GET THE BLOOD PUMPING!!!

Here are three pictures I photographed of a great bear while I sat unarmed on stand in northern Manitoba -- looking back at it all now the unarmed part was completely foolhardy, I know. 
 
I had already shot my bear that year and was just sitting and observing when this big bear came within 3 feet of the platform stand.  It was exciting to say the least!  I wish I would have held out and got the chance to shoot him, but as they say, you live and learn!!
 
 
 

nice looking bear!!did anyone take him?

life member nahc
life member nra

Live and Learn, Steve? I'd think y'all were fortunate to live thru that one ... he looks a bit on the "belligerent" side of "merely curious" ...

So ... I'm curious ... when we hunt deer/elk with a bow, we (well, I) carry something stronger with me for self-defense ... bears & whutever in Montana, lions in Nodak, merely to mention a couple of hazards ... and I'm not talkin' about only bear spray ...

Is it possible to carry ordnance up there, given their dislike of handguns by non-Canadians?

I'm thinking not, and that would make me a bit nervous ... which is prolly why I'll never hunt bear ... or Canada ...

All of life is six-to-five against, just enough to keep you interested. (Damon Runyan)

Gravity makes all the important decisions ... (John R. Powers)

NRA, REMF, PF, NAHC-L, NAFC-L, KC, NPPA

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z180/deadeyerik/Bear072008.jpg

I took this pict while I was sitting on a friends deck last summer in Wis. Been waiting for a tag for 7 years.  This was 4th of July week.

Very nice bear Steve! Never fails, if you want to see some animals, leave your weapon in the truck. At least you had a camera with you for that big boy. Looks to be at least 6 1/2' maybe closer to 7'.  Did anyone get to measure that bear?

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

woodinpa:
 
That last I heard that bear was still alive and getting bigger.
 
O:
 
Ahhh...  Every once and awhile I let myself take a ride on the Wild Side and throw caution to the wind.  It keeps you young and gets the blood pumping.
 
In Canada you can't use handguns that's true, but I believe you can bring any center fire rifle in that you want or most often an outfitter will let you use a shotgun as a backup.  Normally, I take my bow and my pride with me and head into the stand and wait for Mr. Blackie to show up.
 
deadeyerik:
 
Cool pic!  Thanks for sharing!
 
ko:
 
Yep, as soon as you shoot a bear and have nothing on you but a camera the bigger bears are destined to come out of the woodwork.  Last I heard he's still alive, and nobody (including me) volunteered to wrestle him to the ground with a tape measure! 
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve
 
 

Your right about getting your blood pumping. Real nice bear.
Can't hardly wait until my bear hunt.

I'll take one like that Steve!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Topgun:
 
Don't worry there are bigger ones where we're going!  It's just a matter of having the right weather pattern move through during our week and Monty and the bears will take care of the rest.  Mont said we may be able to stay an extra week if we need to also.  I don't think we'll need the extra week, but we'll see how it pans out.  I may stay another week and just fish for MONSTER pike and walleye!
 
Take care and Good Hunting!
 
Best Afield,
 
Steve

TopGun,
 Just remember that you have a week, so don't shoot the first one you see. Remember, crease in the forehead, ears way out on the head, waddle walk and low swagger to his walk. All that equals a shooter bruin.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

  Nice pics, Steve!  Reminds me of when I hunted New Brunswick my 2nd time.  I had killed a bear early so the outfitter asked if I would video some bears later in the week.  No problem....he tells me to grab some rocks as I walk into the bait.  This way, when it gets dark & if a bear is on the bait, I'm to throw the rocks toward the bear so I don't give up the stand site!!!!  Okaaayyyy...terrific!!!
  Well, I forgot the rocks, had a bear on the bait, and had only pocket change to throw!!!  Bear finally ran off when I hit him with a quarter I threw!!!  I did make record time off the stand to the road though!!

When I bowhunted Idaho a couple of yrs ago, I was so nervous about running into a grizz up in the mountains, I could hardly concentrate on what I was there for. I had a sidearm with me but after reading alot, and even though it was a .44 mag I still had issues.  LOL Still get the hair raising everytime I go into the mountains now.

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Gary---I'll know which one to shoot!  I'm trying to send an attachment photo of a huge boar that was right behind my cabin in northern Michigan a few years ago, but I can't get it transferred over.  We think he would have pushed 500#.  I'm going to email it to you and maybe you can get it up onto this website. 
 

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

Here you go Mike. Your bruin to get the 'ol blood pumping

[image]local://273/4CFD98BB4E5A4CD3B02FCB152A6F9DDE.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Yeah, unless that grizz is close enough to be chewing on your other arm that .44 isn't going to give you the instant results you want. And like my buddy says, Save the first bullet for yourself.

No kidding. I had it just for self satisfaction. I knew that it would just **** the bear off but maybe would have gotten lucky with an eye shot and maybe he would have run into a branch with the other.  LOL   How does that saying go, even a blind bear can find a skeered shi--ess hunter?  LOL

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

I was talking ot one of my older bear guide friends up in Alaska and he told me you had to file the front sight off any pistol you carried when bear hunting up there............................ Said after you shot all six and the bear took it from you and shoved it up your a**, it didn't hurt as bad coming back out.

Kraig Osborne
Hunter since birth, NAHCLM, USN

I can see me doing that...............................LOL

Gary Scheel
NAHC LM,RMEF LM,NRA Member, Lonestar Bowhunter, TexasHogHunter Pro Staff Member

Thanks for posting that picture for me Gary!!!

Mike Stephenson
aka Topgun----30-06

That is a nice looking heavy bear. I'll miss not hunting them this Spring.

The freshest tracks still have feet in them.