May Long Bear Hunt

Kyle and I had the opportunity to have a weekend to ourselves, his parents had been south for the winter and were wanting the kids for a sleepover. So we took advantage, we dropped them off with them Thursday evening and got a movie and ice cream and enjoyed a quiet evening. The next morning we got ready to hit the bush. We had accidently slept in and were about an hour behind what we originally wanted to be. We got out and found lots of bear sign, the area had greened up nicely compared to the last time we had been out. Soon we were getting on into the afternoon and although we found lots of fresh sign, it had appeared that we had just missed the bears- so we decided to slowly head back to town ( I had a meeting with someone). So as we putted through a quad trail we came to another dirt road and headed down it. We came around a corner and off to the right there was a green meadow just through the trees, and there was a black bear. So we kept driving hoping we didn't spook him away. We parked a fair ways away and hiked back up to the meadow. He was still there feeding away. I slowly crept up where I had the cover of trees to the opening that we had seen him through from the road. It took me a little bit to sneak through because of all the sticks and dried pinecones that littered the ground, but I somehow managed to sneak to within 36 yards without him noticing me. When I knelt down he heard me, and his head snapped up and was staring right at me. I froze, hoping I didn't scare him. He slowly turned and walked a little to the right still staring at me. The stare down felt like 5 minutes but it was really only a few seconds. When he started walking straight at me and huffed, I decided to draw my bow just incase he decided to bluff me, I really didn't want to shoot him chest on but if he got too close I wasn't taking a chance. Eventually I think he decided I was nothing and he started to feed again, with me at full draw, he started making his way back left into the meadow only 30 yards from me and as soon as I had a clear broadside shot I let my arrow fly. It was a pass through and just my fletching was caught on the other side of him. He did a quick circle around and stopped by a tree. He looked up the tree like he was thinking of going up it and instead went behind it and laid down. When he lay down though he laid on my arrow and it scared him, so he got up and went about 30 yards into the bush before laying down again.
There wasn't much of a blood trail so I went on instinct and the direction I heard him go. Kyle seen him first just because of how much taller he was than me, when he pointed him out I stood on a log and was able to see his fur. I was very happy when I got to him. He had a beautiful hide on him, very thick and soft. I packed him out whole on my back and when I got to the jeep we started to field dress him. He had no fat on him at all. He was long and skinny, probably weighing at 130-140 pounds, but his thick fur made him look like a chunk! I didn't mind, it was nicer skinning him without the greasy fat on my hands and his fur had no rub marks or imperfections at all. He did have a small white mark on his chest, between his front legs.
I am very proud of myself for being able to accomplish this! My first archery bear. I started out so scared of bears and just started hunting them 4 years ago after pushing myself. Even then I didn't think id be brave enough to go after one with my bow. So this is a big accomplishment for me.

The next day we tried to find Kyle a bear. We went to 2 different areas but only seen one black bear in the evening. He was a homely looking bear with his head completely bald. We thought the evening was going to be a good chance, we seen a lot of animals and they were obviously moving. But the ugly little bear was the only bear. But we did see 12 mountain goats, tons of elk, whitetail and mule deer, a badger, a coyote and a bull moose. Even though Kyle didn't get a chance at a bear it was a beautiful day and I got some beautiful photos to capture the day.