TradGang Bear Quest # 4 2010' Unpacking & Wheels are Turnin for BQ # 5 JUNE 2011'

[Guru]

Just keeps getting better and better    

[Missouri CK]

Great story Doc!

[Herdbull]

Jeff, I think your Dad talked to Marty while he was sitting that stand afterr you killed your bear. I think your Dad told Marty to go sit across the road for the last night's hunt!

[hunt it]

Congrats to all of you. Doc your becoming quite the bear slayer, congrats on your monster!

[d. ward]

HELL YEAH this is great guys thanks for taking us along bd

[Grant Young]

I was okay with missing this year until I started to read this thread! Great bear Fred! Great bear, Jeff! Congratulations Tom. Wish I coulda been there. Grant

[Marty]

Guess it's my turn. First and foremost, I wanna say what a great group of guys to spend the week with- no phones-no tv, so we had to talk to each other. Kinda like when a hurricane hits at home- except cooler temps. I was actually cold the first couple of nights. Brandon is right-sleeping in the same room with Mike Mitten was like being in a bear's den with a Tippit size bear-he's a world class snorer! Brandon actually pitched a tent and moved out! Speaking of which- Barry and Miami George can all hold their own in that catagory too! I had to put in 2 sets of those foam ear plugs per ear!
 I went up to Maine with Barry a day early and spent the night in Ogunquit Maine with he and his wife's family. They took me to lunch on Friday and I sat in George Bush Sr.'s favorite chair in a place called Barnacle Billy's ( you can't hide money!). That's as close to him as I'll ever get! I didn't feel special or anything like Barry said I would. Nobody even noticed me.
  We drove to Tippit's house for a departure at 8:30 at night. I hadn't been up all night since my prom in 1974, but I'm sworn to secrecy about that. Man rule ya know.
 I rode with George( not Bush) and he drove almost the entire way- it was impressive. I learned all about him but again- man rule. I will share that he made an apple cobbler that I christened "cuban cobbler" and I saw Barry licking the pot clean when he thought no one was looking.
  I also learned about a bowhunting group from Conneticut called the Langer Cult- it's main follower was a guy named Wapiti Mike who reminds me of that comedian named Bobcat or something- he definitely drank the Langer Grape juice at some point! He told off color jokes that made me blush- can't tell you them though- remember-man rule.
 Gonna sign off now and leave you hangin like Guru is famous for doing. Ha!!

The famous Bush table!
 

Barry and Susan were happy to see me!

 

[leatherneck]

Those are some great looking bears guys. Congrats to all!!!

[tippit]

I said earlier that Mr Bigger had a limp.  Kinda like Matt's Stubby bear of a couple of years ago, Mr Bigger may have been caught in a snare too.  But it sure didn't keep him from being a Boss Bear...Doc

 

 

[d. ward]

thats a trip Doc whats the plan for his hide ? bd

[Marty]

So we drove all night and arrived at camp like noonish on Saturday. Barry said we are not gonna hunt-that is until he saw others getting ready to go out. I figured, what the heck- we came a long way let's go anyway. Big mistake. I was so tired in the stand- which by the way was 6 feet of the ground-maybe 5 yards from the bait! Never saw anything like it! If I hadn't drawn my stand from the hat-I woulda thought it was a joke on me! By the way- I drew a stand called the "Deli" which was less than 2 miles from Wensel's bait as the crow flies and the bear walks. It meant that Barry and I could ride together all week to the stands-pretty cool for him! Anyway- I had to cinch my safety belt around my chest cause I could feel the sleep setting in! I actually woke up 3 different times sound asleep and dreaming. Not good. I happened to peak behind myself on one of my conscious moments and saw a pretty good bear sitting on his haunches and checking the wind only about 15 yards away. He took his sweet time coming in to the donuts but eventually he laid down 3 yards away like Biggie at a Hot Krispy Kreme Donut sign! I judged him to be about 200lbs right off the bat! Lord knows why, but I passed him. I remember thinking- this is gonna be easy-let see what else is around it's only the first night. He sprang to his feet after a few minutes and ran outta there. A few minutes later here came another one a little smaller and all rubbed out, so I enjoyed the show for a few minutes before it did the same thiing. These were serious close encounters- nothing over 5 yards.

Here's the first bait where I had 2 bears the first evening.

 

Gatekeeper took a picture the next day of me in the stand and Barry sweetening the pot. that's close!

 

[Guru]

Oh my Marty, you definitely missed your calling!  Some of the funniest writing I've ever read!    

Is Uncle B eating or baiting?

[bill langer]

Marty, I was emailing back and forth last night with U.Barry, I told him how much we enjoyed seeing you again, meeting Mike and Brandan and sharing another camp. Remembering Florida, Texas, Georgia, Maine and now Quebec. We need to do this more than every 5 years or so, though.
Congrats again on a fine bear in the final hour!

Marty McMahon the LEGEND lives on...

[Marty]

Guru- Barry is doing the ole' 0ne for you-one for me routine with the chocolate icing or whatever that stuff was! If baiting Barry was legal- he'd be easy to kill- just stake out the closest Chinese Buffet around him and you'll get him the first night. I once witnessed a Chinese Waiter cut him off like a drunk that had too many- u go way- u bad for business- u bad man- u berry bad man.( Or was it Barry bad man?)

 Back to the hunt- So I figured this was gonna be a piece of cake- afterall every night( remember less than 2 miles away) Berry ( Barry) would say- passed 5-passed 6 - while I passed gas. I saw the good boar Sunday eveninng at 6 yards behind the stand-no shot there and NEVER saw another bear til Friday night. Not one! Wensel "I passed" would check my bait everyday til the end and it was never hit again all week. Can't figure that one out. Tom Phillips asked me what I was doing on stand- I told him it was none of his business. Ooops gotta go- Guru is on the phone telling me what to write!

[Curveman]

Just bubbles Marty?    

[bill langer]

Here are the rest of the pics that I have.  I ended up shooting more video than I did taking pictures.  
 
Another picture of Fred and his bear.
 
Tom Porter and his first bear.
 
Doc and Mr. 329.
 
Doc and Mr. Big could not escape the paparazzi.
 
Mike Mitten conducting some biological analysis as Doc, Daryl, and Donovan look on.
 
Getting ready to dig into Doc's bear.
 
And finally Maddog gassing it up in the bush.

Bear Quest IV was yet another great hunt.  Thanks Tom Phillips for setting up the hunt, PV for preparing the great meals, Big Bill and Daryl for being such gentlemen, Doc, Brandan, and George for helping with my bear, Barry, Marty, and Mike M. for keeping us laughing, Tom Porter and Fred for all the skinning help, and Maddog Mike with our Connecticut crew for another awesome bowhunting adventure!

[oneshot-onekill]

Great stories guys!!!! Keep them coming....been saving my pennies for next year.

[Matty]

love this crap....cant get enough!

[Marty]

Hey just curious- where's all the rest of you guys that were there? Am I still a thread killer?

[Gatekeeper]

Hi Marty

No you’re not a thread killer. I’m trying to catch up on stuff at home.  As soon as I feel like I have things somewhat under control I’ll jump in and play along. For now here is a picture of a beggar. They seem to be everywhere.  

 

While I’m here, I’d like to conduct a none scientific poll. Do you think these two look alike?