Alberta Bearhunt - Day #7
After breakfast this morning Jeff and I headed out to set up a stand in a different tree at the "Third Chance" bait site. The plan is to get into a position that will allow a shot even if the bear approaches from the rear of the crib as in the last two evenings. There is a spruce off to the left of the crib that has two other trees very close by that will provide additional cover. The stand will only be twelve yards from the crib, but hopefully by leaving the original stand in place the bear won't notice the switch. It was worth a chance.
When we got to the bait it was obvious that the bear had been back, and been back a lot! There was bait scattered all over the place. Logs were pulled out from the front, both sides, and the rear of the crib. What a mess! Obviously the bear was getting more comfortable feeding here again. Things were looking up! We got the stand set up as quickly and quietly as possible and got out of there. Jeff was going to re-bait the stand when we returned to hunt this evening.
Back at camp there was a lot to do. Both Big Richard and Dave had nice bears to photograph now that we had good light. There were baits to check, and Jeff and I made a water run to the general store. The boat launch is right behind the general store, so we ran up river checking baits as soon as we finished taking pictures around camp. One bait was hit for the first time, but the sign appeared to be that of a sow with very small cubs.
It was good to see some action starting down by the river, but no one would be hunting this stand. When we got back to the store we filled a dozen five gallon plastic jugs with drinking water and headed back to camp for diner.
At 7:45 we got back to the "Third Chance" bait site, and found it had been hit again since we set up the new stand late morning. This was a good sign! Jeff put all the bait back into the crib, replaced the logs, re-tied the brush behind the crib, and tied in another fresh beaver. While he accomplished all this I got up the tree, hauled up my gear, and got settled in for the evening hunt so I wouldn't have to move again until the bear came or Jeff picked me up.
I didn't have to wait long for things to start happening. At 8:45 I heard a noise off in the brush that told me a visitor was coming to diner. A few minutes later I saw the first flash of black. I was already standing with my bow at the ready, but something was wrong.
I watched him come closer, then it hit me, this wasn't "my" bear!
The bear had a perfect pelt, and the coloration was right, but he was way too small to be the bear I'd seen so many times this week. He also didn't act the same.
He strode right in, plunked himself down in front of the crib, and proceeded to just feed between the logs. I watched him eat meat scraps, a muffin, and a pile of honey soaked oats. The little fellow sure liked variety in his diet. After about thirty minutes he grabbed a good size piece of meat and headed back into the bush from whence he had come. It was fun, and I got a decent photo.
About 9:30 the small bear came back for more diner. Again he lay down in front of the crib and chowed down for a while before leaving with a good sized piece of meat. Shortly after "BooBoo" left I heard a branch break off to my right and quietly stood up again in case "my" buddy was on his way to diner.
Sure enough, the big guy came into sight a few minutes later and started his cautious approach to the stand. As he had the prior evening, he approached slowly from across the cart road, stopping every few steps to survey the area for danger. After a while he worked his way to the cart road itself and started coming right down the road to my new stand.
At less than five yards he stopped, looked up, and made me!
For a few seconds he stood frozen in his tracks, and then he backed away and circled the bait station to find a safer approach angle. The next approach he tried was right under my other stand. When he got directly below the platform he again froze, then backed away. Three more times he started in, and three more times he thought better of the idea and backed off.
Finally he found an approach he liked and made it all the way in to the crib. The approach was from the rear as I suspected, but he didn't stay long or give me a shot. With one quick motion he scooped a piece of beaver from between the sticks of brush, turned, and left. I heard him crunch bones for a while but couldn't see him.
When the crunching stopped I heard movement through the trees and knew I was in for another visit. This time I would be ready ... or so I thought! He came and went again so quickly that, although I got to full draw, I never was able to get a decent sight picture before he was gone again. This bear was winning, and it was aggravating!
Just before dark I heard him coming again, and again stood with my bow at the ready.
My mind was racing, knowing this would be the last chance for the evening. I decided to try something else.
This time I came to full draw before he got to the bait, and got settled in for the shot. I followed him in with my twenty yard pin keeping both eyes open. As he reached over the top of the crib to steal yet another portion of his diner I already had the pin settled behind his shoulder and was ready.
As he stretched over the crib I shut my left eye for the final aim and he disappeared! Although it was light enough to see both him and my pins, it wasn't light enough to see through my peep. When I closed my left eye, everything went black because my right eye was lined up (as it should be) with the peep sight. I opened my left eye again, confirmed the pin was right behind the shoulder and let my fingers slip off the string.
Whack and the bear ran off. I couldn't see the arrow flight, nor could I see any evidence of the hit.
I had either accomplished the unthinkable (missing the same trophy bear three times in one week) or I had a pass through shot that ended with my arrow lodged in the crib somewhere. The sound was definitely that of arrow striking wood. I got down and looked the crib over, but couldn't find my arrow. In the failing light I also couldn't find any blood. I decided to slip quietly out of there and work my way down the cart path to intercept Jeff who would be coming for me soon.
It will be another sleepless night, and we'll come back in the morning to look for both arrow and bear. See you then.