Alyssa's First Bear

[muzzy]

I've been bow hunting for over 47 years now and several years ago decided it would be nice to give something back to the sport. I figured that I could share some of my hunting knowledge, particularily with bear hunting with a new bow hunter or new to bear hunting person. I owned a successful Bear Outfitting business in Manitoba for 7 year and have hunted bears since I started bowhunting 47 years ago. So far Ive taken out 6 newbie bear hunters and all have been successful. Most are AO members and I count them all as friends and now hunting companions. This year my neighbour Chad mentioned he had two daughters aged 15 and 16 who wanted to try bear hunting. Chad hunts some but has never tried bear hunting and wasn't comfortable taking on a bear on his own. Alyssa, the 16 year old wanted to try with a bow.Neither girl had taken any big game animals to this point.
I was very impressed with their dedication and hard work before the hunt. Both practiced hard and when it came to baiting they both hauled in sacks of oats and pails of grease without a complaint.
I had 4 baits set up for them and all have now been clobbered so last thursday we took the girls out splitting them up between two different baits. I placed Alyssa and her dad on a bait that was just clobbered and it didn't take long. They were in the stand at 5:30 and by 7 a bear was circling the bait. After three attempts to close in it finally made the move and settled in front of the barrel. Alyssa made a great broadside shot and the bear took off. Chad quickly texted me for help in tracking and within 15 minutes I was there with Alyssa's sister Victory. The tracking job was easy with a decent blood trail and the bear was found about 90 yds away. Talk about a couple of pumped up girls! Now the best part for her Dad and I is those young ladies hauled that bear out of the bush to the truck by themselves. ( I may have to take them on my moose hunts this fall Lol )
Next up will be Victory's turn and we hope to get her a bear this week. Since I am brutal at posting pics Neil from L.O.S.T Arrow has graciously offered to post the pics on this for me....thanks Neil.

Gord