A Perfect Michigan Bear Hunt Courtesy of TallTines and Abowyer...

[PA stickbow boy]

[Autumnarcher]

Great story Steve. I'm orking on pics right now to start the story of our Colorado adventure. Nice looking bears you have coming in, I can hardly wait to see how this pans out.

[Barry Wensel]

Steve-O you're doing a GREAT job on this story and hunt. You should be very proud of yourself. We all thank you for taking us along. UB

[mlmealey]

Steve, AWESOME stuff thanks for sharing

[Gene Wensel]

Good job buddy! Nothing like a great story laced with tips and info as well as a happy ending. Are you going to be renting out Daniel "The Machine" someday soon? Would that cost include feeding him? By the way, you need not designate which of your kids plays football and which is the cheerleader!

[tracker1]

I can't wait for the rest of the story good stuff here.

[michbowhunter]

Awesome story Steve! Little Jared and I just read through the whole thing!  Looks like an awesome time and a great place to hunt.
I almost called ya to here the rest of the story, but i'll be patiant and wait!
So hurry up!!
Oh yea, tell Daniel we said hi...  

[dpg]

likin it...

[tree dancer]

This is great Steve. Thanks so much!!  George

[elkken]

Every one should read this story just before they go on a hunting trip .... if this didn't get you ready nothing would. Fine story and awesome pics.        

and now for the rest of the story      

[swp]

Wow, great pics and story!!

[katie]

Awesome Steve.  Wishing I was in your family:)

[Bonebuster]

OMG...I am on the edge of my seat...television sucks compared to this.  

[owlbait]

So Steve, they let you put your camera on Oswald's Bear Ranch in the U.P.? That one bear was a double chunk! Thanks for sharing your grand adventure!

[Steve O]

OK, sorry for the delay, now we can get to the actual hunting.

Opening day was Saturday.  The plan was to get all the baits refreshed in the morning, check the cameras and wind and get out by 3pm to sit.  Mission accomplished early.

The wind was right for either the North bait or Raspberry.  I felt my best chance would be at Raspberry as the berries were all but gone.  I feared the longer the berries were gone, the better chance there would be of the bears vacating the area.  I was sitting by 2pm.  About 5:30, there was noise and movement from the north.  In comes a 2 year old cub.  About 30 seconds later comes BIG momma!  I am so lucky she did not come in first, because she would have been dead seconds after I saw her.  She had a big crease in her head and was so fat had rolls on the back of her neck.  She was a stone cold trophy.  But, she was safe thanks to the little fella tearing apart my bait pile.  They hung around for an hour and provided me plenty of excitement.


 

[Steve O]

Sunday things did not look so good.  The wind had shifted to the south.  That was no good for any bait but the South bait and that one was not getting the action of the others according to the cameras.  I was to learn cameras are not foolproof...

So more baiting and camera checking went on in the morning and I was standing under my treestand by 3 pm thinking what to do.  The wind was still not quite right and I did not want to mess things up.  I decided to move to get the wind and sit on the bait bucket I carried in.  I got set up under a large Cedar, brushed things in a bit and made a small shooting lane.  I wish I had made a larger shooting lane.  At 6:00 a BIG lone boar walked right in and spent 20 minutes 15 yards from me on my bucket.  Not once did I have a good shot at that bear.  I was half drawn for so long, my bow arm actually went numb!  After he had his fill, he just walked off    

After I got done kicking myself over and over, I came away satisfied he was not spooked and would come back tomorrow, and, I would have some INCREDIBLE trail cam photos.  Well, it turns out I was wrong on both counts     :(

Monday brought a slight wind change that would allow me to hunt the same bait but properly out of the tree stand.  Not one bear sighted!  When I pulled the card on the camera, there was not one picture taken before 1 am that day...no pictures at all of the big bear the day before.

[Huntrdfk]

Great story Steve, looking forward to the rest of it.


David

[stik&string]

What a story so far!

[Steve O]

Hah, sorry, I fell asleep halfway thru making this post last night...

Tuesday just after midnight brought some severe thunderstorms thru the area.  Hi temps dropped from the mid 80s to the low  50s and the wind shifted to out of the NW.  This was perfect for my North bait.

I was on stand by 2.  It was FALL!  The air was crisp, ther trees were swaying.  I even had to dig my "lucky" Manitoba Stickflinger's touque out of my pack for warmth and confidence...

As I said, the North bait was situated on a bench where the swamp made a 90 degree turn.  As I looked over to my right, I saw "my" bear emerge from the swamp and strut thru the young hardwoods with purpose.  As soon as I saw him, I knew I would take him if given the opportunity.  He was jet black and just about glowed in the sunlight.  I knew he was not one of the giant bears I had on the trail cameras, but he was big enough for me.

He spent quite a while at the bait.  He did not knock down the pile but the used cover to his advantage and worked things over from the side.  Here he is just before the shot.


   

[Jack Shanks]

Steve,

 If you don't hurry up and tell the rest of this story I'm going to need to come over and beat it out of you.

The suspense is killing me!