Three Bear Afternoon

No photo today....just the story. It's the second day of rifle Deer season. Yesterday, I walked to my neighbor's stand, where I found Josie sitting. She had been there since 0445, and hadn't seen a thing. I guess she must have been bored to tears because she talked most of the two hours I sat up there with her. So I decided that afternoon's hunt was a wash. No problem I went with it enjoying the place, and listening to Josie tell her story. Then her husband, came tromping through the woods. Making plenty of noise as he arrived. No surprise, he said he hadn't seen a thing either. We all talked for a minute or two, then he tromped away down the hill to his house. I decided that was enough for me. I bid farewell to Josie, and decided to walk back up the hill to sit for a while. I came across three more hunters! I sat under a long dead maple tree contemplating "Opening Day". I think maybe there are too many hunters out there on opening day, especially when it falls on Veterans Day. Many who have the holiday off, hunt. Too many loaded guns walking through the woods...what could go wrong?

Anyway, today was a different story. I came home from work, and set right out to the same area around Derry Hill. I drive in, park, and walk to a suitable spot. So as I began driving up Derry Hill Rd. I noticed a huge Black Bear in the corn field. Evvy and I often walk that field. We have found many, many, piles of bear skat there. This bear was probably close to 180-200#. When he heard my truck, he stopped munching, and looked up at me. He looked in fine shape, as he made a slow gallop across the field. What a great sight! I was psyched.

Onward, I parked my truck and walked to a spot where I had heard a lot of activity yesterday. I sat down, trying to get comfortable on the bright orange butt warmer. Not ten minutes later, an ATV comes up and over the ski mobile trail. I wondered if it was my neighbor. As she drew closer, I saw the bright orange outfit. I just shook my head in disbelief. Like "what the heck?"

Josie saw me and stopped to tell me she and Larry had been out there all day, and hadn't seen a thing. She said, "Ronnie got an 8-pointer over in Westmoreland". I don't know Ronnie, but anyway. After a few minutes, she headed on down the hill past their stand to her house. I could hear her for many minutes.

Then silence, save for the red squirrels and chickadees. Occasionally, I would do my lame deer bleet sound. I heard something coming my way, and hoped it wasn't my neighbors again :-) No, this sound was different. I was standing at this point, as "it" drew nearer. I thought, this is it! My first deer....ever.

Finally it past the point where the darkness, brush, becomes an open area. Another bear! This bear was smaller than the first, maybe 120#. I stood perfectly still as the bear came closer still.

The bear continued toward me, stopping every third step to sniff, and look around. He came all the way to me. I could easily have kicked him. He just stopped there in front of me, I did not make eye contact lest I give myself away. He looked around, sniffed some more, for several moments. I thought this was the coolest thing ever! I was not the least bit afraid. He turned around and walked back the way he came, stopping now and again for a sniff of the wind. When he was out of sight, and sound, I sat back down. It was about 3:30 then.

I decided I would stay until dusk, then walk back to the truck. At about 4:15, I heard something walking toward me once more. I trained my scope in that direction in hopes that elusive buck would appear. As the animal emerged from the brush, I thought, "No way!". The bear was back. Once again, he made his methodical march toward me, with stops along the way. I smiled from under my wicked cool scent-lok camo balaclava. Sitting statue-still, I waited for the bear. He came up close again. I could see that his claws were a good two inches in length. No wonder bears can climb trees. No wonder Josie, and I hadn't see any deer.

I watched his nose turn up and down and around as he tried to figure out what I was. I was not afraid. Black bears do not typically attack people for no reason. Besides, I felt sure that if I sprang up at this point, that bear would definitely ~!@#$% his furry pants. I thoroughly enjoyed this visit between me and the bear. After he was sufficiently convinced I was not that interesting, he walked past me this time. Mr. Bear headed up the hill. I waited until I couldn't hear him, then I got up and walked back to my truck, satisfied that this afternoon was the best hunting so far. By the time I got to my truck it was dark. I thought "some people go their whole lives never seeing a bear in the wild......I saw bears, three times in two and half hours....priceless".