MountainmanZ
New member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2016
- Messages
- 17
First, let me just mention that I do often archery hunt solo in grizzly country, but I do not approach it recklessly. I have friends and family who don't get it, but they're the same ones who will always wonder why I ever bothered climbing Denali, Mt Rainier, etc. For me there is satisfaction and reward that is gained in doing certain things, and living life a certain way, so we will leave it at that.
Anyway, I thought I would share one awesome experience I had while elk hunting this past Sunday. Maybe it will give a shred of perspective of what it's actually like to come face to face with a full grown boar grizzly.
I had come very close to sealing the deal on a big 6 point bull earlier that morning. But, as things often go in the elk woods, is was not to be, so I soldiered on, and continued up the ridge. I had decided to hike to the top of this steep ridge, that I had stayed off of to this point, because I knew it was the bedding area for some of these great bulls I had been getting on in the lower meadows for the past two weekends. It would be my final trip to this area, so figured I would give it my all.
Once on top of the ridge I was surprised to hear an elk still bugling at 11:00 am. I quietly made my way toward the bull. Once within a good range I let out some soft cow call, and was surprised how fast the lone bull cut the distance in half. Eventually, I caught a glimpse of the bull through the trees. I dropped to my knees, and got ready. I threw one more cow call over my shoulder. The bull answered back, and closed the distance. I drew my bow, then out of the timber came one of the funnier sites I have ever seen in the elk woods. This rag-horn looked like an excited, drunk, horny, adolescent as he passed me at six yards, bucking, skipping, and bobbing his head around. I wondered, "What the hell is wrong with this guy? Is he injured?" I decided he was just goofy with the thought of there being a cow in his presence. I decided not to shoot, as I had been getting very close to closing the deal on some nicer bulls, much closer to the truck.
I let the bull pass, and as he walked behind a tree I let down my draw, and threw another cow call over my shoulder in the other direction. You could almost read the confusion on his face as he hit the brakes, and wondered how he'd missed seeing the cow. Back he came. He stood there awhile at about 15 yards while I got a little video of him, then he eventually started feeling a little unsure of things and walked away.
Feeling like I had already had a rewarding day in the woods, I decided to kick back, relax and wait for the wind to steady before I walked the ridge. I sat for about an hour, taking video, a few pictures, stripped off a layer of cloths, sent my wife a text on my Delorme, and just enjoyed myself.
It had been about an hour since I last saw the rag-horn, when I suddenly caught the very faint sound of footsteps. Something was coming my way. I thought, "Act fast, it might be a bull, and it's close!" I spun around on my knees, grabbed my bow, and while fumbling with my release I glanced up from under the brim of my hat. Time suddenly stood still...
There was a small pine tree ten feet behind me. In the four foot space between its branches and the ground I saw a massive, boar grizzly bear, walking toward me from fifteen yards away. What immediately went through my mind was, "$*!t, he has no idea I am here, and whatever I do next is going to startle him..." I have always thought the worst scenario would involve startling a bear, as their natural reaction would be more apt to attack the threat. At the same time, I was struck by the bear's sheer size, and could hardly believe this was happening.
As I hunt, and walk through the woods, I often run scenarios through my mind, especially scenarios that involve bears, and how I would react in different cases. I always carry two cans of spray on me - one on the right side of my chest, one in my left cargo pocket. Thankfully, today was no different. I had to act ASAP, before he got closer. In one motion, I switched hands with my bow, I reached for the spray in my left pocket, and pulled the safety as I stood. In a controlled, yet firm voice I said, "Hey bear." The grizzly immediately lunged forward, and came around the tree, about six or seven yards from me. He made a gesture toward me, and I could tell it was during that fraction of a second he was deciding what to do next. At that same moment I stopped myself from spraying the bear, thinking, "No, don't waste it, you need to be sure to hit him in the face." I waited a beat. Thank God the bear's next move was to the right, and away from me. He took a few strides, then with his ears laid back, and with aggressive body posture he glared at me through the corner of his eyes. I thought, "$*!t, this isn't over..." He then turned away. He did this a couple of more times as he walked away, ears back, glaring at me from the corner of his eyes. I continued to be vocal, hoping to distinguish myself as a human, "Bear, get the hell out of here". Even at forty yards I dared not take my eyes off of him, and tried to visualize the trees I had around me in my periphery.
Finally, the grizzly disappeared, and I unleashed the emotions I had kept under control up until then. It was a surreal experience, and even thinking back now I am struck by how cool I seemed to be. I was in this state of hyper-awareness. It all happened so fast, but I was aware of every move I made. Confident, but a confident that came from knowing if I panicked I was going to be dead. Hard to describe I guess... I also consider what would have happened if I had shot that bull an hour earlier, and would have been working on it when the grizzly showed up.
I have had experiences with grizzlies four times previous to this, but never this close. I now visualize the sheer power and terror an elk calf must feel at the last moment. As a side-note, this was the fourth grizzly I have seen this hunting season. I really wonder how many are actually out there.
Anyway, I thought I would share one awesome experience I had while elk hunting this past Sunday. Maybe it will give a shred of perspective of what it's actually like to come face to face with a full grown boar grizzly.
I had come very close to sealing the deal on a big 6 point bull earlier that morning. But, as things often go in the elk woods, is was not to be, so I soldiered on, and continued up the ridge. I had decided to hike to the top of this steep ridge, that I had stayed off of to this point, because I knew it was the bedding area for some of these great bulls I had been getting on in the lower meadows for the past two weekends. It would be my final trip to this area, so figured I would give it my all.
Once on top of the ridge I was surprised to hear an elk still bugling at 11:00 am. I quietly made my way toward the bull. Once within a good range I let out some soft cow call, and was surprised how fast the lone bull cut the distance in half. Eventually, I caught a glimpse of the bull through the trees. I dropped to my knees, and got ready. I threw one more cow call over my shoulder. The bull answered back, and closed the distance. I drew my bow, then out of the timber came one of the funnier sites I have ever seen in the elk woods. This rag-horn looked like an excited, drunk, horny, adolescent as he passed me at six yards, bucking, skipping, and bobbing his head around. I wondered, "What the hell is wrong with this guy? Is he injured?" I decided he was just goofy with the thought of there being a cow in his presence. I decided not to shoot, as I had been getting very close to closing the deal on some nicer bulls, much closer to the truck.
I let the bull pass, and as he walked behind a tree I let down my draw, and threw another cow call over my shoulder in the other direction. You could almost read the confusion on his face as he hit the brakes, and wondered how he'd missed seeing the cow. Back he came. He stood there awhile at about 15 yards while I got a little video of him, then he eventually started feeling a little unsure of things and walked away.
Feeling like I had already had a rewarding day in the woods, I decided to kick back, relax and wait for the wind to steady before I walked the ridge. I sat for about an hour, taking video, a few pictures, stripped off a layer of cloths, sent my wife a text on my Delorme, and just enjoyed myself.
It had been about an hour since I last saw the rag-horn, when I suddenly caught the very faint sound of footsteps. Something was coming my way. I thought, "Act fast, it might be a bull, and it's close!" I spun around on my knees, grabbed my bow, and while fumbling with my release I glanced up from under the brim of my hat. Time suddenly stood still...
There was a small pine tree ten feet behind me. In the four foot space between its branches and the ground I saw a massive, boar grizzly bear, walking toward me from fifteen yards away. What immediately went through my mind was, "$*!t, he has no idea I am here, and whatever I do next is going to startle him..." I have always thought the worst scenario would involve startling a bear, as their natural reaction would be more apt to attack the threat. At the same time, I was struck by the bear's sheer size, and could hardly believe this was happening.
As I hunt, and walk through the woods, I often run scenarios through my mind, especially scenarios that involve bears, and how I would react in different cases. I always carry two cans of spray on me - one on the right side of my chest, one in my left cargo pocket. Thankfully, today was no different. I had to act ASAP, before he got closer. In one motion, I switched hands with my bow, I reached for the spray in my left pocket, and pulled the safety as I stood. In a controlled, yet firm voice I said, "Hey bear." The grizzly immediately lunged forward, and came around the tree, about six or seven yards from me. He made a gesture toward me, and I could tell it was during that fraction of a second he was deciding what to do next. At that same moment I stopped myself from spraying the bear, thinking, "No, don't waste it, you need to be sure to hit him in the face." I waited a beat. Thank God the bear's next move was to the right, and away from me. He took a few strides, then with his ears laid back, and with aggressive body posture he glared at me through the corner of his eyes. I thought, "$*!t, this isn't over..." He then turned away. He did this a couple of more times as he walked away, ears back, glaring at me from the corner of his eyes. I continued to be vocal, hoping to distinguish myself as a human, "Bear, get the hell out of here". Even at forty yards I dared not take my eyes off of him, and tried to visualize the trees I had around me in my periphery.
Finally, the grizzly disappeared, and I unleashed the emotions I had kept under control up until then. It was a surreal experience, and even thinking back now I am struck by how cool I seemed to be. I was in this state of hyper-awareness. It all happened so fast, but I was aware of every move I made. Confident, but a confident that came from knowing if I panicked I was going to be dead. Hard to describe I guess... I also consider what would have happened if I had shot that bull an hour earlier, and would have been working on it when the grizzly showed up.
I have had experiences with grizzlies four times previous to this, but never this close. I now visualize the sheer power and terror an elk calf must feel at the last moment. As a side-note, this was the fourth grizzly I have seen this hunting season. I really wonder how many are actually out there.
