Jerry - I was in a ladder stand, 9 feet up, 11 yards from the barrel. I asked my outfitter if he'd allow hunting from the ground as I did it in Manitoba in 08' but he wasn't wild about the idea.
In retrospect, it may have been a good idea. I was literally surrounded by bears, all night, every night. Had bears constantly climbing up my stand, more out of curiosity than anything else. Never felt at all threatened by it but you had to keep stay on your toes because there was always one or more checking you out at the bottom of the stand.
Just seconds before I shot my bear, I was "shoo-ing" a really big black one off my ladder as he was rattling the stand around. I was also a little bit afraid he'd run off my bear. Somehow managed to get it done. :p Russ Thornberry was sitting with me and he got it all on tape. I've only watched it 2,393 times since I've been home.
It was truly the bear hunt of a lifetime. Just an amazing place to bear hunt for sure!
Thanks again to all for the kind words.