2011 Bear Season

[Jesse Minish]

My 2011 spring bear season… It was fun, frustrating and had a couple scary moments. I never got a shot at a bear but I think it was a great season none the less.
The season started off with an unusually large amount of snow in the mountains and a difficult time trying to get to some decent spots to get some baits set up. Once I was able to get some baits set the waiting game was on. With so much snow and spring still not showing up my baits sat for three weeks before they started to see some bear action.
The season was short now that it took so long for the bear to start hitting the bait so I had to hunt every chance possible. This was tuff since I was working a good three hours away from my baits and usually working late.
I was still able to hunt a couple times a week having bear come in just before dark but never give me a shot till it was too dark for an ethical one. I was seeing deer and elk every day which makes the time sitting go by fast.
One of the highlights of my season had to be bringing my oldest daughter Adrie who is eight years old with me. This was her first time hunting bear with dad. On the way in we saw a young bull moose running alongside the road and that got her excited. Later we had a cow elk come wondering around us while we sat in the ground blind at the bait. Then she got to see me almost get a shot a shot at a coyote that came into the bait and a little later an owl landed in a tree above us. To top it off we had a bear come in at last light. I didn’t get an opportunity for a shot but Adrie loved the whole experience with seeing all those animals in one day up close.

[Jesse Minish]

We went back to the bait two days later. Adrie had a cold but really wanted to come with me so I let her. It was a cold day and it was off and on snow and rain. After about 45 minutes of sitting a bear came in. The bear got to within 50 yards and Adrie’s cold got the better of her and she began to cough. Once the bear heard the coughing it turned and ran off and didn’t return. She felt bad and I was bummed but tried to make light of the situation by cracking jokes and eating doe nuts. She can’t wait till she is old enough to hunt with her recurve but is also excited to come back and hunt next year with dad.
I only had a week left of season and had to work through the weekend leaving me only the last day of season to hunt. I love to bait but spot and stalk is what I really like to do above all else so I gave up on the bait. I decided to hike an old power line road to a ridge and hike up the ridge. I have seen a number of bear there before so I had high hopes.
The weather was warm but with the occasional shower it made it great to move around quietly. I saw a number of mule deer getting within 15 yards of one mulley doe. I also saw several whitetail an elk and a young bull moose. The moose was one of the scary moments of the season.

[Jesse Minish]

I was working my way down a steep game trail when I noticed a small alder tree weaving back and forth about 40 yards ahead of me. I got down and noticed a dark brown spot in the brush. I got excited because it looked like a bear. After sneaking into about 20 yards I realized it was a moose so I put the arrow back in the quiver and grabbed my camera.
The moose was deep in the brush and I couldn’t get a clear picture so I decided to get closer. When I got to about 15 feet the moose realized something was behind him. He turned and started walking towards me. Once he was about 10 feet away I took a picture. He then laid his ears back and I realized I was in trouble. Looking back I saw a small alder about 10 feet away. I waived my arms and shouted hoping to turn the bull but that’s when he ran at me. I turned and ran and as I reached the tree I swung my bow at the bull just missing his head by a few inches.
It’s funny how much you can think about in just a second or two. I remember seeing his eyes as the bull ran at me and thinking how pissed he is. Then I thought how stupid I was for getting to close, not having my pistol on my hip and thinking man people are going to say what a dumbass, he got stomped to death by a moose. Lucky for me he just gave me a look back as he kept running.

Feeling my luck ran out in that spot I decided to try a different spot before dark so I headed back to the truck to get on my way. This spot is up high in some awesome country.

[Jesse Minish]

I was hiking old roads, along creeks and beaver pond edges. On the side of one of the old roads I spotted a bear but he saw me at the same time and bolted into the thick timber.
Getting up to where the bear ran into the trees there was a game trail so I started in on it. After sneaking on the trail for about 5 minutes I could see a BIG black blob in the thick brush. I stopped and knelt down and could see it was the bear. He was about 40 yards away with his head down looking at me. I had a big tree about 15 yards ahead and in between us and all I had to do was take a step to my right and the bear wouldn’t be able to see me.
I got the tree between us and started to sneak in. I got to the tree and was peaking around for a shot when the bear started to parallel the ridge to my right. That’s when I noticed how big the bear really was. I slowly stayed with him covering another 40 yards before he stopped. Now I had to take a couple more steps for a clear shot though the trees. As I was just clearing the trees I noticed the bear was standing stiff with his ears laid back. My first thought was not again! I was shaking pretty good at this point and began to draw my bow but like happens to often he tuned and went away from me over the ridge and out of sight.

I tried to locate him for a while longer but realized he was gone. I ended my bear season by heading back to the truck for the drive home full of adrenalin and sadness but a grateful feeling for the entertaining season I had.
Getting to hunt with my daughter and that one amazing last day made for a great season of bear hunting.

[elknutz]

Good pics and story Jesse. Thanks, I enjoyed it.

[Littlebigman]

wow Jesse what a hunt and a memory you made for your self. that is so cool your daughter wants to hunt with her dad! My kids are all grown up now and I am hoping the grandkids will want to hunt with grand dad. You wont forget that moose encounter for a long time and you most likely wont try to get so close again unless you have a tag for em in yer pocket!

Awesome country you live in!

[Jesse Minish]

Thanks guys

[Rick Wiltshire]

Hey Jesse,

Good to see ya posting!! Glad to see you with a longbow in hand rather than the recurve

Memories can last forever, meat for only a meal.

[Coaster500]

Thanks Jesse for the ride, great story in some great country !!!

[pappy]

thanks for the story and pics jess