My dad and I made our way up the mountainside. It was about a 3 1/2 mile hike from the truck. Carefully stalking around the brush is hard with treestands on our backs. When I got to my barrel all of my sticks were knocked over and the area was torn up with bear sign. Just re-sticked the front of my barrel and re poked my honey drip then started to climb my tree. I got all situated and my dad left to his stand.
I sat there eating a big piece of beef jerkey when I remembered my binoculars in my pak. WHOA I diddnt need binoculars to see what was standing right by my tree. Mr. Black bear had heard my dad leave when he decided to come down for a snack. I waited for him to go to the barrel when he decided it would be fun to dig a nice big hole infront of my barrel so he would get comfy. In the mean time I was getting my arrow ready and stood up in my stand. It then started standing up licking the honey on the tree. After about 30 seconds he decided it was finally time to eat! He stuck his head in the barrel but had his hand in the way.... no shot.
After chowing down for a while it wanted some of the peanut butter ontop of the barrel. He then gave me a perfect shot when he was licking the barrel and scratching at the peanut butter.
I steadied my bow over the shooting rail and picked out a spot on his hide. I concentrated on that spot and let go.. Darn it looked like I shot low. But with further inspection with the binoc's I noticed the fletchings and shaft were covered in blood.
I watched it run 30 yards and sit down by a tree. Then it just slipped out of sight. I called up my dad on the radio and he came over in an hour. He was infact having some bear action of his own...
When he arrived he told me, " got a clean pass through" and all my worring was gone. There was a great blood trail starting five yards from my barrel. I tracked him to the spot where I last saw him and spied it piled up in a devils club thicket.
Succes at last!! It was a really nice bear about 200 lbs and not a mark on it.
Well I will let you guys see for yourself.
There I am smiling with my first bear taken with a trad bow.
The bow used was made by Steve H. 57lbs ,the broadhead was a 145gr snuffer, and the arrow was a 760gr lam birch.
Special thanks to Steve for an Awesome bow and inspiring me to hunt black bears!!
Enjoy,
Frank