FMBear
Senior Member
2018 started off right. After putting out my trail cameras in May and pulling them over labor day, I had a good idea of the bears in the area. Acorns were sparse in the areas I frequent. With the excessive heat, I decided I should stay low and spend opening day down in the creek bottoms between bedding and feeding areas.
I was hunting solo this weekend, so I was taking all the time I needed to slowly make it to my area. Walking in, I should have listened to my gut and set up. However, I wanted to check one bear trail opposite of the creek that has a posting pine to see if any fresh sign was left. As I turned around to head to my spot, a bear was already coming up the trail. It quickly bolted, but I didn't hear it go far. I decided to set up after finding the trail it took, setting up about 20 yards off. 5 hours later, the bear came back down the same trail it left out on. I drew as it was behind a tree at 20 yards, and let the arrow fly when it stopped at 15 yards to scent the air as it looked at me standing there. It couldn't have found a thicker blow down to bury it self in as it expired.
3 hours later, I had it caped, deboned, and packed out the one mile hike back to the truck. Killer Kyle gave me the great idea to drag it to a creek to skin it in the water. That was the saving grace in this weekend's heat.
2 days later and I'm still sore as one can be after toting that bear out. Officially tagged at the Gainesville DNR office this morning and is now at the taxidermist!
I was hunting solo this weekend, so I was taking all the time I needed to slowly make it to my area. Walking in, I should have listened to my gut and set up. However, I wanted to check one bear trail opposite of the creek that has a posting pine to see if any fresh sign was left. As I turned around to head to my spot, a bear was already coming up the trail. It quickly bolted, but I didn't hear it go far. I decided to set up after finding the trail it took, setting up about 20 yards off. 5 hours later, the bear came back down the same trail it left out on. I drew as it was behind a tree at 20 yards, and let the arrow fly when it stopped at 15 yards to scent the air as it looked at me standing there. It couldn't have found a thicker blow down to bury it self in as it expired.
3 hours later, I had it caped, deboned, and packed out the one mile hike back to the truck. Killer Kyle gave me the great idea to drag it to a creek to skin it in the water. That was the saving grace in this weekend's heat.
2 days later and I'm still sore as one can be after toting that bear out. Officially tagged at the Gainesville DNR office this morning and is now at the taxidermist!