This year found my small group of friends with 2 bear tags. I drew my second tag after the 2015 season, and Brent drew his first. My good friend Dan Breen from NJ had to cancel at the last minute, so I would be the only one hunting completely with traditional archery equipment.
Some home maintenance problems kept me from hunting until Tuesday afternoon, when I made my way to the campsite in Allegheny County. I had about 1 hour before the rains started:
Everything was set up except the awning and tie downs when the rains unloaded. Thanks goodness I had enough dry wood and the wall tent woodstove quickly dried me out once I could relax.
That evening the rains let up and I decided to head out on the first hunt around camp.
I immediately got into deer, and with my longbow in hand could shoot deer or bear.
I was standing there enjoying the quietness and fall colors when I heard some grunting and scuffling noises on the hilltop above me. I decided to try something that has never (ok, rarely) worked for me. I grunted back softly.
Immediately a doe came over the ridge and stared down at me from about 60 yards. She was looking hard bobbing her head, stomping her feet, but I never moved. After a few minutes she gave a half hearted blow and took 2 bounds to my right stopping again.
I still never moved. Eventually, after still not getting any satisfaction determining what was down there, she started walking back to her left. I took this opportunity to shift into a shooting position uphill should one present.
She continued, and eventually getting about 45 yards. Now, i am getting prepared to take the first shot opportunity I have.
Suddenly, she caught my scent and really blew out of there this time. Crashing and blowing hard 4 or 5 times as she went over the ridge and away. Oh well. Pretty close call.
After, a while everyone arrived in camp. We hunted a Wildlife Management Area (WMA) about 45 minutes away and I gt into my first good bear sign. A ridge top covered in old and new poop, and complete with a bear den. Lots of hickory and oak acorns.
I hunted that area for the next 2 days without any luck.
I even tried a little predator calling one morning downwind of the ridge.
At camp we all enjoyed ourselves. I had a nice pork shoulder roasted on my new fire iron set one evening. Super good!
I had about 3 more stalking opportunities at does, but no real good shot opportunities presented themselves. A few arrows were also lost on squirrels.
Soon we found the week over and no bears were even spotted by the entire camp.
I can say I did out out an honest effort. No bait piles or blinds. No guides or high fences. No gun hunting for me, and it didn't prevent any kills. Did a lot of bow shooting and had a good time with buds. Maryland makes it hard on the bear hunter, especially the traditional archer.
Now back home to focus again on whitetails.
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