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Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
#6468349
09/26/16 05:14 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,334
Hirogen
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For the past 2 seasons I have been trying to take a bear by canoe off public wilderness on solo self guided hunts. No particular reason other than to make it a challenge and keep things interesting and I like that you can't get to these places any other way. My first attempt was in the spring of 2015 and resulted in no bears seen and a camera lost overboard. My next attempt was in the spring of 2016 and I had a lot more action and potential but I ran out of time. The third and final chapter was this fall and this weekend I finally managed to seal the deal. The setup for this fall was essentially identical to the spring. Same location and same bait except instead of marshmellows I used jujubes in my mix. The jujubes were left over from a summer camp where my youngest son was a counsellor and the price (free) was right. So the bait mix was as follows: 265 lbs whole corn - $23.75 75 lbs molasses - $16.85 44 lbs jujubes - free Total bait cost $40.60 A couple of pics from the spring setup (this fall was the same except I forgot my camera on the day I setup): Loaded up and heading out to bait (usually done about 2 weeks before the hunt): Getting the bait barrel setup: The view up the shooting lane to the ground blind: The remainder of the pics are from the hunt this weekend. This location is on public wilderness and about a 1 hour paddle from the put in where I camped. The camp (mostly in the box of my truck) - those tent cots are handy and very comfortable: I hunted last weekend but did not see anything. I think it was too warm and the bears were hitting the bait during the cooler dark times. I know they were around as there were piles of scat and and a scat trail leading to my blind which the bears had torn down, turned the hubs inside out and several ripped the fabric in several places. I fixed the blind as best as i could and hunted out of it that weekend and left it standing when i left. When i returned this weekend it was the same drill: This morning I set the alarm for 5:00 am and shoved off with the canoe at 5:15 am. The temperature was 34F on my thermometer and there was light fog on the lake. The fog rendered my headlamp totally useless as the light was reflecting and the glare reduced visibility to 2 or 3 feet. Fortunately there was some moonlight and with the fog being light I was able to navigate with the lamp turned off. I was at the torn down blind at 6:20 am and decided not to use it. Instead I sat inside some young maples behind the blind position with the tripod and hoped for the best. At 6:40 am (legal shooting start) I loaded the gun and waited. At 7:00 am my bear came in and almost immediately presented a perfect broadside shot with the bait barrel on his off side. The bear was certainly not big but being as this was going to be my first attempt trying to get one out by canoe I decided to take him. I squeezed one off at his boiler room and the 35 Whelen sent a 250 grain partition his way. He immediately did a somersault and landed such that I could only see his hind quarters. As soon as he landed he snarled for a fraction of second and than switched to the death moan. He did not rise. I decided to wait 15 or 20 minutes to be sure he was dead (I was fairly certain he was as he made the moan). After 10 minutes or so I notice some movement and thought what the #$%@. I got up thinking I had to put a second round into him and moved forward to get a view of his vitals. While moving forward my line of sight was momentarily blocked and during that time a bear gets up from his position and starts running away. It was about the same size and I thought what the ^*#%, this is not good. I take another 3 steps forward trying to get a line of sight on the fleeing bear and my bear comes back into sight and is laying right where I dropped him. A second bear had snuck in and was checking out the carcass - this was the bear now fleeing. Because my view was mostly blocked I never saw him come in. The bear: After passing thru the bullet punctured the bait barrel and then stuck in the offside of the barrel: Offside deformation: Loading him into the canoe I narrowly avoided tipping and going for a swim. The loaded bear: I used a shoreline rock that was slightly higher than the top of the canoe to get him up and over the gunwale: I had him loaded by 8:00 am and was back at the put in about 9:00 am. By 11 am I had him dressed and camp broken down and everything loaded and was on the road back home. I stopped about 45 minutes into my ride and got 4 bags of ice to pack his chest cavity to enhance cooling. At the butcher he scaled 101 lbs dressed (skinned and gutted). Just about the perfect size for one guy and a canoe and probably going to be some fine eating. I am thinking my next quest will be crossbow whitetail by canoe. I already have a place in mind that is on public wilderness land - we will see how much time I have to sort it out. I thought about the crossbow for the bear but than decided nah I'll take the Whelen and make sure there is minimal tracking
Last edited by Hirogen; 09/26/16 06:21 AM.
Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil.
-The Iron Code of Druss the Legend
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6468356
09/26/16 06:04 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,267
Sirrah243
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Congratulations! I enjoyed the story. Thanks for posting.
�A hunt based only on the trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.� -Fred Bear
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6468374
09/26/16 10:42 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442 |
Congrats on a great hunt, way to get it done. Agree that bear is big enough for a solo canoe hunt.
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6468448
09/26/16 12:56 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 31
zmalts
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 31 |
Congrats great story and bear
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6468489
09/26/16 01:20 PM
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,189
CCBIRDDOGMAN
Bird Herder
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Bird Herder
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 13,189 |
Great story. Congrats on the bear.
Haven't had it in years but never spit any out. I am a sucker for happy endings and strapped cowboys.
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6468514
09/26/16 01:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,269
swmays
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,269 |
Great post. Congratulations on the adventure and thanks for posting.
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6468582
09/26/16 02:01 PM
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,655
colt45-90
Texas colt45
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Texas colt45
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 11,655 |
not going to try the spear? nice job, thanks for posting
hold on Newt, we got a runaway
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Sirrah243]
#6468584
09/26/16 02:01 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 3,126
kdkane1971
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Congratulations! I enjoyed the story. Thanks for posting.
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6468589
09/26/16 02:04 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,573
dlrz71
THF Celebrity
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6468599
09/26/16 02:09 PM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,192
TexasVine
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Posts: 2,192 |
TexasVine
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6468952
09/26/16 05:31 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,112
BarneyWho
Extreme Tracker
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Posts: 4,112 |
awesome. thanks for sharing.
Do you like the taste of the meat? I tried it once from a bear killed in South Carolina. Was really, really greasy. I didn't care for the taste.
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: kdkane1971]
#6468979
09/26/16 05:49 PM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 3,091
Always ready 2 hunt
Veteran Tracker
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Congratulations! I enjoyed the story. Thanks for posting.
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: kmon11]
#6468980
09/26/16 05:50 PM
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 29,010
Western
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Posts: 29,010 |
Congrats on a great hunt, way to get it done. Agree that bear is big enough for a solo canoe hunt. X's 2!! Great photos too!! Next time sit in the barrel and hunt the blind
If at first you dont succeed, then skydiving is not for you..
"Don't trust everything you read on the Internet"- Abraham Lincoln Dennis
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: BarneyWho]
#6469220
09/26/16 08:15 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,334
Hirogen
OP
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awesome. thanks for sharing.
Do you like the taste of the meat? I tried it once from a bear killed in South Carolina. Was really, really greasy. I didn't care for the taste. Bears are like wild hog. Size and diet are important. Smaller is better and the further from any dump is important. This guy should eat good. He would have been living off berries, roots, wild apples, insects, acorns and the odd small critter. He will make really good sausage.
Last edited by Hirogen; 09/26/16 08:16 PM.
Never violate a woman, nor harm a child. Do not lie, cheat or steal. These things are for lesser men. Protect the weak against the evil strong. And never allow thoughts of gain to lead you into the pursuit of evil.
-The Iron Code of Druss the Legend
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6469467
09/26/16 10:27 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 456
raiderJ
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 456 |
great story, thanks for sharing
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6469482
09/26/16 10:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,729
NMGW
Pro Tracker
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Great story and pictures, thanks for sharing.
New Mexico: Not Really New, Not Really Mexico
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6469552
09/26/16 11:25 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271
SniperRAB
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 21,271 |
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6469559
09/26/16 11:28 PM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 23,147
Bee'z
The Beedazzler
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The Beedazzler
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 23,147 |
Great story and awesome pics. Congrats on a nice bear
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6469577
09/26/16 11:36 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,005
JRJ6
Extreme Tracker
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: swmays]
#6469627
09/27/16 12:14 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 29,105
TXHOGSLAYER
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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Posts: 29,105 |
Great post. Congratulations on the adventure and thanks for posting.
LETS GO BRANDON
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6469634
09/27/16 12:21 AM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,985
Michael W.
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
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Posts: 5,985 |
Great story and a memory for a lifetime. Congrats.
A clear conscience is often the sign of a fuzzy memory.
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: swmays]
#6469726
09/27/16 01:08 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,806
Deerhunter61
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 7,806 |
Great post. Congratulations on the adventure and thanks for posting.
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6470054
09/27/16 03:44 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 230
Rock Rancher
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 230 |
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6470103
09/27/16 06:40 AM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,262
dkershen
Rev Dave
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Rev Dave
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 24,262 |
Outstanding job. Very well planned hunt
To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.www.NewHopeEquine.com - Health and Healing through Horses.
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Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal.
[Re: Hirogen]
#6470113
09/27/16 09:23 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 19,212
TEXASLEFTY
THF Whiskey Sommelier
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THF Whiskey Sommelier
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 19,212 |
i remember your previous hunts, glad you connected!!
Never been to a camping world. I prefer Dick's to be honest.
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