Post by Roe on Apr 5, 2016 13:43:11 GMT -4
I'm terrible when it comes to documenting my hunts with photos. Following is a hunt from a few years ago that has some half way decent photo affirmation.
I couldn’t help but let out a low whistle as I rode up to the bait that morning. Strategically deposited, exactly where I roll to a stop on my mud encrusted Honda, was a dinner platter sized pile of bear crap a good five inches deep, the more solid portions nearly the diameter of a beer can. I’ve seen some large piles of bear scat before but this one was of epic proportions. Almost certainly a Boone & Crockett dump! It’s location was no coincidence. I was being left a message.
Bear Camp 2010
I stepped off the old Foreman 400 as I searched for the main bait log, a hollow four an a half foot long chunk of hard maple that weighs a bit south of 200 pounds. Each morning I was forced to first locate the big log, then struggle to get it back into position before rebaiting. This morning the big bruin had dragged it a good 60 feet, back into the heavy cover behind the bait. As I headed to retrieve it, I finally found what I had been looking for over the last few days. It had been hard to pick up good prints in the soup as considerable rain over the past two weeks had turned the area into quite a mud slick, but today one stood out. The pad was a bit indistinct, but you could have dropped quarters into the toe prints with plenty of room to spare. Needless to say, I hoped to put my tag on this very large bear before the hunt was over.
The Bait
A typical "hit" by the big bear...main bait log is in the brush at upper left
Opening day was a wash out, a steady rain falling right until dark with no activity at the bait and a cold and wet five mile ride through the mud filled ruts and holes back to camp. Day two showed great improvement and that evening was clear with just a faint breeze, perfect bear hunting weather. I was not disappointed as a steady stream of critters kept me entertained. Bear #1 came in about ten to five, and was quickly run off by bear #2 just a few minutes later. While this nearly 250 pounder hung around for about half an hour, his body language revealed he was nervous, a good sign a larger bear may be nearby. After a while he stood up scent checking, then stared off to the right for a couple of long minutes, before slinking away into the cover to the left. I had high hopes the big guy was on his way and not long after I could hear a large animal approaching from that direction. I already had the gun up as the head broke cover, but instead of a bear, it was a very large wolf.
"A View To A Kill"
Primarily colored in tans and greys, he had to be at least 32” at the shoulder. He passed in front of the bait, marked his territory with lots of scratching in the dirt afterwards, and I could smell the acrid musk even before he exited. I could hear him for quite some time, crashing around in the brush as the red squirrels kept up quite a racket with their scolding, but he never showed again before it was too dark to see. Neither of course, did the big guy.
Trail to north bait
The .350 RM in it's natural habitat
Although that was the only wolf I saw, I heard several howling each night and day three, four, and five were repeats of that second evening, with multiple bears coming to the bait but the big one hitting well after dark. Most mornings found the bait destroyed with ample evidence of his presence overnight, and I was growing tired of his hide-the-log routine. That damn thing was heavy and retrieving it each morning was becoming quite a chore. The bruins were devouring a full five gallon bucket of meat scraps and a full bucket of sweets, along with other assorted enticers, each night. I remembered to bring a camera after the wolf sighting and put it to use on a few of the visits. Although I kept my finger busy on the shutter button, I never even raised the rifle those nights, content to watch the antics and hold out for a chance at the big one.
Smile!
Here’s where I wish I could tell you how I harvested the XL boar in the last hour of the last day, but alas, it was not to be. Even after trying some things from my bag of tricks to entice him to come in during legal hours, he never presented himself. On the final evening I was able to hunt, the 250 pound bear showed up at his appointed time (I think he had reservations) and I watched him for well over an hour. The longer he stayed the more apparent it became…something had changed. Tonight this bear was relaxed and clearly at home on the bait. I surmised the big fellow was not in the vicinity and with darkness closing in, signaling an end to my season, I decided to close the deal. After all, we'd been feeding him for over a month, it was time he returned the favor.
So, I may not have taken the "big one", but I harvested what proved to be fine table fare. I saw five different bears and the wolf, the UP was as beautiful as ever with the fall colors starting to come on strong. and I got to spend time with some very good friends. True happiness is heading home with a thoroughly muddy truck and ATV, a cooler full of bear meat and a yooper swizzle stick swingin’ from the rear view mirror.
Roe
I couldn’t help but let out a low whistle as I rode up to the bait that morning. Strategically deposited, exactly where I roll to a stop on my mud encrusted Honda, was a dinner platter sized pile of bear crap a good five inches deep, the more solid portions nearly the diameter of a beer can. I’ve seen some large piles of bear scat before but this one was of epic proportions. Almost certainly a Boone & Crockett dump! It’s location was no coincidence. I was being left a message.
Bear Camp 2010
I stepped off the old Foreman 400 as I searched for the main bait log, a hollow four an a half foot long chunk of hard maple that weighs a bit south of 200 pounds. Each morning I was forced to first locate the big log, then struggle to get it back into position before rebaiting. This morning the big bruin had dragged it a good 60 feet, back into the heavy cover behind the bait. As I headed to retrieve it, I finally found what I had been looking for over the last few days. It had been hard to pick up good prints in the soup as considerable rain over the past two weeks had turned the area into quite a mud slick, but today one stood out. The pad was a bit indistinct, but you could have dropped quarters into the toe prints with plenty of room to spare. Needless to say, I hoped to put my tag on this very large bear before the hunt was over.
The Bait
A typical "hit" by the big bear...main bait log is in the brush at upper left
Opening day was a wash out, a steady rain falling right until dark with no activity at the bait and a cold and wet five mile ride through the mud filled ruts and holes back to camp. Day two showed great improvement and that evening was clear with just a faint breeze, perfect bear hunting weather. I was not disappointed as a steady stream of critters kept me entertained. Bear #1 came in about ten to five, and was quickly run off by bear #2 just a few minutes later. While this nearly 250 pounder hung around for about half an hour, his body language revealed he was nervous, a good sign a larger bear may be nearby. After a while he stood up scent checking, then stared off to the right for a couple of long minutes, before slinking away into the cover to the left. I had high hopes the big guy was on his way and not long after I could hear a large animal approaching from that direction. I already had the gun up as the head broke cover, but instead of a bear, it was a very large wolf.
"A View To A Kill"
Primarily colored in tans and greys, he had to be at least 32” at the shoulder. He passed in front of the bait, marked his territory with lots of scratching in the dirt afterwards, and I could smell the acrid musk even before he exited. I could hear him for quite some time, crashing around in the brush as the red squirrels kept up quite a racket with their scolding, but he never showed again before it was too dark to see. Neither of course, did the big guy.
Trail to north bait
The .350 RM in it's natural habitat
Although that was the only wolf I saw, I heard several howling each night and day three, four, and five were repeats of that second evening, with multiple bears coming to the bait but the big one hitting well after dark. Most mornings found the bait destroyed with ample evidence of his presence overnight, and I was growing tired of his hide-the-log routine. That damn thing was heavy and retrieving it each morning was becoming quite a chore. The bruins were devouring a full five gallon bucket of meat scraps and a full bucket of sweets, along with other assorted enticers, each night. I remembered to bring a camera after the wolf sighting and put it to use on a few of the visits. Although I kept my finger busy on the shutter button, I never even raised the rifle those nights, content to watch the antics and hold out for a chance at the big one.
Smile!
Here’s where I wish I could tell you how I harvested the XL boar in the last hour of the last day, but alas, it was not to be. Even after trying some things from my bag of tricks to entice him to come in during legal hours, he never presented himself. On the final evening I was able to hunt, the 250 pound bear showed up at his appointed time (I think he had reservations) and I watched him for well over an hour. The longer he stayed the more apparent it became…something had changed. Tonight this bear was relaxed and clearly at home on the bait. I surmised the big fellow was not in the vicinity and with darkness closing in, signaling an end to my season, I decided to close the deal. After all, we'd been feeding him for over a month, it was time he returned the favor.
So, I may not have taken the "big one", but I harvested what proved to be fine table fare. I saw five different bears and the wolf, the UP was as beautiful as ever with the fall colors starting to come on strong. and I got to spend time with some very good friends. True happiness is heading home with a thoroughly muddy truck and ATV, a cooler full of bear meat and a yooper swizzle stick swingin’ from the rear view mirror.
Roe
