Black bears and natural ground blinds

[Butkus]

What a story! This stuff is better than the magazines anyday! If you were not scared then don't worry, I was scared for you.

[akdd]

That is a great bear. Also a great story. Thanks for sharing.

[Ken Taylor]

You're very welcome. I really appreciate your nice comments. What a great bunch of guys you all are.

[Mike Vines]

huge bear.  Do you have any pics of the blind you hunted out of?

[jcprintz]

Great Bear Ken and thanks for sharing your story. I'd still be sitting in the blind trying to calm down.  

[gudspelr]

WOW!  I think I fall in the category with those who'd need a change of shorts after that one.  Incredible story and congrats on a BEAUTIFUL bear.


Jeremy

[cleopatra]

Great story and one hell of a nice bear. Thanks for sharing.

[wbyrd]

Wow, awesome bear, even more awesome story. Thanks for sharing.

[awishanew]

Awesome story. As a friend once described a bear (It had a head like garbage can). It has more effect being said with a strong Polish accent.

[Gatekeeper]

   

[crotch horn]

Great story and even better bear! Nothing like up close& personal. What do you use for your bait? Or is it a family secret?

[StickBowManMI]

Great Bear and a great story! Something that you will remember for the rest of your life. This type of ground hunting takes great courage! Congratultions!

[Shaun]

Well done! And well told. Kudos!

I sat a natural ground blind one evening in NB recently and had no bears come in, but really enjoyed being down and close - it felt like the right way to do it.

[Ken Taylor]

Thanks again guys.

As far as bait goes, as a scent attractor I use pieces of beaver in a sealed bucket that I make small holes in and then wire to a tree in the sun. The bigger bears tear those up and eat the beaver as long as it is not too old.

My main ingredient for feeding them are pastries, cakes, or a recipe I have made up at an animal feed mill that is basically returned bakery goods milled and compressed in pelllet form.

As a booster to start up or reactivate a bait, I spray anise oil and/or old cooking oil around on stumps and/or trees. Some scraps on the ground to attract ravens can help too.

I guess I have to admit that I have lived in bear country my entire life, shot my first bear 42 years ago, trapped some in the old days, and was a bear guide for about 20 years.

It is a great pleasure for me to be able to share experiences and the love of traditional bow hunting with all of you. This modern contraption (that I avoided for so long) is handy for doing just that.