Home Forums Campfire Forum FIRST TRADITIONAL HARVEST !!

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    • archer38
        Post count: 242

        Ok, I guess it isn’t my first trad kill. I’ve taken a few squirrels, a rabbit and a grouse but this was my first big game animal with my recurve !

        I practiced all spring and summer for this hunt. I had 5 different bears hitting the bait. All I had to do was get in undetected, wait for my opportunity, and make one good kill shot. After watching a smaller bear for about 15 minutes, and coming to full draw 3 times just to see if he’d catch my draw. I let him walk. 20 minutes later, a rabbit came bolting through the opening past the bait as if his tail was on fire. At first, I wondered what spooked him, but moments later my question was answered as a nice 250 pound bear walked in.

        After watching, and trying to calm down, for about 10-15 minutes, the bear turned away from me and walked toward the barrel. I stood and waited for him to turn a bit. He was quartering away a bit but i needed him to take a step to expose vitals. As the bear lifted his front foot, I drew, anchored, aimed and released an almost perfect shot entering mid ribs and exiting just under the opposite front leg.

        I’ve had some pretty exciting hunts over the last 25 years but this one will be hard to top.

        attached file
      • Etter1
          Post count: 831

          archer38 wrote: Ok, I guess it isn’t my first trad kill. I’ve taken a few squirrels, a rabbit and a grouse but this was my first big game animal with my recurve !

          I practiced all spring and summer for this hunt. I had 5 different bears hitting the bait. All I had to do was get in undetected, wait for my opportunity, and make one good kill shot. After watching a smaller bear for about 15 minutes, and coming to full draw 3 times just to see if he’d catch my draw. I let him walk. 20 minutes later, a rabbit came bolting through the opening past the bait as if his tail was on fire. At first, I wondered what spooked him, but moments later my question was answered as a nice 250 pound bear walked in.

          After watching, and trying to calm down, for about 10-15 minutes, the bear turned away from me and walked toward the barrel. I stood and waited for him to turn a bit. He was quartering away a bit but i needed him to take a step to expose vitals. As the bear lifted his front foot, I drew, anchored, aimed and released an almost perfect shot entering mid ribs and exiting just under the opposite front leg.

          I’ve had some pretty exciting hunts over the last 25 years but this one will be hard to top.

          Congratulations! Bears are my favorite game animal

        • Ben M.
            Post count: 460

            Nice, man!!

            Okay, now give up a few more details. Bow/arrow specs? How far did that monster run after you stuck him?

          • William Warren
            Member
              Post count: 1384

              Wow! Nice!

            • archer38
                Post count: 242

                Prairie Prowler wrote: Nice, man!!

                Okay, now give up a few more details. Bow/arrow specs? How far did that monster run after you stuck him?

                Thanks ! The bow is a Martin/Howatt X-200. 47# at my draw length. I shoot a 32 inch carbon shaft with a Bear Razorhead. Total weight around 500 grains. 18 yard shot. It blew right through him like butter and clanged off the barrel. He ran about 60 yards and piled up face down in the leaves. Had me second guessing my shot at first since he hardly made a sound as he took off and never moaned once.

                Also forgot to mention, I got the whole thing on video !!

              • Ben M.
                  Post count: 460

                  archer38 wrote: Also forgot to mention, I got the whole thing on video !!

                  Sweet! Make that available!

                • Stephen Graf
                  Moderator
                    Post count: 2429

                    Fall Bear! Keep the fat! I would love to get a fall bear and learn to use bear fat.

                    Good Job!

                  • BuckyT
                      Post count: 138

                      Congrats!!!

                      That’s a beautiful bear!!!:wink:

                      A bear is on my list of big game species to get with my recurve!

                    • archer38
                        Post count: 242

                        There’s a better picture on the traditional harvest gallery on here. Had to keep this one under 200 kb.

                      • lyagooshka
                          Post count: 600

                          Wow! Great Job!

                          😀

                        • Wexbow
                            Post count: 403

                            I love it when a plan comes together 8) Great harvest archer, I’d love to see the video???

                          • wildschwein
                              Post count: 581

                              Good stuff archer!

                            • Jason Wesbrock
                              Member
                                Post count: 762

                                Congrats all around! When you put it where it belongs, they don’t go far.

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