2012 Colorado Archery successes

The next weekend I went up the mountain alone. I ran into a group elk with a nice 6x6. I followed the bull for about another mile up a drainage when he started to hang up. I snuck into position on the edge of a meadow and took cover. I decided at that time to call to him with a lost/distress calf/cow call and try to get him to come back for the rest of his group.

A few minutes of calling and dusk was setting in. I heard something behind me like I have never heard before, it was "huffing". Less then 50Yards away and coming quick. It was a black bear, a large one. He was pegged on my bush and he was B lining my calf calls in a hurry. No gun, knife is in the pack but I had a bear tag.. and I needed to get an arrow knocked BEFORE he got to me. It seemed like he cut the distance in half before I had knocked an arrow and hit the bear, front on. He was very unpleased by my actions and this only sped him up with a huge roar. It took 6 arrows in all to put this bear down. He fell 10 feet away while I was keeping a tree between us at which point I didnt move again until he expired. I spent a few minutes pacing and trying not to puke. I picked up arrows, multiple broken, took a picture with my headlight and started hiking down to meet my brother. It was a very long and dark walk back to camp that night. This is the picture I took with my very first bear.

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Camping that night I was sure glad to have my family around who showed up with our mules to move the bear off the mountain early the next morning. Not that I got any sleep anyway.

We packed up the mules and started up the mountain. Everything was smooth and we got up there at day break.


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He looked even bigger in the sunlight.


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For comparison I am 6'5" and at 200lbs.


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The bear was extremely old and showed signs. His teeth were nearly gone. The P&Y score is 19 12/16". He is 72" from nose to butt. 55" in the chest.

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The last weekend of season I went up again alone. I got into the herd that first night, yet there was no bull. I followed the herd of 12-15 cows for the better part of 2 miles, before gaining advantage at dusk. I got in front of them, picked a cow. I shot the same arrow that passed through the bear, the herd scattered. I felt it was a good shot. It was, the arrow made a full pass thru on both shoulders. After a short blood trailing in the dark I decided not to push my luck and bump her. Early the next morning my brother and I hiked up and found her laying not 75Yards from the shot.

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Unfortunately for us, the mules were 300 miles away. So we began the long pack to get her out.

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With the season coming to end, I'm glad I was able to fill the freezer. I'm enjoying the burgers and steaks and can't wait for my new bear rug (although I'm considering a full mount). Thanks for letting me share!

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Thats a big bear! And one heck of a story to go with it.

Very cool story,I bet you were a little spoked after that bear story. He looks big!
Great pics too, thanks for sharing

Super sweet. That's pretty awesome.

Wow that's a heck of a year, congrats on some fine hunting and thanks for coming back and sharing! As for the bear, good grief he is massive and that would scare the crap out of me...no pun intended. :)

What an experience! That bear is huge, so cool man! I'm sure that cow will be delicious, thanks for sharing.

Very cool story and photos! That bear should make a great mount and the cow will look good in the freezer. Thanks for sharing your hunts.

Moose

What a great season! Congrats!!

Great story, awesome pics, and one heck of a nice bear. Thanks for sharin that with us.

I didn't think CO had bears running around that big?!? Good grief!!!

Great '12 and congrats!

Hey all! Thank you so much for all the kind words. It was definitely an exciting year and I'm glad to have put a nice cow in the freezer. The bear was scored at 19 12/16" and I feel very lucky to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time and come out ahead. I'm already looking forward to scouting next year. Next year I hope to break my mule deer curse!!

What a great post! You are my hero taking care of business on that bear like that. Not an experience I ever hope to have with only my bow in my hand. :thumb

Wow that was a baddass story. Very cool.