- Joined
- Mar 23, 2023
- Messages
- 7
Earlier this year I got the email that I drew my first black bear tag in the state of Utah. I drew it on a whim with no where near max points in an area traditionally known for not having many bears.
I spent months reading articles, watching YouTube vids, and talking to people about bear habits. Just days before the hunt started and after some scouting adventures, I finally narrowed down where I wanted to place my bait sites. My wife and I went all-in just us two taking the time to build these sites and we began sitting for hours on end each day possible. After not much sign and very inconsistent bear activity, by day 7 we still had not physically laid eyes on a single bear yet.
The evening of day 8 that changed. Nearing dark and about five minutes before we were going to hike back to the truck and leave for the late night drive home, this old boar gave us a big surprise when he came up behind us. This is my second time seeing a bear in the wild, and her first. We couldn't hear him walking through the forest at all, the only sound you could hear was him breathing. After telling my wife now is not the time to panic (haha), we let him walk by us at 10 yards.
About 50 yards from the bait site he quickly changed his direction and started to cut away from it like he was going to circle it. I knew I had a small window to get a shot off before he got back into the pines and I may never see him again. Luckily, that shot counted and he did a couple of rolls after being hit and took off on a death run growling the whole time.
Walking up to him was a crazy experience. Going through the pines and thick bushes as it's nearing dark looking for a dead or wounded bear is intimidating. After following the blood trail and seeing all the dirt he disturbed trying to get out of the area, I found him lying dead in a small opening on a steep sidehill.
It was surreal to finally see a bear up close and to have it be an old chocolate colored boar was icing on the cake. His teeth are worn down, hide has no rubs, and he has a big ol' pumpkin head. This old bear has survived many years and I am fortunate to have taken him on my first ever bear hunt.
Note: I don’t know his weight, length, or skull score. Just enjoying it for now!
I spent months reading articles, watching YouTube vids, and talking to people about bear habits. Just days before the hunt started and after some scouting adventures, I finally narrowed down where I wanted to place my bait sites. My wife and I went all-in just us two taking the time to build these sites and we began sitting for hours on end each day possible. After not much sign and very inconsistent bear activity, by day 7 we still had not physically laid eyes on a single bear yet.
The evening of day 8 that changed. Nearing dark and about five minutes before we were going to hike back to the truck and leave for the late night drive home, this old boar gave us a big surprise when he came up behind us. This is my second time seeing a bear in the wild, and her first. We couldn't hear him walking through the forest at all, the only sound you could hear was him breathing. After telling my wife now is not the time to panic (haha), we let him walk by us at 10 yards.
About 50 yards from the bait site he quickly changed his direction and started to cut away from it like he was going to circle it. I knew I had a small window to get a shot off before he got back into the pines and I may never see him again. Luckily, that shot counted and he did a couple of rolls after being hit and took off on a death run growling the whole time.
Walking up to him was a crazy experience. Going through the pines and thick bushes as it's nearing dark looking for a dead or wounded bear is intimidating. After following the blood trail and seeing all the dirt he disturbed trying to get out of the area, I found him lying dead in a small opening on a steep sidehill.
It was surreal to finally see a bear up close and to have it be an old chocolate colored boar was icing on the cake. His teeth are worn down, hide has no rubs, and he has a big ol' pumpkin head. This old bear has survived many years and I am fortunate to have taken him on my first ever bear hunt.
Note: I don’t know his weight, length, or skull score. Just enjoying it for now!
