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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: two4hooking on May 07, 2012, 10:26:00 AM

Title: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: two4hooking on May 07, 2012, 10:26:00 AM
I should have known it was going to be an interesting day when realized I forgot my camera.  

I set up my jake decoy facing me about 12 yards out on a small plateau and got nestled in front of a giant clump of vines and multiflora that was climbing a decent sized tree trunk.  It was a perfect set up for the ghillie.  I had dense cover behind and some sparse stuff in front.  

After about an hour, I see movement and hear a twig break off to my left.  I turn my head and I see a black bear about 10 yards away!  It had no clue I was there, and it apparently did not know I was there either.  I watched it lumbering about, stopping now and again to scratch itself.  It spotted my jake and slowly approached it from behind, sniffing the air hard.  It was upwind of me.  It started to paw at my plastic shell of a decoy and I though “HOW COOL”!  I wish I had my camera!  Then it started to get behind the decoy and actually bit the head of my jake!  

OK, that’s enough of that!  I was not going to let it destroy my decoy.  So I stand up and get its attention.  I took a step back, but did not seem too alarmed.  I took off my head net so it could see I was a person and was expecting it to run away at any moment.   It just looked at me quizzically.  Now, my heart is beginning to pound harder.  This thing is not scared!  

I approached it a few more loud steps and it ran back a few bounds to where it approached from my left.  Still quizzical, it would start coming toward me sniffing after I stopped pursuing.  Now, it was behind me.  Great. I can’t turkey hunt with this thing behind me!  So I again walked toward it.  Same deal.  Just kept coming back.  I reached down and threw some large chunks of bark that came down from a dead tree.  It would go over to the chunks after they landed and sniff them.  Great, now I am playing fetch with an adult black bear!  Finally I decide to full out charge the bear and run toward it.  I run about 15 yards and it runs about the same distance, stops, and starts to return again.  

OK, done playing nice.   I grabbed a steel blunt arrow from my quiver and decide to try to sting this thing in the ass and get it some fear of humans.  I really did not want to hurt it badly though, and the 60 pound bow with heavy wood shaft would get some penetration….  I decide to try to short draw it.  It was sitting about 15 yards at the base of a tree.  I took aim at his big ole rump, and let fly.  Of course I missed low….doh!!!  

It bounded off a couple more steps and started turning over logs looking for bugs!  Amazing!!!  

Finally it lumbers off up the hill.  I got back in my hiding spot, but it was very hard to keep still after that, and I kept looking behind me.  I think the bear was a teen / adult but probably not over 150 pounds.   Larger than a deer by far, but not the huge rumped gal I saw in my backyard before.

As things quieted down I hear a twig snap from the same area the bear came.  Oh boy, is it back?  A turkey???  Nope, 3 deer.  They were slowly feeding and moving by me.  It would have been another easy shot at 10 yards had they been in season.  This Ghillie suit hunting is getting more and more exciting.

So I never did see any turkey that morning…but boy was it exciting!  

I NEED to carry that camera every time!
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: on May 07, 2012, 11:13:00 AM
That is a cool story. I'm glad it was you and not me though. So,......... did you have to throw away your drawers after you got home?

Bisch
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: Alexander Traditional on May 07, 2012, 11:20:00 AM
Good story!
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: Charlie Lamb on May 07, 2012, 11:22:00 AM
Should have just let him alone. The worst that would have happened is that he'd have snuck up behind you, sniffed you a little and then bit your head off.
After that I'm sure he'd have lost interest and moved on.
   ;)
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: wooddamon1 on May 07, 2012, 11:53:00 AM
:biglaugh:    :biglaugh:  Yikes!
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: centaur on May 07, 2012, 12:00:00 PM
If you had been bear hunting, you would have been covered up in turkeys! I bet you will remember that hunt for a while.
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: stujay on May 07, 2012, 12:02:00 PM
My guess is you haven't seen the last of the bruin.
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: dan d on May 07, 2012, 12:11:00 PM
Your tougher than I am !  That bear would of known What I  was from the smell coming from my shorts     :rolleyes:
& I have been bear hunting before up in a tree when the bear decided to climb the tree, but I had more than a bow in my hands so I was not too nervous, as soon as I stomped my foot I learned how fast a bear can run !

But on the ground & eye to eye with just a bow in hand & a bear that is not afraid is not the way I want to be close to a bear ! My fear is always that the dang thing will have cubs and that changes the whole ballgame on a black bears temperament. I'm just a boy yet compared to you guys who stand up to a bear on the ground, then again I would probably do the wrong thing and take off running and screaming like a little girl       :knothead:

Dan
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: steadman on May 07, 2012, 12:19:00 PM
If you'd just take a camera, nothing like that would ever happen  :thumbsup:  Sounds like a fun morning though.
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: Gen273 on May 07, 2012, 02:19:00 PM
That was a neat hunt!!!
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: bohuntr on May 07, 2012, 02:19:00 PM
Wow, what an awesome encounter!!!
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: Big Ed on May 07, 2012, 02:25:00 PM
That'll make the ole' butt pucker!!!
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: JohnnyWayne on May 07, 2012, 02:31:00 PM
(http://weknowmemes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/little-known-fact-some-bear-attacks-begin-with-a-polite-knock-on-your-door.jpg)
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: maineac on May 07, 2012, 02:36:00 PM
That is the type of hunt that will last a lifetime in your memories and stories!
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: SheltonCreeker on May 07, 2012, 04:29:00 PM
That's awesome! Great story thanks for sharing!
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: Shan on May 07, 2012, 04:46:00 PM
Cool   :thumbsup:  that is awesome. looking forward to when you down a deer in that ghillie
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: Hud on May 07, 2012, 04:56:00 PM
Usually a bear that is not afraid of humans, it has the potential of becoming a problem bear. Maybe someone has been feeding it...bad idea. I would be cautious, he might turn on you next time.
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: DannyBows on May 07, 2012, 05:08:00 PM
Awesome story! Thanks for sharing with us.    :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: PaddyMac on May 07, 2012, 05:12:00 PM
Well, on the bear's behalf, I would have to say he probably had never seen a turkey and a bush act like that before.
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: Manitoba Stickflinger on May 07, 2012, 05:52:00 PM
Great, now I have to go buy a pile of turkey decoys for bear bait! Is there a particular kind that appeals to the bears?

Great story!
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: JamesJamison on May 07, 2012, 06:08:00 PM
Great story.  What kind of ghillie do you use?
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: straitera on May 07, 2012, 10:00:00 PM
Thanks for the really cool story! Bottom line, beats watching dumdum TV any day!
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: WESTBROOK on May 07, 2012, 10:36:00 PM
The bear is probably wondering why anything would would want to eat a turkey.

Eric
Title: Re: Black Bear attacked my turkey decoy!
Post by: ti-guy on May 07, 2012, 10:57:00 PM
:thumbsup: