OK, I just got asked to make some posts about Mike Dutdut's hunt. Here is his comments about the first day.
"What a great experience at Bear Camp this year! I arrived back at home on the 22nd but stayed unplugged from the internet and outside world until this morning. I wanted to savor the last few days of solitude until the reality of everyday life returned. My hunt started the afternoon of June 16th. We all met with Jerry and reviewed expectations for the hunt and he answered any questions that we had. After a great lunch, we shot a few arrows and Jerry explained to us where we would be that evening and what we could expect to see. The excitement began to build within us all and we couldn’t wait to get on stand. We piled into his F150 and headed out. I was the last to be dropped off that evening, which meant that I would be the first to be picked up. Jerry and Luke led me out to the stand and baited the site. As I settled in, Jerry signaled the location of the bear trails, gave me a thumbs up and quietly exited. The woods were completely silent except for my heart beating out of my chest. It took me a few minutes to settle down and overcome my excitement. I was able to gain my composure and take in the beauty and solitude of dense north woods. I have ever witnessed such complete silence. For once in my life, I had nothing from the outside world weighing on my mind. I was here to enjoy the experience and hopefully see some bears. About 2 hours into the sit, the silence was interrupted by the snapping of a twig to my right. I slowly peered around my shoulder to see a bear floating in. I was impressed by the sheer size of this bear and how stealthily he moved through the undergrowth. I was taken back to my earlier orientation with Jerry. He said that your first bear encounter will be unforgettable and that no matter how big or small it is, it will look huge. Jerry was correct. The bear continued surveying its surroundings and passed right under my stand. I could have easily lowered my Palmer recurve and touched its massive head as it passed. I steadied myself in the event that the bear offered a shot. At 5 yards he turned broadside and looked up at me. I remember looking at his massive head as he licked his nose and attempted to pinpoint the origin of the unfamiliar smell. I was pinned down and couldn’t have taken the shot without spooking the bear with my movement. He turned away from me and began to move towards the barrel. I stood up and readied myself for a shot. The bear was now facing my direction as he knocked down the barrel and began to feed. I was not offered with another shot opportunity on this brute that night but I was able to enjoy the up close encounter. After 15 minutes he lumbered off slowly into the darkness of the canopy. I remember Jerry advising me not to shoot the first bear that I saw but instead enjoy the experience. Had I shot, my trip would be over and the therapy of the deep woods would end. It wasn’t until the next bear approached that I truly realized how big that first bruin was. I identified this one as a sow and watched as she nervously approached the bait. She would look over her shoulder, stop, sniff the air and evaluate her next step. She was only 7 yards away when she began to feed. She offered multiple shot opportunities for the next 20 minutes. As tempting as it was, I kept my bow on the hanger and took in all that the experience had to offer. Darkness fell in short order and the woods came alive with bear noises and the clamoring of unknown activity. In the distance I could hear a vehicle approaching. I waited in anticipation as the white truck stopped and a red head lamp closed in on my stand. Jerry grabbed my bow and waived for me to begin my descent. As I climbed down, the anticipation began to build once again. I couldn’t wait to pick up the other hunters and hear their stories. This was going to be a great week. "
Topic: Russell Outdoor Guides- Bear Camp Thread (Read 3161 times)
