2023 Spring Bear Report

So i started baiting May long weekend and checked the bait every 7 to 10 days and added bait as required. Bears starting hitting it about a week after initial set up. Bait used was whole corn with a touch of molasses and about 10 lbs of jujubes mixed in to about 250 lbs of corn. Anise extract was also used an attractant on rotten stumps.

Access was via zodiac. No trails = no problems with uninvited guests. Heading out on the 13th of June for my first sit - nothing like leaving it to the last minute:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...8d150190_k.jpg

Setup behind a few trees on the ground with some added branches for cover. Distance to the bait is about 35 yards up a moderate incline. Lake is behind me:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...c056f733_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...199c97b0_k.jpg

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...1ee5e9ad_k.jpg

Arrived at the bait at 615 pm. Last light is at 940 pm so lots of time. Forgot my thermacell so bugs were bad but nothing i have not lived with before. At 700 pm a 100 to 120 lb bear circled me and actually walked to within 6 feet of me. This pic is at about 10 or 12 feet out:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...9caa8dfd_k.jpg

He went about his business and moved on. At about 730 pm a 200 ish pound bear arrived at the bait and stayed for an hour. In the fall i would have have taken him but it's spring and lots of options. About 15 minutes later a 120 lb bear approached my position on the ground but this time he made me. Unlike past experiences he did not bolt but continued to close on me huffing and growling so at six feet i put a 165 grain accubond through his vitals. Not really my plan but tag is filled and he will eat good. He went about 25 yards and did the death moan:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...708d01da_k.jpg

Today i am just chilling in the beauty weather drinking some whiskey and making a birthday present for my grand daughter. Life really doesn't get any better.

Congrats on a fine bear, and a nice glass of whiskey to go with the success

Nice Bear congrats. Enjoy the whiskey

Congrats on the bear. Sounds like an exciting hunt.

Sounds like it was meant to be!

Do you process the meat yourself this time of year?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by dean.f

Sounds like it was meant to be!

Do you process the meat yourself this time of year?

---

Dressed and skinned and hanging in a walk in 2.5 hours after trigger pulled. Processing tonight.

Congrats on the bear Joe

That was a great story, must be nice to experience something like that
Congrats on the adventure and on the bear

awesome job... tag filled...dock is repaired... what are you going to do with all your spare time?!?!?
always love following along, thanks for sharing

thanks for sharing, always enjoy following your pictures and tales.
Congrats. 6' is getting a little close, but good for the excitement level.

Great repoart!

That is the reason I won't Bear hunt with my crossbow on the ground. Tree-stand only for me....It would not end well for me if bear decided to take a run at me... lol

Thanks for sharing. Even for a small bear - that's closer than I'd like.

Well I bet that was exciting! Congrats

Congrats Joe on a fine eating bear.

You must be a man with steel balls as I will be sh..ting my pants if a not so friendly dog within 6 feet of me let alone a bear lol.

I would love to experience bear hunting from a ground blind only did that once but didn't see any bear and all the bears I have been harvested over the years were from a treestand pretty sure it will be an awesome experience.

Sounds exciting, Congratulations!

10lbs of jujubes wouldn't be safe around me.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kokes

awesome job... tag filled...dock is repaired... what are you going to do with all your spare time?!?!?
always love following along, thanks for sharing

---

Well the driveway is 1.6 km long and it's almost a full time job to keep the bush pushed back and proactively cut what i think are problem trees. Got 4 or 5 mother f'n big oaks that need to come down. Already have about 7 or 8 cut and stacked bush cords but figure i gotta keep adding more than i burn every year so that by the time i hit 70 i'll have enough for the rest of my life. Fortunately i have a lean to that will fit about 12 bush cords. Those oaks though are monsters and i gotta float my excavator up once i can get it off the job it is on now. No way i want to drop those oaks without some serious hydraulics around to deal with any issues that might arise.

First year we owned the place we headed up for the first time in the winter and with a snowmobile it took us 8 hours to get down the driveway due to all the trees that came down in an ice storm. Been slowly but steadily trying to get ahead of things and have not had an issue like that since.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spcamno

Congrats Joe on a fine eating bear.

You must be a man with steel balls as I will be sh..ting my pants if a not so friendly dog within 6 feet of me let alone a bear lol.

I would love to experience bear hunting from a ground blind only did that once but didn't see any bear and all the bears I have been harvested over the years were from a treestand pretty sure it will be an awesome experience.

---

One of the these days Norton we gotta meet up for a drink or three and swap stories.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by werner.reiche

Thanks for sharing. Even for a small bear - that's closer than I'd like.

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LowbanksArcher

Well I bet that was exciting! Congrats

---

It was enough to get my old ticker humming. Same site last year i watched the biggest bear i have ever seen for 32 minutes but he never gave me shot. I was vibrating than too. Rare pleasure to get that "buck fever" adrenaline rush and this particular bait site has delivered 2 years in row now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Species8472

One of the these days Norton we gotta meet up for a drink or three and swap stories.

---

For sure Joe!

It would be my honor to meet and chat with you.

Knowing you hunt from the same wmu (47) as me I could use some pointers how to bring in big bears.

Wish you have a Happy Father's Day in advance!

Cheers

Nothing like getting up close and personal Joe.....well done

very nice tale, enjoyed the pictures. Yeah, don't think I'd let a bear get that close.

I love reading about about adventures where guys put in some work and planning to get their game! Congrats on your success!

I don't hunt bears but I sure enjoyed your written account. Congratulations. That is a close encounter!