Well, No bear for me or my brother this year...not for lack of trying. As far as I figure, we spent 20+ days in the Copalis hunt area. Being the first season I have hunted solely for bear, I am happy. Learned a ton about both the hunter and the bear. As I have only hunted bear as an add on to deer and elk, I know very little about their habits. Bear hunting was like playing the lottery. After reading everything I could put in front of me for the last 6+ months, it is now more like playing poker. Like poker, I know some tricks to succeed, but can't always use them at the right time.
I made a rookie roadhunting mistake midseason, missing my first opportunity. Second to the last weekend of the season, I made another. I was set up on a large cut with some tall timber on 3 sides and fairly thick brush, averaging 6 feet tall. I was set up on a pile of stumps to get an elevated view. Full camo, scent control, and leaning up against a stump like a recliner. I was set for a long calling sit. This was the same cut I botched the roadhunt on 2 weeks earlier. My brother was set up about 30 yards away. We were facing opposite directions and calling in turn. As I sat for about 30 minutes I spotted something in the brush. It was behind a small alder, so I had no clear view. The more I looked at it, I was sure I saw ears, the curve of the head and the broken up shape of the body. I pulled up the rifle and used the roots as a bench. Doing everything I could to stay calm I wanted to be 100% sure of my target. I had my brother keep calling. The rifle was so steady in the roots it didn't even bounce with my pounding heart. I sat with, what I thought was, a bear in my crosshair for 25 minutes. I know, because I actually looked at my watch. My brother reminded me of a story he read of a guy who watched a black spot for 3 hours till it stood up. Well, lets say my patience didn't last as long as his. After 25 minutes without an ear twitch, head shake or movement of any kind, I figured that I had made a stump become a bear because I wanted it so much. I heard a small voice in my head say I should have put a round in it because I was so sure. But I couldn't do it because I was not 100% sure of my target. Finally I decided I was looking at a stump.
The last weekend of the season comes and we headed back to the same cut. I took up the same seat on the exact stump pile, with my back against the same stump. As we called I looked for the "stump bear"...you know where this is going, I'm sure...and it wasn't there! I looked with everything I had for a good 30 minutes, and nothing! All I wanted was to see the stump, reaffirming that I made a stump into a bear. I just didn't want to know that I screwed up a second chance at a bear!
Now, I know I made the right call in holding off on the trigger, but man am I bummed!! Don't get me wrong, having the chance to spend 20+ days hunting with my brother means more to me than any bear ever will, but dang, it would have been nice to seal the deal! We will be back at it in August! It is only a matter of time! Even though I haven't gotten a taste of MY first bear, I am addicted! Thank you to all of you who have offered me advice and reassurance! Even to those of you who don't know that you did. The amount of information on this site is incredible!!
Backwoods, maybe we can hook up next season. Your grub made my PBJ look like...well...PBJ! If there is anyone looking to do some fall hunting around the Steamboat area or the Kelso/Longview area, get ahold of me! Heck, I am down for yote and grouse hunting as well. Any experience I can get in the woods the better!
James
