I know I know...no pics, it didn't happen. But it did.
I back packed into my deer camp on opening day (got a late start from home) and set up camp. Ventured off for the afternoon hunt and came back to camp. It was cloudy and had snowed that morning, but there was only trace amounts where my camp was.
Anyway, took a pee, made a mountain house, glassed some mountain goats and enjoyed the remaining light. As it gets dark, there isn't much to do, so I just sat watching the sun go down, glassing the hills. My camp was right on the edge of a field, about 60 yards around. The wind was blowing down canyon, which is typical for that spot, right to a creek bottom. Its dark now, cloudy night, but the field is a light white color from the tall grass. I had on my warm beanie cap and thought I heard something but wasn't sure because of the wind whistling through the trees. I lift the hat off my ears a little bit as I am standing under a tree by my tent, rifle to my side.
Then, I think I am seeing spots. There is like a faint black blob floating in the grass (at least that's how it looked), I rub my eyes and think, man am I seeing spots? It is down wind from me, no more than 40 yards. It pauses and I am still not sure if I am seeing spots...then it moves again. I now know I am not seeing spots. I slowly pick up my rifle from the ground to my right and click off the safety, a bit uneasy.
It gets closer and closer, and is now just on the other side of the tree in front of me, 10 feet or so. Then the blob takes shape. It raises its head and I can see the bears head and ears in the outline of the grass. He was sniffing right where I pee'd basically. We both pause and stare at each other for 5-7 seconds ....it was a bit tense....
I touch off a round with the .300 into the dirt between us and the bear bolts (it was well after shooting light). In hind sight, I could have called out to it, etc, but in reality, I didn't want to invoke further curiosity, I wanted it to be scared of me and bolt. I watched it bound away into the woods.
So, needless to say, that was an exciting first night in camp alone in a burned out forest with nothing but the wind and knowledge of a curious, but unhurt bear nearby.
It was pretty dang cool.
By the way, I did watch the bear run off through the field and made sure there was no blood the next morning, etc. Be safe out there guys and gals!
