Elkmasterwyo
WKR
Bear baiting is a pretty big deal around our house, from the bait making process to the actual baiting, everyone pitches in, my 6 year old son always makes trips into the baits to check them with me. Him and my dad help pack baits in every spring.
My wife helps more than I give her credit by holding things together at home, keeping track of kids and offering constant moral support. As the weather gets better, her and our twin dAughters start riding along to check the baits. Normally they hang around the truck, play in the creek and go on nature walks while my boy and I hike into the baits.
This year the bears were a bit late getting to the baits and we didn't get our first hit until May 23rd
This year I decided my wife's turn to hunt the baits was way overdue!
It's always hard to find a way to get her up there to sit the bait, because with the kids and school just wrapping up its not exactly easy for her to spend evenings away from the house, but with an awesome show of support from both of our families we made it happen. I had a ground blind set up 134yds from the barrel, the first two nights we sat, I would get her into the blind then go bait the barrel like I always do, then sneak back and climb in the blind with her. Those first two nights, nothing showed except a few deer and elk.
June 11th, with 4 days left in the season I convinced her to give it one last shot! With the kids off to grandma's house, we headed up the mountain to see what would happen. I decided to do something different, and we snuck in the back way, sprayed anise spray the whole way in and snuck into the blind without ever going to the bait itself. When we got settled she told me, with other obligations for the rest of the week, this'd be the last night she could sit. I told her not to worry, I've become a pro at taking things down to the last hour of the last day! After sitting for a while, we had a couple deer come by, then a bull elk that came from behind us, headed toward the bait and slammed on the brakes when he was about 50yds from it. He perked his ears up and then promptly changed course . Leading me to believe there was a bear close by. At 8:45, I looked up to see him strolling right in to the bait like he owned the place, and go right to eating! I was so excited, I immediately started shaking! But had to compose myself(with a little encouragement from my wife
). We got her set up with the rifle, I knew she was excited when she pulled away from the gun and took two deep breaths! I told her to make sure her aim was steady and to squeeze the trigger when she was ready! As the rifle went off, I knew it was over, as he collapsed and never got up! I can't even begin to explain the emotion I felt, I was so excited and so proud of her! She had just taken her first bear, and for it to be a really nice color Bear and off of my bait in Wyoming made it extra special!
