BEAR! Run!!!

[CherokeeKC]

Went on my first hunt of the year yesterday here in VA.  It was opening day of bow season.  I didnt hunt in the morning cause i havnt been to the property since last season and I wanted to check everything out on my way in to the stand.  I was hunting with my recurve and traditional only arrows with 125g woodsman broadheads.  I got down close to the river and checked my stand out cause I left it there since last season.  Turned out there was too much leafy cover to get off a shot with my bow and I forgot a saw.  So i climbed down and constructed a ground blind about 10 yds off a trail that runs parallel to the river.  About 45 min after I got settled I leaned up to look around the tree directly to my left and a small doe caught me!  She was coming right down the trail and would have been in my shooting lane in 5 seconds.  She stared me down for about 10 min stamping her foot then turned and blew out of there.  It was about 5pm so I decided to stick it out hoping something else would come along.  The river is about 40 yds behind me so I was hoping the running water had drowned out her alarm call some.  She didnt call too loud anyway.  About 6:20pm I look up and there is a dark form moving behind some heavy brush about 35 yds in front of me.  I stood up right away knowing it wouldnt be able to catch my movement.  It was walking right to left and emerged from the heavy cover.  Im looking at a freaking full grown black bear at 35 yds on the ground with just a recurve in my hands!!!  It was way too far for a shot and I wasnt even sure if the season was in so I didnt plan on shooting.  I got my cell phone out and got it on video just in time.  Bears have not been in this area in at least 50-100 years.  I had been hearing that there were bear sightings for the last 3 years or so but I just figured it was a couple roaming around the area.  Needless to say im definitely carrying a handgun from now on when I bowhunt there. 

Anyway sorry for the lengthy story.  The first video shows a 360 degree video of my setup and the second is the bear vid.

[johnston]

Now that was cool.

Lane

[CherokeeKC]

Thanks Lane!  My adrenaline starts pumping every time I think about it.  I forgot to say this was in Doswell, VA in case anyone wanted to know.

[crooketarrow]

  Wheres DOSWELL I thought all VA had bears. At least all the countys I use to hunt did.

[CherokeeKC]

Do a quick google search and u can see right where it is.  North of Richmond.  There isnt bears all over VA.  A lot of places are too populated or just dont have the land to support them

[Little John]

Cool story and a treat to see the bear. I spend a lot of time in bear country, and never worry about an attack. Probably much more of a chance to have a head on auto axident on the way to the hunting area. To me carrying a hand gun deminishes the wilderness and primitive experience. Enjoy and good luck hunting.     Kenneth

[nyarrow]

Great story. Don't worry about the bears they are more afraid of you!

[zenmonkeyman]

Deer and elk are more dangerous, especially during the rut. 

[kstout]

I had one come by me at 15 yards up here in Michigan Sunday evening.  Got pictures on my trail camera at 10:06 P.M. when he came and ate the suet from my bird feeder.