning we went a ways to one of our spike camps for elk, and Larry got a small 4x4 going. Before you know it the bull came
right in but behind the shooter and right to me, it was only three or four yards from me.........OH MAN wish I had my bow and a elk tag.
Things calmed down and the bull slowly sauntered off into the trees. My luck is changing and I'm starting to feel pretty good about tonight,
it's going to happen I Know It. On the way out Larry asked me if I was willing to sit on any of those other stands.........NO WAY BABY. The
guys chuckled and we were off, same as every night so far, except tonight I wanted to walk in by myself. I would take the walkie talkie just
encase of What Ever, Larry knows I'm very careful and I was off. I got the digital camera with me tonight as I just felt something was going
to happen for the good. I rounded the corner and two ruff grouse were on the trail, they just stood there so I got out the camera and walked
up to one very slowly and got it's picture. Right after that I just felt that tonight something is going to happen for sure. I was almost there by
the small lake and beaver dam when I look down the trail, and there is a Canada goose all by it's self. Well out came the camera and I
walked up real slowly and took it's picture as well. This is great; I'm off to a flying start tonight and my confidence is soaring right now, I
can just feel it...tonight's the night. I sat there as quiet as a church mouse, minutes turned to hours and hours turned into darkness.
Crap! Nothing again, that's three nights now in a row now and nothing. It started off so promising to, I was sure tonight was the night.
As I was sneaking out I kept wondering if the guys saw any more bears, I SURE HOPE NOT. We all met on the trail and the guys were,
SO... SO... SO, As I smiled they both looked at each other and yelled BIGGIN. I laughed right out loud...SKUNKED AGAIN, what No Way,
Yea Way. We all laughed and headed back to the quads, of course I asked them how it went and they had two bulls going in close but ran
out of light in the big timber. Back in camp eating dinner around the campfire I asked them if they saw anything else. There was dead
silence for a second or two, and I'm asking SO...SO...SO...NOW WAY...AGAIN COME ON. Larry said they decided to wait at a favorite honey
hole for a while to see if they might have some bulls come in. They were sitting on the ground with the wind in their face when Larry
spotted something move out of the corner of his eye. He whispered don't move a muscle, our hunter thought it must be elk coming in.
Wrong, it was a VERY BIG jet, jet black bear; we call those Coal Black Bears, as they have no other markings. I asked how close was he;
Larry said maybe six feet and he never knew we were there, as he went up the ridge to where there are acorns. Of course guess who had
the camera...yep me, as they didn't take out the video camera as it looked like rain which of course never happened. Well the next
morning we were out elk hunting and just happened to get into three bulls right across from my bait site. Those bulls were just
screaming and we just kept getting closer and closer and closer, finally we could see one then another one. This was a herd bull with two
satellite bulls on either side of him, within about five minutes Larry had a beautiful big 5x5 at fifty yards and closing fast from the side. In
just seconds the bull pushed right through the pine browse and into the slue grass where we were standing. Larry and myself dropped
right to the ground as our shooter dropped to one knee, that bull was looking right into the sun with the wind in our face. He couldn't see
us clearly and turned to re-enter the pine, three times Larry turned him and pulled him out with his calls. The bull was beginning to really
get worked up now as water was running from both his nose and mouth. The bull walked right out and walked a crossing path right to us;
he tilted his head back with his mouth open and let fly with a guttural growl. Larry cut him off with his own call and the bull turned
broadside at twenty yards, all I heard then was a ZIP...WACK. I never saw where the arrow hit but Larry said back and high, and not
were you want to be. If its one thing you never want to be is high on any animal, we waited for an hour before we walked up just to
see where he hit it for blood sign. We marked the spot and took a GPS reading and left as we will give that bull some time and see what
happens later this evening. As we left for the evening Larry asked me if I wanted to try something a little different, how about from the
ground like when the both of us were elk hunting a few years back when I shot a 450lb black bear at 13 yards from the ground. All by
myself I asked; Yep we made a bit of a ground blind there were two trees fell, you can shoot from underneath just a bit back into it. We will
go with you and then pick you up as we are going to look for that elk. I got into that make shift ground blind which was really quite nice, just
cleaned up a few branches and swept the ground right down to the earth. I knocked an arrow and leaned it up against the tree and
waited. NO I DIDN'T SHOOT ONE...Wait till I'm finished telling the story you guys...LOL. I heard something in the ridge above me but I
wasn't sure what it was as I could see it clearly but just saw movement. As the sun started to set I started to lose my light so I
decided to sneak out to the edge for a look. I didn't want to spook anything in there so I crossed over to the other side where there
was an island of trees. I really didn't expect to shoot anything so I put my gear away and got out the camera. By the time I pulled the
camera out of my pack there was a Big Bear standing on my side coming right at me, he slowly screwed around out in the opening for
a while and then turned and walked by me at about 75 yards and went right into were the blind was.
right in but behind the shooter and right to me, it was only three or four yards from me.........OH MAN wish I had my bow and a elk tag.
Things calmed down and the bull slowly sauntered off into the trees. My luck is changing and I'm starting to feel pretty good about tonight,
it's going to happen I Know It. On the way out Larry asked me if I was willing to sit on any of those other stands.........NO WAY BABY. The
guys chuckled and we were off, same as every night so far, except tonight I wanted to walk in by myself. I would take the walkie talkie just
encase of What Ever, Larry knows I'm very careful and I was off. I got the digital camera with me tonight as I just felt something was going
to happen for the good. I rounded the corner and two ruff grouse were on the trail, they just stood there so I got out the camera and walked
up to one very slowly and got it's picture. Right after that I just felt that tonight something is going to happen for sure. I was almost there by
the small lake and beaver dam when I look down the trail, and there is a Canada goose all by it's self. Well out came the camera and I
walked up real slowly and took it's picture as well. This is great; I'm off to a flying start tonight and my confidence is soaring right now, I
can just feel it...tonight's the night. I sat there as quiet as a church mouse, minutes turned to hours and hours turned into darkness.
Crap! Nothing again, that's three nights now in a row now and nothing. It started off so promising to, I was sure tonight was the night.
As I was sneaking out I kept wondering if the guys saw any more bears, I SURE HOPE NOT. We all met on the trail and the guys were,
SO... SO... SO, As I smiled they both looked at each other and yelled BIGGIN. I laughed right out loud...SKUNKED AGAIN, what No Way,
Yea Way. We all laughed and headed back to the quads, of course I asked them how it went and they had two bulls going in close but ran
out of light in the big timber. Back in camp eating dinner around the campfire I asked them if they saw anything else. There was dead
silence for a second or two, and I'm asking SO...SO...SO...NOW WAY...AGAIN COME ON. Larry said they decided to wait at a favorite honey
hole for a while to see if they might have some bulls come in. They were sitting on the ground with the wind in their face when Larry
spotted something move out of the corner of his eye. He whispered don't move a muscle, our hunter thought it must be elk coming in.
Wrong, it was a VERY BIG jet, jet black bear; we call those Coal Black Bears, as they have no other markings. I asked how close was he;
Larry said maybe six feet and he never knew we were there, as he went up the ridge to where there are acorns. Of course guess who had
the camera...yep me, as they didn't take out the video camera as it looked like rain which of course never happened. Well the next
morning we were out elk hunting and just happened to get into three bulls right across from my bait site. Those bulls were just
screaming and we just kept getting closer and closer and closer, finally we could see one then another one. This was a herd bull with two
satellite bulls on either side of him, within about five minutes Larry had a beautiful big 5x5 at fifty yards and closing fast from the side. In
just seconds the bull pushed right through the pine browse and into the slue grass where we were standing. Larry and myself dropped
right to the ground as our shooter dropped to one knee, that bull was looking right into the sun with the wind in our face. He couldn't see
us clearly and turned to re-enter the pine, three times Larry turned him and pulled him out with his calls. The bull was beginning to really
get worked up now as water was running from both his nose and mouth. The bull walked right out and walked a crossing path right to us;
he tilted his head back with his mouth open and let fly with a guttural growl. Larry cut him off with his own call and the bull turned
broadside at twenty yards, all I heard then was a ZIP...WACK. I never saw where the arrow hit but Larry said back and high, and not
were you want to be. If its one thing you never want to be is high on any animal, we waited for an hour before we walked up just to
see where he hit it for blood sign. We marked the spot and took a GPS reading and left as we will give that bull some time and see what
happens later this evening. As we left for the evening Larry asked me if I wanted to try something a little different, how about from the
ground like when the both of us were elk hunting a few years back when I shot a 450lb black bear at 13 yards from the ground. All by
myself I asked; Yep we made a bit of a ground blind there were two trees fell, you can shoot from underneath just a bit back into it. We will
go with you and then pick you up as we are going to look for that elk. I got into that make shift ground blind which was really quite nice, just
cleaned up a few branches and swept the ground right down to the earth. I knocked an arrow and leaned it up against the tree and
waited. NO I DIDN'T SHOOT ONE...Wait till I'm finished telling the story you guys...LOL. I heard something in the ridge above me but I
wasn't sure what it was as I could see it clearly but just saw movement. As the sun started to set I started to lose my light so I
decided to sneak out to the edge for a look. I didn't want to spook anything in there so I crossed over to the other side where there
was an island of trees. I really didn't expect to shoot anything so I put my gear away and got out the camera. By the time I pulled the
camera out of my pack there was a Big Bear standing on my side coming right at me, he slowly screwed around out in the opening for
a while and then turned and walked by me at about 75 yards and went right into were the blind was.
