Thanks you everyone....I can't believe all the support here! If my usb connection wasn't broken I'll post a video clip....sorry!! I'll try to get that working as soon as I can. I'm still pumped about the whole experience and can't wait to get out after elk.
The hunt began last year when I decided to hunt with my fathers Red Wing Hunter that he shot his 1st bear with 35 years previous....a few days after I was born. Dad was going to video the hunt to make it even more special. He had shot the bear from a makeshift ground blind over bait so I was going to do my best to recreate the hunt. We hunted for 3 days totalling 18 hours and saw over 40 bears all on the same bait. Believe it or not, the only bear that didn't give me a shot was the big cinnamon from this year. I wasn't about to shoot any bear and was only going to "dump the string" on a very mature male.
Fast forward a year ..... Dad couldn't make it out for the hunt so I decided to hunt with my Cari-bow (waiting for Dad to be with me to use the Wing) The wind wasn't great so I opted to put up a low stand (10 feet high) downwind of the bait and wait out the night. I had seen 4 bears when "chubby" strolled in 2 hours before dark. He was hesitant coming in but eventually made his way to the barrel. That's where the story posted earlier takes over.
Kind of a neat sidenote....this all happened one day shy of 21 years after I shot my 1st bear. (which I killed with a 55# Mamba and home made arrows) I had stopped hunting with the stick 17 years ago when I was in university and didn't have time to practice, so picked up the wheelie bow. I could lie and say it was only for ethical reasons but it was also because I was caught up in the numbers game and shooting "trophy" animals according to others standards. I've come full circle and again am in love with just shooting arrows. The love of bowhunting is still strong but my love for archery has been renewed thanks to the basic stick and string.
Thanks again everyone!