Ok, I guess it is my turn to tell a tale. My bow for the trip would be a Monarch Longbow that Monty built for me about 25 years ago. Sixty two pounds at twenty seven inches. Although I had hunted with it numerous times over the years, I had never taken a critter with this particular bow, and decided Bear Quest would be a perfect place to break it in. My arrows were GT 5575's tipped with Simmons interceptors and 100 grain inserts. I had hunted bears with stick bows as a kid in Montana but never actually got close enough to shoot at one. I did kill one in Montana in 1985, but that was with a rifle, and we all know that doesn't count, LOL.
My trip started at 0600 Friday morning leaving the house for the airport. The flight, for the most part, was uneventful, and I arrived in Albany a little after 1400. When I made my way to the baggage claim area, I observed a man with a bow tube, so I asked if he was there for bear quest. It turned out to be Kent Roberts, who I can say is one of the nicest, most mild-mannered people I have ever had the privledge to meet. A short time later, Brian Landrum and Kevin Symes arrived, along with our ride, Greg Krause. Brian's luggage had not arrived- including his bow, so we waited a couple hours at the airport for it to show up. Thank goodness it finally did. Several of us had extra bows, so he was not going to be without, but I know he wanted his own rig just like I would. Then it was off to Tom's house with Greg at the helm.
After getting to Tom's place, some final loading was done, everyone figured out where they were riding, and the all night drive began. Greg drove the entire distance, with several offers to take the wheel, but he turned them down. I managed to make myself stay awake to keep him company, but it was not easy, LOL. Once we arrived in camp, we all unloaded and found our bunks. Then it was time to draw for stands. I drew the roller coaster, and before we went out to hunt I was informed by Zach that I had drawn a very good stand. It had been getting hit hard.
Saturday evening was the first time on stand. Zach got me to the stand at about 1530. He showed me how to check the bait and what to look for. The barrel had been moved 15-20 yards down the hill from where it was supposed to be. Zach got everything rebaited, sprayed some scent around, and left me in the woods alone with the bears, LOL.
At this point, I had been awake for about 35 hours or so. The first four hours on the stand were slow, and I was afraid I was going to fall out of the stand as I was doing a good bit of nodding. The squirrels and snowshoe rabbits were putting on a show trying to help me out, but I was still doing some head jerking. Then at 1930, I saw a black ghost coming down the side of the hill in absolute silence. The bear was cautious and held up several times before coming in. When he did come in, he did so from the wrong direction, giving me a bad quartering to me angle. The bear would take some bait, then go back out of range and lay down to eat it before returning. Each time the bear returned, he was shifting more and more in the direction that I needed him to. On the third trip in, the bear was broadside at five yards with his head stuck in the barrel. Of course I was doing my best not to shake myself right out of the stand during all of this, LOL. I began to draw my bow and as soon as i reached full draw, the bear bolted right over the top of the barrel. I swung with the bear and he stopped at about ten yards, I was still on him, or at least thought I was, so I released. The arrow caught the bear low in the front shoulder, apparently hitting dead center of the bone. The arrow only penetrated a few inches. The bear ran off and the arrow fell out about five yards from where I shot him.
The bear did not go far, then stood around just out of sight behind a blowdown making all kinds of racket, obviously very ticked off. A few minutes later, I saw him walk off into a thicket. I was so mad at myself for taking the shot. Knowing now what I didn't know then, I think he would have come right back in since he stopped. The only bright side was that I was sure the bear was not badly hurt. Zach came and picked me up at about 2130. I shared the story with him.
The next morning we returned to look for the bear. Zach, who is an excellent tracker, managed to find some blood and we were able to follow it a short way into the thicket, but it was obvious that the bear had nothing more than a cut, and I was glad for that. Two nights later, I would see what I am pretty sure was the same bear, but I had educated it far to well to come into the bait before dark. Also when I shot that bear, I thought he was an absolute monster, but as the days went by and I saw bears killed by others in camp, I think he was probably about 150 pounds or so.
Sunday, no bears showed up on the roller coaster. Most of the day had been spent listening to Bowdoc and Mike O'connell. With those two in the camp, there was never a dull moment. There was a lot of experience in camp- both with bears and bow hunting in general. I picked the minds of all of them. Bill Terry was a wealth of knowledge. He reminded me of the beer guy, you know, the most interesting man in the world guy. And he really was, LOL.
Tuesday morning I hunted a few hours and saw one very small bear that came in, but I passed on him. That evening I saw several bears, but none of them offered a shot, including what I am pretty sure was the same bear I shot Saturday. The bears really put on a show that evening blowing, huffing, just making all kinds of racket. It was very intense. Pretty scary just trying to get out of the stand when it was time to go.
Wednesday morning, Greg and I decided to go hunting. We left out early. I dropped Greg off at the cardiac trail, and was in the stand at the roller coaster at 0430. I stayed until 0700, then decided I had to get a nap. I came down and went to the truck where I took a little nap. When I woke up I went and picked Greg up. My trail camera showed that 16 minutes after I came down out of the stand to take a nap, a very nice bear showed up and stayed for about an hour, LOL. Just my luck.
With only two days left after Wednesday's evening hunt, the clock was starting to tick, as Maddog Mike kept reminding us. I found myself in the stand at about 1600. At 1800 I saw him coming. The bear was very cautious and stayed well away for a long time. Then the bear made numerous trips around the bait before ever stepping into the clearing. Finally the bear was within range and in the open. He was not at the bait but was broadside and turned to look away from me like he was looking for something back up on the hill. I took this time to draw. At about three quarters draw, the bear looked back at me and started to bolt. I came to full draw and let the arrow go. Once again I was not happy with the hit, but when I got to the ground there was good blood all over. I went and picked up Zach, and told him the story. The following morning would find Zach, Greg, Mike Buska, and Myself back at the roller coaster. Zach and Greg were on the blood like a couple of blood hounds and the bear did not go to far into the thicket before it died. Mike actually spotted the bear before we got to it with the blood. To say I was happy and relieved is an understatement. My bear was the smallest of the trip and I could not be happier with it.
I can say that Bear Quest was hands down the best time I have ever had with a bow in my hand. I hope to be back every year for as long as I can. Thanks to all of the guys in camp, and to Tom, Zach, Bowdoc and Mike. You guys did an awesome job.
Topic: Bear Quest 7, Start Your Engines!!!! (Read 3846 times)
