VERY close in SE Oklahoma!

[Fattony77]

I just wanted to tell the (relatively) short version of my bear hunting trip in SE Oklahoma this year.

I was sent to check out a few places by some friends. Friends in the wildlife department and friends that I've met through my previous adventures down there. The people I've met down there are some of the most kind and hospitable people I've had the pleasure of meeting in this state.

Well, to shorten things up a bit, I'll get right to the action...

The evening of the 6th I just got settled in to my "blind" (a thick bunch of some leafy white flowered plant at the base of a tree) with my 56" Timberghost Smoke and my Grizzly Instinct tipped GoldTips with string tracker attached, when my phone started vibrating. My Lieutenant was calling to see how things were going. I ignored the call and sent him a text at 6:01pm, saying that I'd just settled in and that I'd call him back.

No sooner did I get the phone back in my pocket, and I hear a big "thump" behind me. I slowly turned to see a rather large, lone bear heading straight toward me!

When it reached my bushes it went to my right and stopped directly downwind of me and less than 10 feet away from where I sat!!!!!! His head was the same height as mine as he sat on his rump and I on my Walmart stool. His body was as big around as my chest, and I'm no small fella (I'm 6' tall and weigh around 340lbs.)!

He sat there sniffing the air, decided he didn't like the situation and turned back the way he came. I slowly started to rise and turn to get my shot. Twice he stopped to look my direction as I rose, causing me to stop mid-movement. On his last look, I was about to draw. When his gaze turned from my direction, I drew back and he began running. I tracked him, string drawn to anchor, and contemplated letting loose at my running target. I decided that I couldn't in good conscience release at this beautiful beast, so I watched as he ran out of sight.

As I stood there in the moments after, my legs started shaking so violently that I had to sit again, or fall. I was absolutely wrecked with adrenaline!

The rest of the trip was fairly uneventful (except getting to see a silver fox at less than 20 yards away the next evening).

I have read many stories from other people of close encounters with bears, and always felt "like I was there", and truly thought that I could imagine the excitement that they felt. I was wrong. NOTHING compares to the intensity of the moment, when you are there.

I didn't get to check in a bear this year again. But I learned quite a bit about bear behavior, and deepened some friendships with some great people. And the only bad thing that happened this year was that I had a lantern stolen from me while out hunting for the day. So, all-in-all I count this trip as a successful one. And I am hooked on bear hunting from the ground FOR LIFE!!!

So here's to next year! Thanks for reading along, and best of luck to all of you in all of your hunting endeavors!

-Tony

[JDunlap]

Tony!! that is awesome!I still have trouble wrapping my mind around bear hunting in oklahoma...and you actually got one up close and ALMOST personal. Good job -- even though you didn't bag one; and good job in not taking a running shot.

[Wannabe1]

Great story! Sorry you didn't connect but, sounds like a successful trip.  

[Gordon Jabben]

Great story.  Thanks for sharing.

[kiamichi kid]

Sounds like an awesome encounter. I have often wondered if anyone has taken a bear in our state with traditional equipment (since the natives of course).

[fmscan]

Good on you for not shooting at the bear, I'm sure it took some will power but for the rest of your life you remember the encounter and that you did the right thing. Consider a poor hit and a lost bear would have turned the encounter into a bad memory. Well done sir!

[Michael Arnette]

Awesome Tony!

[Fattony77]

Originally posted by kiamichi kid:
Sounds like an awesome encounter. I have often wondered if anyone has taken a bear in our state with traditional equipment (since the natives of course).

Kiamichi kid,
According to bwsandite's post in the Highlights 2014 forum, he got the first trad bear in OK. He shot his on the 2nd, my encounter was on the 6th. It would've been cool to be the 2nd in OK, but this was still a 1st place experience in my book!

Thanks everyone for the kind words and the reassurance that I made the right decision. It's hard not to second guess your choices in a situation like this, so it is VERY helpful to know that there are others who would've made the same decision.

[AR RidgeRunner]

That's great Tony! Glad you had a close encounter.
Bear hunting is addictive!

[1kwikstik]

Sounds like a successful hunt to me! Congratulations!

[Terry Lightle]

One of my customers killed one last weekend and the wildlife dept. told him he was the first to get it done with traditional equipment in Okla.

[Fattony77]

Terry, if your customer's name is Bennie, it's the same guy. If not, then the Wildlife Dept. guys must be telling everyone the same thing! Lol.

Kent, you are absolutely right! How's your bear hunting in AR going?

Thanks again everyone for the kind words!

[Terry Lightle]

Yes it was Bennie,really glad for him.

[Caughtandhobble]

Great story Brother... That shaking can get plum crazy, lol.