Ma ! Make some popcorn Butts finally has a story to tell

[Butts2]

The Colorado season starts out and my son and I both have tags for Elk and Mule Deer. But, I also have a tag for Bear, all of which for the most part coincide at the same time. The place we plan on doing the majority of our hunting is a scant 2 miles from the pickup according to the GPS. Of course this being Colorado it being rather flat with minor hilly obstacles we can make it in trying to take our time so we are not stinking up the environment sweating in just about 2 hours flat. The previous year I had seen a Bear in the area so this summer I made numerous (6)trips in and found a water hole on a small bench with about 300 square feet of water with some Bear tracks...yahoo. Each time we went in there appeared to be a different Bear had come for a drink but it could have been the Bear was excited to find the water and jumped in the mud to increase his print size. of course the surrounding ground around the water had Mule Deer and Elk print and various other paw prints. Opening morning sitting at the water hole behind a brush blind that I had previously built up was a clear star filled morning. After about 2 hours of watching numerous birds come to water I hear brush snap to my left and a black shape coming in. Heart rate a pumping Oh Gosh!! I did mention the water was on a bench didn't I? I wa seeing Half of bossy the moo cow as she was walking the edge.

[Butts2]

This should be a picture of my Bovine friends. First time I have attempted to post a picture and I will continue on after taking a peek

[Toecutter]

Keep it coming...  

[Butts2]

Good it worked
I ended up sitting at this water hole for over 9 hours. This was the first time I had ever attempted to sit water in all my years. It is very enjoyable as the numerous birds and squirrels keep you very entertained. Those moo cows 6 in all stuck around almost all day. They would come in go out come in go out. Lay next to the water, do there thing right in the water. Don't believe I will use my water purifier in there I prefer the creek. We had to cross a small creek of course both in and out by flashlight and we both went in once. My son fell rear end right in the drink and me just one foot over the boot. I did say are you okay but as he was going down it was watch your bow watch your bow.

[Butts2]

Numerous times the moo cows would get within 20 foot of me and stare unsure of what I was due to my excellent application of camo paint on my mug. Can't shoot worth a hoot with a mask and I feel as if I get good mojo wearing the camo paint anyway. At this time of year it gets dark between 7 and 7:30 in the evening. All throughout the day I think to myself on and off maybe I should push the moo cows out of here. BUT, they have been there probably all summer and all other creatures are use to them. About 5:30 the moo cows mosey away and I do not see nor hear them for any length of time and it is getting near final shooting light. Quicker than you can say Traditional Archer I look up and I get to say to myself "oh My God here comes a Bear to my water hole" Not 25 yards away.

[Bill Turner]

I think the bear got him. Hope everything is OK.  

[MI_Bowhunter]

 

Love the hunting stories

[Apex Predator]

Dude!  Did you get ate up, or what?  Can't leave us hangin!

[coaltroll]

Rick, come on, we need to hear about the rest. Some of have to live our hunts through others, this wasn't a good year for me. I want to hear how everyone else is doing.

[tradtusker]

ah come on    :D  he's fallen asleep at the computer someone phone him quike!  

[Butts2]

Before I go on towards the end of the tale you WILL need to know about my equipment. Shooting a Jerry Barr "Lobo" Recurve pulling 60@28 with compressed Cedar arrows spined 60-65 with a flat blade Stos @ 160 grains. Jerry Barr was one of the founding fathers of CTAS "Colorado Traditional Archery Society. This first photo is looking back to my brush blind from the location the Bear was coming.

[Butts2]

The blind is to the right of the large tree that is on the left of the prior photo. This photo is taken from the blind of my dog during the summer. The dog is standing almost exactly where the first full body sighting of the Bear took place.

[Butts2]

In the photo with the dog about 20 feet to the left of the dog is a darker mass of greenery where I first saw the Bear. All I could see was his head for a brief 2 seconds. His head was nose in the air and going left and right of course trying to take in the smell of anything out of the ordinary. Immediately I say to myself Bear Bear and I go to my knee's. I was sitting on a log with the diameter of about 7". My bow was 3 feet in front of me with an arrow on the string. While down on my knees with my head below the brush that you can see in the photo I take a breath or 2 can't remember exactly. I peak "through" the brush pile and the Bear is already at the water drinking.He is also now less than 20 yards from me.

[Butts2]

I have the brush piled up about 30" in height for the blind. The Bear is in the corner facing right at me while he drinks so I can't pick up my head above the limbs. The Bear backs up and starts walking to my left or my dogs left in the above photo. He is not walking slow at all. He is on a mission. The area that I am staged at is about 6' X 8'. I rise up from my buddest praying mode to both knees and realize I am to freaking close to the brush to come to full draw. I have to lean to my right slightly for full extension of my left drawing arm. While all this is taking place the Bear is still on his mission to go somewhere.So again look at the photo with the my dog in it. The bear is now past the darn green limbs that I neglected to cut. I now have to also lean forword to shoot way over to my left while leaning to my right because of the close brush. Pull back to anchor........release and fall on my chest due to being so off balance. Before I hit the ground I see my arrow fly off into the great unknown about 2" over his back.

[bbassi]

the end????    

[Butts2]

He roars for whatever reason and runs straight away from me and stops at 40 yards looking in the direction that the arrow sailed. I would assume he heard the arrow clanging and knocking into the various trees and was looking for me down there. Kicked myself 7000 times since. I have read they see so-so. I have read noise doesn't bother them as much as we assume since they think they are the baddest in the forest. BUT, he really never found the source of what started the commotion in the begginning so I still have a chance.   This was the size of his print. I have a Delta Bear 3D that is suppose to be about a 250# Bear.......dwarf.I will be back after awhile, my son will soon be here and we have to do some more cutting and wrapping this evening.

[Butts2]

bbassi...............Not even close to the end. the best is yet to come

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Keep telling, Sir!

[JEFF B]

this is way funny!!! good story

[beachbowhunter]

Buttsy I like your style! Keep it coming.