Right off the start I know the rules ..... pics or it didn't happen. I know, I know. I just don't seem to reach for the cameras/phone like most people do. Don't know why that's just the way I've been all my life and well now that I'm 60 I just don't see it changing - can't teach an old dog new tricks. Right? If I can find one I'll try to post but don't think there is any.

So. The story. My eldest step daughter has shown an interest in shooting and hunting. We did some target shooting out the back yard (we're on an acreage) with 22's and she seems keen to get into it. As soon as these covid rules get things going again she will be taking the firearms training course to get her firearms licence. I will push for her to get both non restricted and restricted (handguns and such) at the same time, it's an extra day for the course.

This spring I decided to set up a bear bait and asked if she was interested - of course was the reply. I had a spot previously picked out so in went the bait. She lives a four hour drive away so I had to mostly keep it stocked once up. She took a week off work and come out for some hunting and helped with stocking. Well we had some action at the bait, two different bears. One a respectable size guessing at 6' maybe a little more, the other maybe 5'. We had a target bear. We also only got to sit on the bait for one evening. Was around seven o'clock I heard some noise from a ways behind us. I thought it kinda of odd from the direction it came from behind us, off in the area where the truck was parked. About 30 minutes later, from behind to our right there was cracking in the bush. I gave her a sign to keep it quiet, we had company coming. Alls good. A bear shows up in a minute and sits down 10 yards from the bait looking around. satisfied that all is good he walks in to the bait and starts digging around - it's the smaller one. We had a quick, whispered conversation and decided to wait for the other bear. This guy was getting a pass - his lucky day. About 10 minutes later she stifles a sneeze. Oh no! That got his attention. He sat and looked around eventually stares right at us, rustles around in the barrel a bit more but then looks back up - you could almost see him thinking. Curiosity got the better of him and he just had to come check us out. He stood at the bottom of the ladder stand looking up, thought about climbing the ladder but gave that idea up for the tree! He knows how to climb a tree, a ladder maybe not so much. He starts coming up the tree and stops half way. I leaned over and gave him a warning shot, we really didn't want to take this bear. Off he goes like he was shot out of a cannon. We chatted and decided to keep waiting in hopes of the larger bear, so settled back in to wait. About 45 minutes later more noise from behind right, and a few minutes later the same bear shows up again! Ugh. As long as he behaves he is safe.... digs around a bit, looks up, digs around a bit, looks up and takes a few steps our way, looks back at the barrel, back up at us, thinks about staying put but just like the cat, curiosity killed him. One shot from my old 30:06 with a 165 grain Ballistic Tip and he was done. He went about 20 yards and expired. All I can say is he had his chance....The rest is the work as you all know. It wasn't a far drag to the truck so wasn't too bad and he wasn't very big. Got him home and out on the shop floor and started skinning. My daughter was right in there helping, learning, keen to do it. She took the hide and is going to learn how to tan hides (good thing to have in the family). After we got it skinned then we de-boned it, or mostly de-boned. Cut off the hind legs to cure later which they are now. Bear hams are pretty good! Next time she comes up we will be grinding the rest up, some will be sausage some left as ground meat. She loved it all, we have a new hunter in the family!

Oh, that noise we heard early on. The bear had climbed into the box of the truck and tossed a pail out that I had forgot in there from stocking the bait. He scratched my truck climbing over the side!

good stuff. yip you gave him a fair ol chance,and you MAY have saved it becoming a problem animal later,after all he was game to come back and have another go....bit bigger,bit older and that could well spell trouble for someone a lot less prepared.
go the mighty 30/06.

That is exactly what we decided, he has no fear of humans and could soon become a problem bear. Was an eventful first hunt for her

Cool story. Congratulations on the success.

-DallanC

Well done to both of you. It’s great when 8 read about a youngun’ embracing hunting…secures the activity for future generations.

I assume this was a black bear? I agree that you had problems brewing with this bugger…next stop could well have been homes in the area with pets and kids no doubt be on the menu. Looking forward to seeing pics of the tanned hide when your daughter finishes it.

Well dang. I can't seem to be able to post pics from my phone.
Yes Vince it was a black bear. We had the grizzly hunt shut down a decade or so ago. One of those "follow the science" decisions that was really all politics. They lied about the count then and are still telling the same lie now,though they have increased the numbers a bit. At the time of the original count they excluded vast areas from the count - well because there are no bears there ...... Areas in which myself and friends had seen griz. Make the data fit the agenda.... Not that I want to go out and hunt a griz but the numbers are getting way up there. The grizzly are moving into more and more populated areas. In the last week and a half there has been two fatal griz encounters. More to come I'm sure.

Oh! Look at me, ranting away! Lol. Sorry back to our bear hunt story. Still running the bait looking for another

Ok edit time. See if this works. If it does yay thanks for the help Vince! If not .... well you know who to blame lol

Well it worked. Thanks Vince. First pic is just of the bait site, second with customer, third is from the trail cam - that "cage" has a skinned out beaver in it and is about 6' to the bottom. They say beaver carcasses really attracts bears and the fourth .... I can see you! lol

The best advise I can give is be patient. Preferably, go with an experienced hunter and learn how to read wind, camoflage your scent and scan with your eyes while moving your head very slowly. My personal little trick is using the startle reflex of the deer which makes them freeze to find out if the noise they heard is a hazard.

hmmmmmm interesting first post,not too sure about "link" at bottom....

Elvis wrote:

hmmmmmm interesting first post,not too sure about "link" at bottom....

Yep…a good first post mate, and the link is well relevant to The Nut…but, like you, I’m watching.