The shot came just after she cleared the little green juniper in the foreground. She was at most 15 yards and slowly walking. The Super Shrew shot was true but slightly back. That WW tipped arrow zipped through and got a slight reaction from the bear. 10 yards further now I got a second shot. One that I barely remember. She had stopped briefly and was just about to clear the boulders in the upper left of the next photo and was severely quartering away and I could not have been more fortunate with the shot. Just off the ham the arrow entered the back of the rib cage and headed on toward the neck area/opposite shoulder. This one got a rise and she growled and snapped at the barely visible shaft.
After an hour I took up the trail. I worked slow, real slow. I was nervous about poor hits and a long drawn out blood trail. I almost always am. The trail was easy enough to follow and I allowed myself to hope for the best. I also found both my arrows.
After about 80 yards I was about to jump up on a blood stained log when I saw her and she startled me for the last time. She was just 5 feet away on the other side of the log.
The end of the road for one of my most memorable hunts.
I was never happier to find an animal. I raised both hands to the sky and celebrated in my own way. Tears were not far away. But....I hadnt even got a look at his/her face yet. There was much to do. I dragged her out from under the log and looked her over for a long while. Then I moved her to the nearest spot I could take some self photos with the timer function I hadnt learned to use yet on the new digi-cam. All went well. I was very lucky all the way around on this day.
Wow. Its always a weird feeling when you realize a hunt so special and how rare they are. Ya just wanna bottle those feelings up. Really makes me humble about things in those moments. This was my first bear, I was alone, last day of the season, she came to my calls, she presented a shot, she died on her feet. Still sinking in I guess. Excuse the rambling please.
Here she is in all her glory.
Thanks for sharing this with me gangers. I enjoy you all so much. Randy.
Topic: Share with you my first bear. With pics and story. (Read 8875 times)
