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Live from the tree 2017 version

BassBoysLLP said:
No trees tonight. 9 yards from the ground.
a38703be7eb24f6bff8d36f8351448ba.jpg


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Nice... did you weigh it?

Also looking forward to the story...
 
BassBoysLLP said:
No trees tonight. 9 yards from the ground.
a38703be7eb24f6bff8d36f8351448ba.jpg


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Click to expand...
The story.

One of my most heartfelt hunts. Destination Frog Holler. My oldest son and I came across this spot earlier this year. It had potential. It was on the highland but it held water (and frogs) almost year round. Plus it was surrounded by oak laden ridges. I started this bait site in July. It wasn't a strong producer early but once the acorns started dropping it became red hot. I spent the early part of the season chasing a couple PY bears elsewhere, but those sites were on the decline. They peaked with the berries and declined with them. I intentionally allowed this site to stack through the first few days of the season. It didn't have a mega bear, but it held a sure thing.

On Sunday, I baited this site about 10:30 am. Came home, caught up on some yard work, and played with the kids. Headed back to the site around 2 PM only to discover the site had already been hit. It was going to be a good night.

I set up almost directly west of the bait site, slightly north. Wind was out of the SSE. Best bears were wallowing in the hole NW of the bait. Open pocket to my north created a vacuum that pulled my scent slightly easterly. This setup gave the bears confidence to approach before daylight, much like hunting slightly off winds with most big game. However, the wind wasn't steady so I had my doubts the wind would fall and scent would pool last light.

At 3:30 PM ish, I heard a stick snap and saw a good bear coming in from the north. He stopped in some thick cover and just watched. I'm sure he could smell my skin rafts from a couple hours earlier so I did my best to stay still despite a swarm of mosquitos. After he got comfortable enough, he got a little closer and smelled the site up close. This put the bear at 5 yards, face to face, stare down, heart pumping so hard I think he can hear it. Wind got a little touch and go and I could sense he wasnt comfortable. I thought he was going to bolt. He backed off to about 15 yards on a big high stump, sat down, and observed for about 10 minutes. Finally he relaxed a bit and came a little closer. At 9 yards, I slipped an arrow into him and he ran off into the the thick, stopping momentarily after the initial shock of the hit.

Moments later, I heard the death moan so knew it was should be done deal. An hour or so passed I started tracking. And I tracked and tracked and tracked. No blood. I was baffled as it was solid double lung / heart shot.

I then started grid searching in a 400 yard perimeter. I couldn't understand why I couldn't find this bear. He had to be there. No luck. So I walked back to beginning for the fourth time and sat on stump 65 yards north from the last time I saw him thinking about who I should call during the Packer game. I was just trying to replay it all in my head. Where did I screw up? It was then I got the smell of a wet hide. I followed my nose and found him 40 yards from last spot. Moments later I was speechless. Seemingly in shock. A cathartic moment no doubt. It was done. Black bear from the ground with the recurve. Mission accomplished.

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See - clearly you are a super hero!
I think before the night is out I will read this a couple more times, maybe a couple tomorrow as well, just so I never forget YOUR hunt!

Awesome, simply awesome. You need to work the story with some more details and submit it to a magazine so more folks can enjoy it.
That picture does it all justice as well.

Blood trailing a large bear shot from the ground with a kick-@$$ recurve bow -- then, (get this) he blood trails it with his frigg'n nose?!!

Heck yeah, a super hero without question!

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BassBoysLLP said:
The story.

One of my most heartfelt hunts. Destination Frog Holler. My oldest son and I came across this spot earlier this year. It had potential. It was on the highland but it held water (and frogs) almost year round. Plus it was surrounded by oak laden ridges. I started this bait site in July. It wasn't a strong producer early but once the acorns started dropping it became red hot. I spent the early part of the season chasing a couple PY bears elsewhere, but those sites were on the decline. They peaked with the berries and declined with them. I intentionally allowed this site to stack through the first few days of the season. It didn't have a mega bear, but it held a sure thing.

On Sunday, I baited this site about 10:30 am. Came home, caught up on some yard work, and played with the kids. Headed back to the site around 2 PM only to discover the site had already been hit. It was going to be a good night.

I set up almost directly west of the bait site, slightly north. Wind was out of the SSE. Best bears were wallowing in the hole NW of the bait. Open pocket to my north created a vacuum that pulled my scent slightly easterly. This setup gave the bears confidence to approach before daylight, much like hunting slightly off winds with most big game. However, the wind wasn't steady so I had my doubts the wind would fall and scent would pool last light.

At 3:30 PM ish, I heard a stick snap and saw a good bear coming in from the north. He stopped in some thick cover and just watched. I'm sure he could smell my skin rafts from a couple hours earlier so I did my best to stay still despite a swarm of mosquitos. After he got comfortable enough, he got a little closer and smelled the site up close. This put the bear at 5 yards, face to face, stare down, heart pumping so hard I think he can hear it. Wind got a little touch and go and I could sense he wasnt comfortable. I thought he was going to bolt. He backed off to about 15 yards on a big high stump, sat down, and observed for about 10 minutes. Finally he relaxed a bit and came a little closer. At 9 yards, I slipped an arrow into him and he ran off into the the thick, stopping momentarily after the initial shock of the hit.

Moments later, I heard the death moan so knew it was should be done deal. An hour or so passed I started tracking. And I tracked and tracked and tracked. No blood. I was baffled as it was solid double lung / heart shot.

I then started grid searching in a 400 yard perimeter. I couldn't understand why I couldn't find this bear. He had to be there. No luck. So I walked back to beginning for the fourth time and sat on stump 65 yards north from the last time I saw him thinking about who I should call during the Packer game. I was just trying to replay it all in my head. Where did I screw up? It was then I got the smell of a wet hide. I followed my nose and found him 40 yards from last spot. Moments later I was speechless. Seemingly in shock. A cathartic moment no doubt. It was done. Black bear from the ground with the recurve. Mission accomplished.

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Click to expand...
Wow, that is awesome. What a great bear, and a fantastic story. I totally agree that "super hero" seems appropriate. I mean, at the end you trailed him with your nose like a bloodhound!

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BassBoysLLP said:
The story.

One of my most heartfelt hunts. Destination Frog Holler. My oldest son and I came across this spot earlier this year. It had potential. It was on the highland but it held water (and frogs) almost year round. Plus it was surrounded by oak laden ridges. I started this bait site in July. It wasn't a strong producer early but once the acorns started dropping it became red hot. I spent the early part of the season chasing a couple PY bears elsewhere, but those sites were on the decline. They peaked with the berries and declined with them. I intentionally allowed this site to stack through the first few days of the season. It didn't have a mega bear, but it held a sure thing.

On Sunday, I baited this site about 10:30 am. Came home, caught up on some yard work, and played with the kids. Headed back to the site around 2 PM only to discover the site had already been hit. It was going to be a good night.

I set up almost directly west of the bait site, slightly north. Wind was out of the SSE. Best bears were wallowing in the hole NW of the bait. Open pocket to my north created a vacuum that pulled my scent slightly easterly. This setup gave the bears confidence to approach before daylight, much like hunting slightly off winds with most big game. However, the wind wasn't steady so I had my doubts the wind would fall and scent would pool last light.

At 3:30 PM ish, I heard a stick snap and saw a good bear coming in from the north. He stopped in some thick cover and just watched. I'm sure he could smell my skin rafts from a couple hours earlier so I did my best to stay still despite a swarm of mosquitos. After he got comfortable enough, he got a little closer and smelled the site up close. This put the bear at 5 yards, face to face, stare down, heart pumping so hard I think he can hear it. Wind got a little touch and go and I could sense he wasnt comfortable. I thought he was going to bolt. He backed off to about 15 yards on a big high stump, sat down, and observed for about 10 minutes. Finally he relaxed a bit and came a little closer. At 9 yards, I slipped an arrow into him and he ran off into the the thick, stopping momentarily after the initial shock of the hit.

Moments later, I heard the death moan so knew it was should be done deal. An hour or so passed I started tracking. And I tracked and tracked and tracked. No blood. I was baffled as it was solid double lung / heart shot.

I then started grid searching in a 400 yard perimeter. I couldn't understand why I couldn't find this bear. He had to be there. No luck. So I walked back to beginning for the fourth time and sat on stump 65 yards north from the last time I saw him thinking about who I should call during the Packer game. I was just trying to replay it all in my head. Where did I screw up? It was then I got the smell of a wet hide. I followed my nose and found him 40 yards from last spot. Moments later I was speechless. Seemingly in shock. A cathartic moment no doubt. It was done. Black bear from the ground with the recurve. Mission accomplished.

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Click to expand...
Awesome man! Love it.

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Scott F said:
See - clearly you are a super hero!
I think before the night is out I will read this a couple more times, maybe a couple tomorrow as well, just so I never forget YOUR hunt!

Awesome, simply awesome. You need to work the story with some more details and submit it to a magazine so more folks can enjoy it.
That picture does it all justice as well.

Blood trailing a large bear shot from the ground with a kick-@$$ recurve bow -- then, (get this) he blood trails it with his frigg'n nose?!!

Heck yeah, a super hero without question!

Sent from my SM-S820L using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
You and Ernie got me blushing. Thanks fellas.

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To choose the ground game must take an enormous amount of confidence. Not only in your equipment but also in yourself. I must admit given the choice I'd be in the trees. I've thought about this a lot since I read the story. 5 yards from a known killer that could finish you easily. Wow!!!! Kudos to you!!!!! I'd love to be able to tell that story.
 
Since 3??? I might be doing something wrong! Evidence by my experience this morning for sure!

I've had a crappy morning so far, slept through my alarm or shut it off not really sure, walking in late, 0615, I planned to walk in around 0530, is that to late, already getting light out, trouble with pretty much everything, in my haste I rush my xop climb, leave my bow and pack on the ground with nothing tied to it, figured I can use my fancy diy grappling hook you pull em up. Well I get about 15 feet up, xop hand climber is doing pretty well, happen to look down and there are a bunch of small trees that will make grappling my gear impossible, xop hand climb down because my rappel rope is in my pack.

Decide because I'm running out of time, it's almost 7, that I should just climb a set tree close to here, one I set but haven't been in, yup another nightmare, it's a large tree to big for my xop, unless I get above the split, so I ended up srt then switching to my aider, seemed to take forever.

I've been setup for a while now, hoping to see something, at least in a tree right? Hopping for something positive to come out of this!

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donnieballgame said:
Since 3??? I might be doing something wrong! Evidence by my experience this morning for sure!

I've had a crappy morning so far, slept through my alarm or shut it off not really sure, walking in late, 0615, I planned to walk in around 0530, is that to late, already getting light out, trouble with pretty much everything, in my haste I rush my xop climb, leave my bow and pack on the ground with nothing tied to it, figured I can use my fancy diy grappling hook you pull em up. Well I get about 15 feet up, xop hand climber is doing pretty well, happen to look down and there are a bunch of small trees that will make grappling my gear impossible, xop hand climb down because my rappel rope is in my pack.

Decide because I'm running out of time, it's almost 7, that I should just climb a set tree close to here, one I set but haven't been in, yup another nightmare, it's a large tree to big for my xop, unless I get above the split, so I ended up srt then switching to my aider, seemed to take forever.

I've been setup for a while now, hoping to see something, at least in a tree right? Hopping for something positive to come out of this!

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Click to expand...

I have had those days


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I've had days like that as well. Stay positive. I've had several bad days like that and then spot a buck after he spotted me because I was aggravated and didn't focus. Stay positive and it may turn into a great day.
 
donnieballgame said:
Since 3??? I might be doing something wrong! Evidence by my experience this morning for sure!

I've had a crappy morning so far, slept through my alarm or shut it off not really sure, walking in late, 0615, I planned to walk in around 0530, is that to late, already getting light out, trouble with pretty much everything, in my haste I rush my xop climb, leave my bow and pack on the ground with nothing tied to it, figured I can use my fancy diy grappling hook you pull em up. Well I get about 15 feet up, xop hand climber is doing pretty well, happen to look down and there are a bunch of small trees that will make grappling my gear impossible, xop hand climb down because my rappel rope is in my pack.

Decide because I'm running out of time, it's almost 7, that I should just climb a set tree close to here, one I set but haven't been in, yup another nightmare, it's a large tree to big for my xop, unless I get above the split, so I ended up srt then switching to my aider, seemed to take forever.

I've been setup for a while now, hoping to see something, at least in a tree right? Hopping for something positive to come out of this!

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Click to expand...
Think about the alternatives... you could be sitting in jury duty! Sounds like you are having an awesome morning to me! I would not mind being in the tree this morning! (Still 2 weeks till TX season opens)
 
donnieballgame said:
Since 3??? I might be doing something wrong! Evidence by my experience this morning for sure!

I've had a crappy morning so far, slept through my alarm or shut it off not really sure, walking in late, 0615, I planned to walk in around 0530, is that to late, already getting light out, trouble with pretty much everything, in my haste I rush my xop climb, leave my bow and pack on the ground with nothing tied to it, figured I can use my fancy diy grappling hook you pull em up. Well I get about 15 feet up, xop hand climber is doing pretty well, happen to look down and there are a bunch of small trees that will make grappling my gear impossible, xop hand climb down because my rappel rope is in my pack.

Decide because I'm running out of time, it's almost 7, that I should just climb a set tree close to here, one I set but haven't been in, yup another nightmare, it's a large tree to big for my xop, unless I get above the split, so I ended up srt then switching to my aider, seemed to take forever.

I've been setup for a while now, hoping to see something, at least in a tree right? Hopping for something positive to come out of this!

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Click to expand...

LOL. I'm only laughing because I've been there! It builds character.
 
donnieballgame said:
Since 3??? I might be doing something wrong! Evidence by my experience this morning for sure!

I've had a crappy morning so far, slept through my alarm or shut it off not really sure, walking in late, 0615, I planned to walk in around 0530, is that to late, already getting light out, trouble with pretty much everything, in my haste I rush my xop climb, leave my bow and pack on the ground with nothing tied to it, figured I can use my fancy diy grappling hook you pull em up. Well I get about 15 feet up, xop hand climber is doing pretty well, happen to look down and there are a bunch of small trees that will make grappling my gear impossible, xop hand climb down because my rappel rope is in my pack.

Decide because I'm running out of time, it's almost 7, that I should just climb a set tree close to here, one I set but haven't been in, yup another nightmare, it's a large tree to big for my xop, unless I get above the split, so I ended up srt then switching to my aider, seemed to take forever.

I've been setup for a while now, hoping to see something, at least in a tree right? Hopping for something positive to come out of this!

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Click to expand...

Well bud that makes two of us today!! The humidity kicked my butt sweating like a pig and I walked in wearing pretty much nothing. Started my climb and because I was gonna film just forgot how much I had to set up. I couldn't find my gorilla pod for pov to attach to my tether. Still had a ton of deer running under me all night. Almost legal light they bug out. I had a coyote come in twice and he busted me because when you work till midnight then get out as early as I did you forget how to go slow!!! Im experienced but still make mistakes. Oh well opening day shake the jitters out back all day tomorrow on state and sunday on private. The weather is gonna be crappy too humid but hey we are getting out and thats the first step.
 
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