So since my last update I have been out a bunch of times checking the camera, refreshing the bait and hunting. I'll only update you on the interesting bits. Went out on the weekend of the 22nd - 24th and it was absolutely beautiful weather:



I watched momma and the 3 cubs for close to an hour at one point and on the Saturday about 20 minutes before the end of legal light i heard a noise directly behind me. Turned and one of my two shooters is 8 feet behind my chair. I looked at him, he looked at me, he whoofed and than i whoofed back and than he took off running. All of that transpired in a fraction of a second with no time to get my sights on him.

Well after that i returned to the site on Thursday to freshen things up for this weekend and to check the camera. First thing i noticed is that my chair was thrown about 6 six feet from its position and this was in its place:



Additionally there were 2 more piles just like it all within 3 feet of where my chair had been. I figured they pretty much have my hiding spot figured out so i better change things up for the weekend. I chose a tree about 40 yards out from the bait and figured i could cleanup a shooting lane pretty quick and probably should bring my climber and get some air between me and the ground. Headed out confident in my new plan. Got the boat loaded and started the 20 mile drive out. Well just before the logging road hits the pavement with 15 miles left to get the cabin a tire on the trailer blows. It was pouring rain and no spare. The tires and rims are pretty cheap and buying a new rim only adds $20 to the whole scenario so i just put the 4 ways on and drove it 15 miles on the rim at 10 miles/hr. With the rain i was not worried about anything getting too hot:



Looking at the tire on the other side i decided to replace both tires and keep the old intact tire for a spare. So Saturday morning rolls around and i wake up and my gout has flared in my right foot. Over 3 years since i have had a flare - pretty sure it is my COVID diet/drinking. Anyways the long and short of it is no climbing a tree when i can barely walk. Not willing to give in i figure i was just gonna have to make the ground work. So I built a new hide with a new lane at the base of the tree i was going to climb:

Under construction:



Complete viewed from front:



Complete viewed from rear:



View down the new shooting lane:



So hunted from about 1230 pm Saturday until the end of legal. At about 830 pm my other shooter comes in but again comes from directly behind me and busts me at about 20 yards from the chair. Not a happy camper and at 927 pm (end of legal) i packed it in. Got back to the truck and being all gimpy with gout managed to fall off the boat trailer into the lake. Probably a good thing i didn't get a bear or it might have been a $%^& show to get him out and loaded. So now I'm driving back out on the logging road and i hear a god awful sound from the trailer. Well I swear that road is haunted by the ferry man as it always takes a toll (being abandoned for 7 or 8 years probably doesn't help either) . Leaf springs on the side that didn't go flat are gone:



Last year that road claimed a CV boot on the truck as toll.

So at this point I might be done. Gonna fix the trailer up and leave the bait alone for 9 or 10 days and than head in to check the camera and maybe freshen the bait up for the last weekend. All depends on the gout. If I can get it under control in the next week I will head in with the climber. Means less (actually means none) beer and less red meat for the next bit.

Two close encounters with a big bear, a flat tire, some broken leaf springs, unintentionally going swimming and gout!!! Holy smokes!!! I’ll say at least your hunting!

Like always, I’ll truly enjoy your stories!

wow!

Never a dull moment!

This is all going to make it so much sweeter when you finally get a bear

Hope the gout gets better and you have better luck!

Well said....good luck getting the trailer fixed, the gout under control and getting one the last weekend!

^^^Yep, the greater the pain, the greater the gain.
Keep posting.

Good luck with the trailer and bear. Hope the gout gets better soon, it is a real bummer.

Get some Prednisone for the gout. It will relieve it quickly. Good luck. Looks like that bear is giving you some strong hints.

Great post, GOOD LUCK!

you and the bear snorting at each other cracked me up

Great story and encounters. 3 years ago I arrowed a big boar in a pouring down thunderstorm. Located him down and was walking back up hill thick trail and in curve another big bear was coming down and appeared 10 feet in front of me. I froze. We had a stare down that seemed like an eternity (probably a few seconds). Bear snorted and stood up, I then yelled "Boo" and waived my arms and bear took off. Walked up curve and another big bear was at bait site and I run it off too. Some great times in Ontario for sure.

My gout too been flaring up with COVID (too much red meat and peanut butter). I feel your pain but like the must carry on attitude. Keep the stories coming

Wow.

Thanks for keeping us posted

Very interesting story. I hope you get one.

Yikes! Luck to you!