Beginners luck that I did not take

[Payne]

Well this year was my first year hunting bears. I started driving around and after about 2 hours I found a spot where I could glass a very large area. I would drive a bit, then park and glass for a while. I did this for about an hour, then to my amazement I saw a bear! He was only out in the open for a couple seconds as he walked into a super thick ravine. I was way too far to be able to shoot from there and I noticed that the road actually went fairly close to where the bear was. So I drove closer, always watching both sides of the ravine as best as I could to make sure he did not leave. When I got within 300 - 400 yards or so of where I saw him I setup there and waited to see if he might come out. I figured he somehow got out of there and I would not see him again... But might as well sit and find out I told myself. After about ten minutes I see a bear coming my way TOWARD the ravine!!! He had no idea I was there and came within 230 yards and stayed out in the open for what felt like 5 minutes. When I first decided to go bear hunting I figured, hell this is my first bear hunt I don't need anything special, I'll shoot any bear regardless (except a mother or cub of course). Well when I saw this one I had a change of heart. I got to thinking, man bear hunting is easy! I'm going to let this one go, I can't tell how big he is (since I'm inexperienced with bears), was just a standard black bear and I'm sure I'll have another chance. Besides I've only been hunting for a total of 3 hours or so... So I just watched it snort and sniff around and finally he went into the ravine and disappeared. Fast forward about a week, I've been out everyday (mainly evenings) and I haven't seen anything since! ...So I'm kinda kicking myself I didn't pull the trigger. Although, it's been great just getting out in the woods and exploring. I'm sure that I will see another... some day... My trigger finger is awfully itchy though now!

[Kc_Kracker]

hahahaha my first bear hunt i saw a fatty 2 minutes into the trail head. hunted that area hard the next 3 weeks never another sighting of it lol.

[demontang]

Sounds about right first time I went I saw a bear 5hrs into the day. Watch him long enough to know there where no cubs and bang. Havent see a bear during season since then.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Yeah it was beginners luck  1st time in my life I have had 3 encounters with the same bear and have not fired a shot .. Then to top it off last weekend I could hear 2 fighting and had no way of getting to them because it was a huge swamp .. Hopefully you see another soon but there are many whop never seen one at all ..

[Payne]

Yeah, I do feel really fortunate that I saw what I did and still having my tag means more adventures for me, so that's cool!

[Payne]

I went out this morning and started hiking a clear-cut next to a really thick forest/bushes with a creek at the bottom. As I was walking I was noticing a lot of elk sign... I stopped when I heard limbs breaking in the forest by the creek. It didn't sound all that far off and didn't really sound like elk trying to evade me so much as it sounds like something foraging. Or at least that's what was going through my mind. I started using a call and at the same time backing up, trying put some safe distance between me and the thick brush/forest. I did this for a while and the sound seemed to slightly pick up and moved slowly down the creek. I got antsy and walked a ways down the clear-cut to see if I could see anything and the sounds stopped.

I'm not sure if it was some elk or a bear... What do you guys think? Probably elk? Guess I need to invest in a game-cam.

[deerhunter_98520]

Yeah, I do feel really fortunate that I saw what I did and still having my tag means more adventures for me, so that's cool!

You do realize you can buy a second tag right?  Good for you for holding out for a bigger one....I couldn't hold out for my first one with a legal bear in my sights....I'm going to try and hold out for a nice boar for my second...well see if that happens if I even find another 

[7mmfan]

It is hard to let them go sometimes, but I have to admit, bear are one of my favorite critters to watch in the woods. I've sat and watched a few that were to far out of range for hours at a time. Its fun watching them turning logs into splinters, and rolling rocks around. Very entertaining.

[Payne]

You do realize you can buy a second tag right? 

Yeah I know that...  but I really don't want to have that much work on my hands possibly shooting two bears, especially with elk and dear seasons approaching. We cut all our own meat and one bear along with the possibility of elk and deer sounds like enough work cutting meat to me!

[deerhunter_98520]

I hear ya about cutting them up....I do all my own also...good luck on the big one