So the season is upon us and I gotta say it's been interesting. Because of our chronic problem of baits shutting down early in past years we decided to hold off baiting for a week or so. This logic seemed to make sense, at least we were trying something different. A week before the September 1st opener the pits were in. Again, the forest was flush with acorns and oodles of berries - not good news. Two days before the opener four of the seven pits were hit. But, as our luck would have it I could only get one to continue hitting. This added extra pressure as Dan Infalt was due in camp and I didn't want to send him back to Wisconsin empty handed. Plus, Al and Chris needed to get on something too.
Opening morning was dissapointing to say the least. After running the bait route it was confirmed that no other pits were active. Dan and I were heading into the only active pit which left Al and Chris out in the cold. Thankfully, I'd put two "back up pits" in the Southern end of area 51. Al and Chris packed up and headed out for this new hunting ground. Too bad it was an hour and a half drive for them though.
Upon slipping into the "active" pit, Dan and I were horrified to find that it had not been hit the night before. Out of desparate bull - headedness we climbed up anyway in the hopes that all was not lost. As it turns out it was all for none and darkness fell with nothing in our game bag. Al and Chris returned to camp that night with some good news though. Chris had watched a "nice bear" for 20 minutes but couldn't get the perfect shot and so he let him walk. Al saw nothing.
The next morning we all packed up and headed to the area where Al and Chris hunted the night before. Dan and I set up in the pit Al had used while Al video'd Chris where he had seen the bear the previous night. As it turned out Al and Chris got skunked but Dan and I finally had a little luck.
At about 7:45 I heard another "squirel" and as I looked up I saw a bear coming in from behind. Dan didn't believe me when I wispered "bear, bear, bear" but he was a beleiver when he saw the black blob sauntering our way. The bear walked directly beneath us and was in the process of smelling a small sapling that we must have touched when it noticed us above it. We were "skylined" from the bear's point of view and it was cautiously curious. A staredown ensued until the bear finally bolted away from us. I barely managed to keep the camera on him and when it paused for just a second Dan's arrow was on it's way. That tell-tale hollow "thud" of a lung hit was obvious as the bear careemed through the underbrush away from us. Seconds later we heard some gurgling and then all went silent.
A short track job resulted in Dan recovering his Minnesota bruin.
Not a record breaker by any means but beggers can't be choosers when they aren't hitting good I guess. Good job Dan. As for Al, Chris and I, we are still hitting it. We fully expect at least one more bear will hit the ground. I'll keep you updated.
