In this new column, the author explores the opportunity of heading West for bruins.
He appeared just 12 steps to the right of the pine I was perched in, oozing towards the bait site like a ghost floating above the forest floor. His raven-black hide looked impressive through the screen of brush he was easing beside, and as he crept forward I knew my hunt was about to be over in a matter of seconds. With each step he inched towards the bait my heart rate increased, but when he paused and raised his nose to inhale the cool mountain air, he knew something wasn’t right. For 10 minutes he stood statue like, slowly turning his head from one side to the other surveying the area, and all I could do was wait.
I knew this Utah bruin couldn’t smell me because the mountain thermals were moving downhill at the time, and I hadn’t moved a twitch since he arrived. Like any wild animal with several seasons behind him, caution was a virtue that had brought him to this point, and I doubted the jelly-filled treats would cause him to completely throw that into the wind.
Other than the bear’s pumpkin-sized head that slowly scanned the area, he stood motionless, trying to locate any potential danger. For a moment I thought his cautious virtue was satisfied and he was going to move towards the bait, but when his coal-black eyes looked up and locked on mine, that all changed. If looks could kill, Search & Rescue would have found me dangling from the tree in my safety harness the following day. And as suddenly as the encounter began it came to a close as his bulky body lumbered back into the brushy mountainside from where he had come.
Denne historien er fra May/June 2017-utgaven av Bear Hunting Magazine.
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Denne historien er fra May/June 2017-utgaven av Bear Hunting Magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
THE END OF 2020, CHALLENGES COMING IN 2021
SOMETHINGS EVERY SPORTSMAN OUGHT TO KNOW ABOUT. STAY ENGAGED!
SPRING HUNTING IN MAINE
In 1982 Maine closed its spring season, but you can still spring hunt with an outfitter on some tribal lands.
Bears & Gobblers
SPRING BEAR & TURKEY IN MONTANA
Western Bear Hunting
Picking the right outfitter - Picking the right outfitter can make or break your experience.
Three Phases of the Spring
Understanding the Pros & Cons in the Timing of Spring Bear Hunting
Extreme Utility
Jeff Senger kills for a living.
Canning - Bear Meat
The last six months my non-hunting friends asking increasingly specific questions about how to turn animals into meat.
Bear Dogs - East vs West
The term “bear dog” means something different to every houndsman.
Alaska - One Last Grizzly (DIY)
NOTHING LASTS FOREVER, BUT THE AUTHOR HAS HAD A HECK OF A RUN ON ARCTIC GRIZZLY
Understanding Skull Size in Evaluating Trophy Black Bear
Black bears can be one of the most difficult big game animals to judge before the shot.
