last night - bear season -spring 2009

[Brian Krebs]

Well; tonight was the last night of bear season. I spent the night watching an average size sow coming into the bait; and an over sized boar getting all upset about it.
 I would love to say I took pictures; but this night I had my bow grasped tightly in my hand; as the big boar and the sow were constantly in and out of the spot I could shoot them at. I could have shot the sow. I could have shot her last night; I actually drew back on her after a half hour of 'I move it moves'.
 In the end - I had a perfect shot opportunity; but I could not shoot the sow.
 Tonight.. well the sow came in so many times it was incredible; she gave me a 100 shots that I turned down; but that big boar; he would come in and the two would tussle in the brush.
 I have researched bear sounds on the Internet-; and have decided that they are from bears that are not wild; they are semi- wild.
 The bear I heard tonight was growling. Now the 'experts' say that bears do not growl. I disagree.
 I am a person that was married for 32 years; and I know a growl when I hear one. It may not be a lion growl; or any other type of growl.....but dang it- they growl.
 I watched the sow come into the bait tonight; and then the boar would come in; say something insulting to a degree; and the sow would go after the boar.
 It got dark; and I lowered my bow to the ground; and listened to the two bears; and I am a total believer in bears growling.
 I shook the bow; which rested on the ground in the dark; and every time I did: the boar would roar and charge it.
 Not the kind of thing that encourages a guy to get out of the tree stand and pick up his bow!

 Now being a grandfather of 5 - one in college this fall - I insist I know what a growl is.
 I saw this sow last night; the 29th - she came in and gave me a broadside shot.
 And I had to stand up; move the seat to an upright position; and get ready.
 Then when she gave me a perfect broadside shot opportunity- I drew back. I anchored perfectly; I aimed at her chest; it was a 14 yard shot.
 
 I could not release the arrow.

 I wanted the boar; I wanted a bear; oh god help me I wanted a bear- but I could not force myself to shoot a fertile female bear.

 Finally at full draw for some time - I gave up on my bow arm; and let the arrow sail over that sow so far that it didn't have a clue anything happened.
 Then I put another arrow on the string and sat there watching as the sow ate my bait.
  My chance eventually disappeared into the dark as the sun went down.
    And again tonight- it was the same sow; in and out of a different- but very nearby- bait site; and a boar that just never gave me a shot.

  I think that sometimes the success of a bowhunt is not in the shooting of an animal; but in NOT shooting an animal.
 
  Temperance. It may not fill the freezer: but what a teacher.

 Tonight I lowered my bow to the ground; at dark; and watched the shape shifting bears below me in and out of the half lit moon light. I was within so close a distance with such great creatures- that nothing will ever replace tonight.
 
  I would have loved to tag the boar. I would not shame anyone for tagging the sow.
  But it was not our battle - that sow and I - it was matching wits with the boar that consumed me.

 So no bear for spring 2009. But WOW. What a show I have had.
 
 I have put fellow trad gangers over my bait; and even my own grandson saw the big boar two nights in a row; with a green Bear recurve in his hands.

 "Papa" he said to me: " until tonight; I had no idea how smart an animal could be!".

 I am not sure at 58 if I will ever live to hear anything so sweet to my ears.

 I didn't tag a bear. I saw bears often. I took pictures; and carried bait night after night to the bait site. I moved stands all over. I have three tree stands up there right now.

 I gave it 110% and didn't fill a tag. But man - to sit there above the bears tonight and listen to the growling; the huffing; the branches breaking-- man what a deal. What a deal.

 I fear that in the fall I will become so into elk and deer pursuits; that I will not bait and try again.

 But tonight for a good hour and a half - I listened to the bears. The interaction; the crunching of bait in their mouths.. the charges to my bow- and the totally into time: that I know as bear hunting.

 Worth every drop of sweat.

I now must wait until the last days of August to start bowhunting for big game again... man that seems like a long way off.......

[geno]

Great read Brian. Its like I was there with ya..
G

[Charlie Lamb]

Very nice Brian.  

[jimmerc]

That was a great read, thanks for sharing and good on you to hold out for the boar!! Jim

[fatman]

man, Brian, that was great

Encapsulating an entire season into a few short paragraphs takes real skill, and you do it well...

Bears are truly amazing creatures, the hunting is amazing

My intense compliments and thanks
     

[Tom Phillips]

Brian,
 Thanks for putting your thoughts into words.You were definetly successful even though you did not carry out a Bear.Thanks for sharing.
  Good Luck in the fall.

[Whip]

Great post Brian!  You're a perfect example of what this sport is all about.  High excitement, even with no animal taken, is just about as good as it gets!  

Congratulations on a great spring season.  Whether you bait again in the fall or decide to pursue other opportunities doesn't matter.  No one can ever take away the memories you have.

[Bonebuster]

From your description, my minds eye can see what you saw...

From your description, I can feel your satisfaction...

Hunting at it`s very best.

Happy hunting with your grandson.

WOW!!!!!  

[paleFace]

how bitter sweet those un filled tags can be, but the memories are worth it.  thanks for sharing, I sense that you and that big old boar are not finished with one another.

[wingnut]

Yep it's hard to explain to those that still count kills, but it truly is the pursuit and matching wits with the animals that I enjoy.

Great story and congrats on not taking the sow.  The boar will be there in the fall or next year and you can match wits again.

Mike

[joe skipp]

   

Gread read Brian...really enjoyed it.

[bohuntr]

What an incredible hunt Brian! I agree that sometimes the most memorable/ successful hunts end up being those that do not result in game being taken. My most memorable hunt last year was just that type of hunt despite the fact that I collected plenty of meat for the freezer on other hunts. Thanks for sharing it with us. That big fella is in trouble next year!!!

[PV]

Great read Brian!
Hope the boar shows up for round two  

[wvtradbow]

Great read Brian,I really think that as we get older, the hunt is more important than the kill,more memories are made from the ones we don't  shoot (but could have) than the  ones we do.Congrats on a great hunt. The wait will be worth it..

[pdk25]

Glad you had a great time. And, oh yeah, this line killed me.

... I am a person that was married for 32 years; and I know a growl when I hear one. It may not be a lion growl; or any other type of growl.....but dang it- they growl. ...

[Missouri CK]

Brian,

You summed up the ebb and flow of emotions that it is to be a "selective" hunter.  It's all about the journey not the destination.

Better to go home disappointed that you didn't ever get a shot than settling for something at the last minute.  Those type of situations always leave me with a feeling that is less satisfaction and more just a rush to an end.

Great read

Chris