Went with Dan the ext morning to rebait and check stands.
Dan pointed out that the mountain ash trees were loaded with bright red berries and that that was probably why some of the baits were slowing down a bit.
One of the baits we visited was called the logger. It was located on the edge of a recently logged area, had more bear sign than I'd seen all week and the bait had been hammered. I just had a great feeling about it, the wind was marginal but should work and I just had to hunt it. Got up a ladder stand about 15' and right at 12 yards from the bait late that afternoon. Hard to explain but it was one of those times I just knew something good was gonna happen. Dan rebaited, wished me luck and went to drop the other hunters off for the evening. It was a pretty uneventful sit until just before dark. I was thinking about where I would hunt on my last night when I heard what sounded like a good sized branch break. A few minutes later I caught a glimpse of black coming in from my left. Looked like a really good bear. It stopped to clean up a small pile of donuts Dan had left when he rebaited then moved up to sniff the barrel I raised my bow getting ready for the shot then it walked off past the barrel like it might be moving on. I was getting a little nervous when it turned and came back to the barrel and stopped slightly quartering away. I came to full dry and released. I thought the hit was high but probably in the vitals. Dan showed up shortly after dark. We followed the trail a short distance, saw really good blood but thought we heard the bear move off so decided to return in the morning.
Came back in the morning and recovered my first black bear about 200 yards from the bait. It was a big mature dry sow with a beautiful white chest V. We field dressed in the woods , field dressed weight was just under 200# so live weight was probably around 220#. I'm ecstatic with my first bear and can't recommend Dan highly enough if your interested in a ME fall bear hunt. Dan's the real deal, kind of like spending time with a cross between a mountain man and a biologist. When he's not guiding for bears he's a moose guide, trapper, river guide, houndsman and a logger.
Here's my Maine bear.
Took her with my 58" Apparition, Axis 400 Traditional and a 205 grain Simmons Safari.
Topic: North Maine Woods Bear Hunt (Read 880 times)
