Missed a bear last night at 24.5 yards.

[saylean]

I went bear hunting with my brother yesterday, we were both using bows. We hike up some god aweful spot (gorgeous area, just farther than I like to hike in) and hunt here and there.

I call for about an hour in an area with blue berries, fresh sign and literally smelled like bear...no luck. See pic below.




We decide its getting hot so we hit the shade/take off the boots and nap for a bit (over an hour). Bout 2 o clock we decided we'd get up at 2:30 and walk some more to over look some meadows.




As we're chatting, thats when X-force (my bro) hears some movement just up from us...he gets up slowly and sees a bear not more than 20 yards walking right towards us. Its a boar, about 150-170lbs, mouth opening looking like he's thirsty.

All of our boots are off, gear scattered everywhere...the bear moves into the brush never noticing us.

X-force is keeping an eye on the bear as it skirts us in the brush, never really going any farther than 30 yards or so. I am telling X-force to get his bow ready (again, releases and bows are still on the ground, but I am slipping mine on quickly). I wanted to get X-force on the bear, cause he is headed back to college this weekend (he could have killed several this year with a rifle, but we're now both wanting a bear with bow). The bear is now just in the brush right by me. I begin to walk down and parrellel from the bear where I think he might be headed, but instead of heading up, he decides to come strolling right in front of us.

Now, I can see the bear in the brush, getting ready to pop out into the open. I finally had gathered up my bow and quickly thrown on my release, knocked an arrow...but then somehow I bump the arrow off the knock, so I reattach. Here is a pic of the brush the bear was skirting.




By this time, the bear is within seconds of popping out, I pull back, bear comes out, broadside, I estimated 35 yards (no time to shoot with range finders) I put it between the third fourth pin right behind the shoulder...you couldnt ask for a more perfect shot situation.

ZING!   Clean over his back and cuts a sapling in half. The bear bounds across the opening and sits on his butt looking around sniffing with his head/'chest sticking out. (In retrospect, I had bear fever, or at least thats my excuse. I accidently put the 40/50 pins on the bear, instead of what I thought would have been the 30/40 pins). I can live with a clean miss. Check out the flat head Montec..... We range found it afterwards....24.5 yards...I wont hear the end of this anytime soon.




X-force was drawn back by now, so I start to blow on the predator call to try to coax him out...no luck. X-force decides not to attempt a poor shot on the bear (again only the head and some of the chest was showing) and the bear heads out after a bit.

All we could do is laugh at each other. I said I missed on purpose cause I didnt want to have to pack it out the 10 miles we were in.

It was a great day and a very long hike (for me anyway). Nearer to dusk, we were blessed with some over cast which dropped the temp dramtically and the bears popped out along a basin we were watching.

Bear in the center pic, about 800 yards away.




We saw three, missed one and had some great memories.

My first bear miss ever!

[shanevg]

Awesome that you saw them, bummer that you missed him, but at least you know where they are now!  Hopefully this drop in temp will bring the bear out this weekend.  AlecVG and I are heading up overnight this weekend and if the bear are moving, we may just be able to bring down 2 bears!  Let's hope!

[alecvg]

Looks like fun!  Bummer you missed, buts that how archery hunting goes right?  And good job not attempting a bad shot, more people need to be like you guys!

[Austrian Hunter]

Cool story, thank you for sharing.  I hope you know how lucky you guys are to have eachother as hunting partners  
Thanks again, you get him next time.

[batsquatch]

nice looking bear country. you dont have an 800 yard pin?

[rasbo]

least you seen one...thats as much fun almost

[Armadillo]

Thats some really nice looking country, great story too at least you saw a few smokies.

[saylean]

lol...no 800 yard pin... That bear was safe for sure...by this time of night, I was too tired to go chasing the thing through the brush. Actually, I really couldnt be happier the way it turned out. Clean miss and a good story. Lessens to be learned. Good luck Alecvg/shane...im sure we'll see success for you shortly.

[brianmtsinc]

Saylean,
Great story!  Thanks for sharing!

I am an avid bow hunter but have never chased bear before.  I just captured my first bear on a trail cam and am now thinking I should give it a try.  Any advice you can share?  What type of calling do you use to bring in a bear? 

Great choice on not taking a bad shot.  All of us bow hunters need to always consider our shot choices and do our best to only take good clean shots.  We owe it to the animals we hunt and the sport we love!

Here is a pic of the bear.  What would you guess his size to be?

[saylean]

lots of questions there brian...sending a pm.

[Austrian Hunter]

I love the picture with the gear scattered everywhere, and empty boots.

Stuff always seems to happen when you least expect it.

  

[WDFW-SUX]

Better a clean miss than a bad hit 10 miles back..  Hope you get him next time.

[saylean]

Better a clean miss than a bad hit 10 miles back..  Hope you get him next time.

I wont be going back for him, thanks.

I know of more bears a whole hellofa lot closer.

[shanevg]

Better a clean miss than a bad hit 10 miles back..  Hope you get him next time.

I wont be going back for him, thanks.

I know of more bears a whole hellofa lot closer.

Aww... come on, where's your sense of adventure?  Half the kill is the pack out!

[BLKBEARKLR]

awesome write up thanks for sharing it. It always sucks when you miss, but it always makes you feel better knowing it was a clean miss and you are not having to second guess yourself...

[Machias]

Fantastic story and photos, thank you for sharing and I'm sorry you missed him.  He probably has no clue, go back in there and bring him home! 

[seth30]

how many miles did you hike in?

[ratherhunt]

Awesome, what a great story thanks for sharing

[Sideswipe]

Saylean: keep hunting & writing.  You've been on my bestseller's list since your spring hunt.

[saylean]

Thanks Sideswipe...I will. Hey! Anyone reading this who works for a magazine and wants an occasional article..let me know!

I will confirm how far we were in...but I believe it was 10 miles in, 10 miles out. Most of the way in was ALL uphill....

[Kain]

Thats a LOT of miles.  My best day was 8 miles on foot.  4 in 4 out.  A 20 mile day would kill me.

[LongTatLaw]

nice write up bro...thanks

[h2ofowlr]

I have a few good elk spots I don't frequent anymore as it was to much on the legs and back.  Maybe if I had a grass burner.

[brianmtsinc]

Saylean,
Thank you for the PM and all of the advice.  I have now spent hours reading in this forum.  I will let you know if I am lucky enough to see this bear again.

Thanks again!

[KimberRich]

Good story.