I didn't get a bear this year but we as a group have one bear down so far. I only had 4 days to hunt due to my upcoming trip to Colorado In a few days and I also need to Install an electric boiler In my shed where my milk truck goes before I head out. My 1st evening hunt was a quick one. It lasted about 30 minutes and off of the stand I went being the wind switched to the direction I figured the bear were coming from. The 2nd sit out was In the same bait/stand but nothing showed. The 3rd sit was In the same stand again and nothing showed. I got rained on twice and hailed on once In this sit. Hail size was marble size. Never have I gotten hailed on while hunting. lol!! Plus the wind was blowing about 20mph with a few strong wind gusts adding to that. I figured nothing was going to move In that wind but my hunting days were limited so I went anyway. In my 4th and final sit of my 2010 Minnesota bear hunting season I decided to try another bait out and nothing showed over there either. We have camera's at 90% of our baits and the bait I was sitting on In my previous sits finally showed his face about 15 minutes before dark. Figures!! He was a nice sized bear too. Probably dressing around 250lbs and would make P&Y. My brother stayed one day longer then I did and had a very nice sized bear about 30 or so yards away winding him. He never came to the bait. He headed back up last night and will hunt till Sunday If needed. The bear were hitting the baits pretty good during daylight hours. It's just whether he and my dad picks the right ones to hunt. I'm betting both my dad and my brother will each score on a good sized bear this year as long as the weather cooperates. 3 for 4 would sound great with all the tough hunting we've had the last 7 to 8 years with all the huge hunting pressure up there. Were hunting state land and believe me folks, It gets pounded with hunters. Never have I saw hunting pressure like this anywhere. People every 2 tenths, some even closer. There's a few wanna be bear guides up where we hunt. A few of these bear guides know who we are and the success we've had and their greed shows hunting off of our baits close. Not much a person can do about It though. You just gotta out bait them which I believe we finally were able to do this year. We did have some action though In our 4 man group. My dad passed up a little guy the 1st evening out and a buddy of ours In the hunting party arrowed himself a 190lb bear his 1st sit out. There's more to the story though with this guy who shot the bear... The guy who shot It had 3 broken ribs. Back 2 weeks ago he broke 3 ribs falling In a hole at work. He couldn't do much baiting after that but he was there with us doing all he could. What a great ending for a guy who wasn't sure he was even going to be able to draw his recurve back and bear hunt this year after his accident. We told him earlier to get a rifle and he said no way, ain't happening!! Here's a picture of Larry's bear he got. It was raining so the pics didn't turn out to well. The little guy In this picture Is my nephew Beau with his dad (my brother) Jason. It was Beau's 1st time ever seeing a bear In the wild, he's almost 3 years old. The guy In camo Is Larry who's been a long time friend of the family and great hunting buddy!! He's the wounded hunter who got this bear. The bear dressed out at 190lbs. Our big bear numbers were down this year but here are a few pics of some of the big guys we got on cam this year. The bottom 2 pics have to be one of the biggest bear we've ever got on cam. He's gotta be pushing 450 to 500 pounds I'm thinking! This Is the bear I was hunting. Here's a great bear! His head Is outstanding!! Very easily a 19 to 20 Inch skull on this bear. Here's a chocolate/cinnamon phase bear. He's pretty nice too. This bait shut off come hunting season. I was hoping to hunt this bear. Here's the hog of the bunch! Look at his gut!!! We didn't get any good head shots but It's gotta be big. Dad told me last night he's going to try and out smart this big guy. My brother and I and Larry live 4.5 hours south of where we bear hunt. My dads fortunate that he lives with In 45 minutes of where we bear hunt. Big guys like this don't come easy, just like hunting a 4.5+ year old whitetail. Actually I think old bear are tougher to hunt when hunting pressure Is high like we've got. He loves the challenge though!! Good luck pops!!!
Wow!!! The gut on that last one is UNBELIEVABLE!! He doesn't get much excercise and drinks a lot of beer! Thanks for sharing buddy... some day... some day.
Dang bud, sorry you didnt score but congrats to your Larry and wow those are some dandies! Anything over 19 in my book is a heck of a blackie !
Thanks Steve...enjoyed that...bears are pretty foreign to me living in IL...I hope to at least lays eyes on one while hunting in CO. Hope your pops bags the BIG BOY!
I know ya'll had a grrrrrreat time and that's what counts. Congrats to your buddy and good luck to Pops!
Steve, Great pictures! That cinnamon bear is gorgeous! That huge sucker almost looks like he has a growth on his belly,that bear is seriously fat! I hope your dad gets an opportunity on him.
Those are great pics! Thanks for sharing them and your story. Better luck next year and get a monster in CO!!! Jim Davis 3G Tactical www.3gtactical.com
It's a great thing to be able to get together with family and friends every year for something like this. You are lucky to have it Steve. Man that last bear looks like he has a tumor or growth or something going on there. His gut looks to be in the wrong spot.
Great story Steve , sorry you didn't get your bear this year , but i'm sure that luck will change next week in Co . See you in 8days Buddy .
Congrats to your buddy! Even though you didnt get one im sure some memories were made. As for the last pic leave him a case miller light he is having way to much of the good stuff lol Colorado? T
Wow! I am prayin your Dad lays that guy down, Steve!! Thanks for the update and pics!!! The season has just begun
Many of you hit the nail on the head. Good times were had and to me that's a successful hunt for myself. No doubt John. I'm truly blessed to have what I have when It comes to family and friends. Lol!! He's sure big Isn't he!! In some of the other pics It looks normal. I think It's just one big gut. Every bear we've gotten pics of this year Is In awesome shape. Even the pics before the bear started to get fatted up from us. The berry crop was huge and early this year. Thanks everyone!!!
Looking forward to meeting you guys. A hunt of a lifetime will be had. You betch ya!!! Going with the bunch.
