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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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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
Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6468356 09/26/16 06:04 AM
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Congratulations! I enjoyed the story. Thanks for posting. up


�A hunt based only on the trophies taken falls far short of what the ultimate goal should be.� -Fred Bear
Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6468374 09/26/16 10:42 AM
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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
Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6468448 09/26/16 12:56 PM
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Congrats great story and bear

Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6468489 09/26/16 01:20 PM
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Great story. Congrats on the bear.


Originally Posted by bill oxner
Haven't had it in years but never spit any out.


Originally Posted by bill oxner
I am a sucker for happy endings and strapped cowboys.
Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6468514 09/26/16 01:32 PM
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Great post. Congratulations on the adventure and thanks for posting.

Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6468582 09/26/16 02:01 PM
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not going to try the spear? nice job, thanks for posting


hold on Newt, we got a runaway
Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Sirrah243] #6468584 09/26/16 02:01 PM
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Originally Posted By: Sirrah243
Congratulations! I enjoyed the story. Thanks for posting. up

Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6468589 09/26/16 02:04 PM
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congrats!!! Nice bear.

Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6468599 09/26/16 02:09 PM
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Congrats


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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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.


Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: kdkane1971] #6468979 09/26/16 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted By: kdkane1971
Originally Posted By: Sirrah243
Congratulations! I enjoyed the story. Thanks for posting. up


up

Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: kmon11] #6468980 09/26/16 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted By: kmon1
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 grin


If at first you dont succeed, then skydiving is not for you..

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Dennis

Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: BarneyWho] #6469220 09/26/16 08:15 PM
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Originally Posted By: BarneyWho
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
Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6469467 09/26/16 10:27 PM
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great story, thanks for sharing

Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6469482 09/26/16 10:42 PM
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Great story and pictures, thanks for sharing. up


New Mexico: Not Really New, Not Really Mexico
Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6469552 09/26/16 11:25 PM
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cheers


Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6469559 09/26/16 11:28 PM
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Great story and awesome pics. Congrats on a nice bear cheers


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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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Congrats!

Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: swmays] #6469627 09/27/16 12:14 AM
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Originally Posted By: swmays
Great post. Congratulations on the adventure and thanks for posting.




LETS GO BRANDON
Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6469634 09/27/16 12:21 AM
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Great story and a memory for a lifetime. Congrats.



A clear conscience is often the sign of a fuzzy memory.
Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: swmays] #6469726 09/27/16 01:08 AM
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Originally Posted By: swmays
Great post. Congratulations on the adventure and thanks for posting.

Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6470054 09/27/16 03:44 AM
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Great writeup. Thanks!

Re: Self guided solo bear hunt by canoe - Sealed the deal. [Re: Hirogen] #6470103 09/27/16 06:40 AM
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Outstanding job. Very well planned hunt up


To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

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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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i remember your previous hunts, glad you connected!!


Originally Posted by Chunky Monkey
Never been to a camping world. I prefer Dick's to be honest.
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