In a typical year i begin baiting 2 weeks before the season opens. Typically this means set up around the third week of August. This year things got off to a late start and baits were not set until September 10th. In years when i have more time i will bait off the beaten path at a back lake that is only water accessible and camp there for the hunt. This year with less time i opted to run my baits close to the cottage. One is a walk in next to a beaver pond (established), one is about a mile by boat (established) and new this year is a third that is about 2 miles by boat.
All the baits are shaker barrels that hold about 350 lbs of whole corn. Anise is also used as an attractant on stumps.
My brother-in-law and my nephew used the cottage September 15th to 18th (I did not arrive until the evening of the 18th) and were both able to tag out. My nephew took a nice eater (130 lbs):
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My BIL took a little gaffer (maybe 40 or 50 lbs) and declined the photo op. They hunted my established baits as they seemed pessimistic about the new spot and never even checked it. I headed to the new spot Monday the 19th to check the bait and it was completely empty and there was bear crap of varying sizes everywhere. I decided at that point i was going to hunt the new spot exclusively. A few pics of the new spot:
The shooting lane and barrel. The lane is about 35 yards long and slopes downward from the barrel towards the lake.
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I am not a fan of using ground blinds when ground hunting for bear as you can't leave them out as the bears destroy them (been there done that). I am convinced the bears can tell the camo doesn't match and the geometric shape becomes noticeable. Instead i typically brush in behind a tree or two using native material. My hide for this hunt at the bottom of the lane:
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Distance behind me to the lake:
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All set. Rifle is a 308 Winnie shooting 165 grain Accubonds
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It poured rain most of the day Monday and being solo and red/green colour blind i decided to stay in as blood tracking if required in the rain is a nightmare when i am alone. Plus i am getting old and lazy and the wood stove and whiskey were calling. Headed out Tuesday around 4 o'clock with the zodiac:
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I did not even bother taking my gas Yamaha for the zodiac out of storage this year. With that setup i have about a 15 km range when fully charged. Slower to be sure but so much more peaceful and what's the hurry anyways. Tuesday i saw 6 different bears. Two potential shooters, a mother and 2 cubs and lastly the biggest bear i have ever seen in my life. Watched him for 30 minutes but he never gave me an ethical shot. I am all good with that as it would have been a hell of a job getting him out solo. Probably one of my best days in the bush ever. Beauty weather and get to sit and watch 6 different bears for hours including a giant all while sitting on a chair only a 100 feet away. Wednesday went out again despite the odd downpour and it was more of the same except no giant and a new mother with 3 cubs joined the show. Fun to watch those little gaffers wrestle and every once in a while jump on momma. Thursday i took the day off the hunt to do work around the cottage in prep for winter. That brings us to yesterday.
Went out at 4 o'clock again and it was one of those days when the bush is so quiet that it is creepy. I figured no way anything is coming in something is not right it is just too damn quiet. Well at 640 pm i was proven wrong and a new guy showed up. Not huge by any stretch but nice eating size and manageable being solo. I watched that bear for 42 minutes before he finally gave me a decent shot. At impact he jumped, landed and did not get up - just did the moan.
The bear (141 lbs on my garage scale):
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Loaded:
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It was perfect hanging weather Friday night so hung him up in the box of my truck to keep him safe from the local wolves and coyotes. Gerry rigged my canoe rack to double as a gantry for hanging:
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All and all one of the best weeks i have had in a long time. I do enjoy the group camp atmosphere as well but there is something special about being solo. All the losses and/or wins are 100% your own.
