Bear Encounter

[74cj5]

Two years ago while on a Utah Mule Deer Archery hunt, I jumped a small black bear while sneaking into a beaver pond. Luckily it bolted in the opposite direction, but it was enough to push me into getting a concealed weapon's license so I could carry on a bow hunt. I'm glad I did.

None of my hunting buddies were able to go out last weekend, so I talked my wife into going out with me. She was a great sport, hiking in with me well before sunrise (about a mile down-hill from the truck). As first light started to flood the valley, my wife spotted something moving far to quickly across the valley floor bellow us. Sure enough, it was a large bear. I'm assuming it was a black bear since I was in Utah, but it was definitely brown in color.

It crossed the open valley below us with amazing speed, entering the very group of trees where we were sitting, some 200 yards below us. My wife was horrified. I assured her that we were fine, but she insisted we leave right away. I grudgingly agreed and reloaded my pack frame for the hike out, confidant that the bear would have nothing to do with us.

It's a steep climb back to the truck, and I had to stop often to catch my breath and calm down my wife. After about 500 yards of hiking, I realized we were being followed. The bear was about 75 yards behind us, and very curious as to what we were doing. I was wearing a hand-gun, but not excited to see if it would be enough to stop a bear.

The bear stayed back 75-100 yards all the way back to the truck through open fields and patches of trees to the shell-rock cliffs just below our truck. My wife set a new record for shell-rock cliff climbing at 10,000 ft! Once I turned on the truck, the bear bolted back into the forest.

My theory is that he was not sure what we were until I started the truck, which scared him away. I'm not sure if he was stalking us, or just curious, but my sidearm made the entire experience just a little less scary. I'm glad I didn't have to use my gun, but I'll never go back out without it.

Good luck out there, be careful, and try not to see a bear on the one hunt you take your wife on!

 

[NMHUNTNUTT1]

I always carry my little .22 lr. It's given me a piece of mind for sure.

 

[Sneaky_Pete]

One of the guys in my group saw one last weekend south of Current Creek Reservior. Makes you want to carry for sure.

Mike

 

[BlackTimber]

I guarentee you he knew what you where. Bears have anose like no other and can small you just from where you brushed against a bush and even your footsteps. Maybe he associated your human scent with free food. He was following you hoping for a handout. He could have easily of out ran you at anytime, that fact that he didn't says that he still has some respect/fear of humans but he is definatly getting bold.

I carry my 45 auto all the time too.

 

[Midnight2]

SWBUCKMASTER, just told me he saw a good sized bear up LAMBS Canyon on the road as he was coming down. The bear kept running down road as he neared with his truck. At last minute it jumped of road about the time he as going to take a camera photo... but it was too late. He said he as about 8 feet from the bear as it jumped off the road and disappeared.

I use to carry bear mace until last year... last day of ID elk hunt I decided to test the range... and it just fizzled out of the top. What a dissappointment. I was suprised that nothing came out and threw it as far as I could, while yelling out obscenities. After carry that thing the last two seasons... I assume they must have a shelf life.

I would pack some heat too... but, still think spray is going to be more accurate if its working.

Love the story of the guys in AK... That took down the huge bear with shot as the bear was charging. I don't know if I have that much luck...

Any of you have bear spray experience????

Does it work?

 

[springbear]

LAST EDITED ON Sep-03-07 AT 03:08PM (MST)[p]I have stacked up a fair number of bears by various methods.
On a back country elk hunt a few years ago, I was working a bull in the morning. he had some cows with him and they bedded down on a ridge a few hundred yards away. The bull would bugle every 15 mins or so. I just hung out to wait until they got up for the evening. Eventually the bull got active as another bull moved in on them. So I decided to join the fray with some cow calling. I had things going fine with both bulls fired up and the heard moving my general direction. I had set up on a small finger ridge with a 40 yard shot to the main trail coming off the ridge the elk were on. I heard something coming down that trail. The elk had quit talking so I figured one of the bulls had made a move to me. Nope. A good sized bear sauntered out on the trail and stopped. I was not particularly interested in killing a bear and figured I would let him walk if he passed one test. I thought it was possible that he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and not actually hunting elk like me.... I decided if he kept on his way down the trail after I cow called at him he could live out the rest of this day.. He failed the test. Instantly after I cow called he rose up on his hind legs and located me next the the large fir tree. I was on my knees with my bow ready. Did mention that I don't usually pack a gun with me on bow hunts? The bear dropped down to all fours and came hard and fast across the small draw. About now I realized that the bear would be less than 10 yards when he came out of the draw on my side. I drew, rose up about the same time he began to come out of the brush. In that split second before my arrow impacted him in the center of the white patch on his chest we locked eyes. I knew he had but seconds to live and prepared to crush my bow on his head if it came to it. He let out an almost yelp, spun to bite his ass where the arrow had exited, bolted past me at 5 feet and piled up dead 10 feet later. I got to admit, I smiled a bit as he gurgled his last few breaths.
Same hunt, similar situation. My buddy was working a bull that was alone, but looking for cows. My buddy is scared as hell of the dark and the critters that come out then. He always is packing a gun and flashlights. My friend heard something behind him and turned to see a large bear moving towards him. He drew his gun and put down his bow and shut up. Hoping the bear would pass. The bull was still going hot and the bear moved towards the elk, passing my friend at less than 20 yards... he quickly got his stuff together and hauled ass out of there gun in hand the entire way... Driving home after the hunt my buddy hit a deer with his truck. He got out to finish it off on the side of the road. Guess what, the gun had a broken firing pin. I about died laughing; he turned gray. When we got home he spent $1,000 on a new glock with a built in laser, flashlight, and high capacity mags... I still don't pack a gun when I bow hunt, unless I am riding horses, but that is another story..

 

[Silentstalker]

It seems the bears are out this year more than usual. I walked up on a sow with 2 cubs feeding on a dead elk last week. I snuck to within 25 yards of them. They were so intent on eating that stinky elk, they did not even notice me. I snapped a stick and the sow and 1 cub hit the road. The 2nd cub just kept gorging on elk. I took 2 more steps towards it and it finally picked his head up, hopped a few steps backwards and vanished. I saw them 1 more time on that kill 2 days later. I gave them a bit more distance to keep from triggering an attack. I have seen several more bears this year. Maybe just the right place at the right time? Maybe they need to give some more tags? Who knows. Sure is wierd to see so many this year! Be safe everyone.

Chad