Dumb luck

[justyhntr]

Yesterday morning my wife and I head up to chase deer around in our favorite deer spot, winds were horrible so we headed home . About noon we load up the game cart with 2 tree stands and head out to install them . I grab my rifle because you just never know .  We get to our spot about 2 miles in set up the stands in the middle of the same wind , good times . We just come out of the timber and my wife spots a bear about 800 yards away on the for side of the clear cut we are on the edge of . I drop my pack and start running , I cut down a spur road to a landing and cut down a ridge line that I figure will put me between 100 -200 yards away . I spot him about a 100 yards below me feeding , I find a good stump to steady myself and wait for a shot .  He moves into some brush were I can no longer see him . I'm posed and ready knowing he can't go anywhere with out me seeing him . The next thing I know he standing 10 yards to my left ! I swing around and all I see is black in my scope , fire , he spins around and I fire again , he's done . One shot took out his heart and lungs the other was in the neck . I make my way back up to the landing were my wife is waiting with all gear I had dropped as I was running . We head down , gut him and drag him the 100 yards back up to the landing to were our game cart is waiting . Strap him on and make our 2 mile walk out . Last week I could not get closer than 50 yards to a bear with my bow and yesterday I shoot this one at 10 yards with my 30-06 .

[bobcat]

It sure worked out well already having the cart with you! Nice looking bear.

[RadSav]

10 yards w/30-06...figures!  I have a long list of bear I've shot at around 30 yards within days of leaving the bow at home.  Damned if you do, damned if you don't.  Still sounds like a real exciting few minutes!  Did the wife get a chance to watch the whole thing go down?

[Dhoey07]

That's awesome.  Always be prepared 

[MLBowhunting]

Very cool. 

[justyhntr]

Rav , no she didn't get to see everything . She did stay were she was at and watched the bear until it moved out of site , then she gathered up my gear and headed for the landing . About the time she got there is when I shot . When I got back into hunting a couple years ago she said she wanted to hunt with me , she is  the best hunting partner you could ask for . With the spotting and help dragging him up the hill side this bear is as much hers as mine .

Bobcat , I only use the game cart for hauling tree stands . It's one of those cheap Cabelas ones , I've had it  2 years and the tires still stink so bad that I will not keep it in my Jeep . I was sure glad we had it yesterday , I would have really sucked with out it .

[subagang707]

Beautiful!!

[Hoyt Head Hunter]

Awesome! 

[hunting4sanity]

Interesting how you saw him go into the brush and "knowing he can't go anywhere with out me seeing him."  Usually when that happens to me I just never know where the critter went after they disappear, glad he appeared where you got a shot at him - although you probably don't want them reappearing any closer than that! Congratulations

[pd]

Interesting how you saw him go into the brush and "knowing he can't go anywhere with out me seeing him."  Usually when that happens to me I just never know where the critter went after they disappear, glad he appeared where you got a shot at him - although you probably don't want them reappearing any closer than that! Congratulations

I agree with this.  If he had suddenly appeared @ 10 yards, I would have made a mess in my pants.  How in the world did you have time to look down the scope?  At 10 yards, just push & shoot!

Congratulations!  Sometimes it just works out like that.  I love the story about your bride; it seems like you have made a great couple.

[justyhntr]

Now I know he could have gone somewhere with out me seeing  . It happened so fast I didn't have time to soil myself and yes I just pushed and shot , all I could see in the scope was black ! I feel pretty lucky it all went well .

[jasnt]

Congrats. Sounds like a great hunt

[Watimberghost]

Congrats! Dumb luck is a huge factor in hunting

[justyhntr]

This bear was 103 lbs. hanging weight at the butcher . I'm no expert but looking at the scars on his muzzle and that he was not all that fat I would figure him to be a few years old . Just looked up the age report from the tooth submittal and the state says he was 2 years old . I figured him to be a bit older but that would explain why he tasted so good .

[saylean]

Cool man. My bro bagged one a few years back, I would have guessed it a yearling...120 lbs maybe...turned out it was 4...