Elkhunteresquire,
I've called in quit a few Bears through the years, most of them have been during Elk season. In fact this year on the last day of the NM bow hunt I was in an area where I had seen 5 good size bulls, I was using a Sceery hyper cow call and had these bulls pretty riled up. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif I was trying to pull them out of a draw before it got too dark to shoot.
Anyway, I had blowin on that call off and on for about 15-20 minutes. I could hear some rakin going on but the bulls would not come out of the darker timber. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gifThis had been the problem most of the hunt,due to the hot days they had become pretty much nocternal. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
Next thing I know out of the corner of my eye I see movement over my right shoulder. I turn to take a good look at what was headed my way and I see a Cinnamon Black Bear (Approx.400lbs.)coming directly at me at about 50 yrds. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Of course I have no intention of shootin this Bear so I shut up and didnt move hoping he would just wonder off. I had done this many times before and usually they would just wonder on past till they get wind of me then they would bolt off. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
Well, this time was different ,this guy had me pegged! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif He would take a few steps then sniff the air, then do it again. The light was fading so I figured he could'nt really see me so I just held my ground. Well, when he got about 20 yrds from me I figred this is way too close and I'm probably about to get in his comfort zone. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif So, I figured I'd better stand up and and try to put some distance between he and I. Soon as that Bear saw movement the hair on his neck stood up and at that point I thought I had gotten too close and I was just hopin my wheels had plenty of rubber cuz I was gettin ready to bolt into a large open meadow hoping he would'nt follow. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif At that point the Bear started to veer off and was attempting to catch my scent.Soon as he got a little further form me then he was I raisd my arms with bow in hand trying to make myself appear larger. I finally then moved back and he came towards me, I'd move back and he'd move towards me. I finally decided to throw some good size chunks of wood at him to see if he'd back off and sure enough after two or three came real close to him he finally let his hair down and began to veer off and soon put enough space between us to where I slowely back out and made tracks down the trial.
Let me tell you, the mile and a half walk back to the truck in the dark took forever. If i didnt look over my shoulder a thousand times I didnt look back once. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif
That was'nt the closest I've been to a Bear but that was the closest I've been to a Big Bear especially with his hair raised. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/bowingsmilie.gif
I know I wont ever let a Bear get that close to me before I let him know I'm there. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
Cow calls of all types work great! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif