The following article is written by Guest Blogger Chris Cobbett of Northwoods Adventures TV. Northwoods Adventures with Nate and Chris airs throughout the week on the Sportsman’s Channel. Chris is also the Author of the Northwoods Adventures TV Blog.
Spring Bear Fever
As I write this column, it is early March here in Maine. The ice fishing is turning on, the sounds of hounds chasing rabbits is in the air, and cabin fever is setting in. Now is the time of year that Maine hunters start thinking about chasing the black ghost of the north. Black bears are one of my favorite spring animals to hunt and to observe in the wild. To motivate you to get out on those hot June days and check sites, I thought I would share a story of a bear hunt that just happened three springs ago.
In June, My two partners and myself took the Northwoods Adventures production team to Canada of three weeks of spring bear hunting. None of us had ever hunted bear in the spring. The only thing we knew that the rut was on and the coats are much thicker. Long story short, I put a good bear to tape, but Nate Fenderson put a real monster to bed.
It was the second week of the hunt and we were at a new camp. Our host was Dale Clarke of Knoxford Lodge in northern New Brunswick. Dale had invited us up and was really hoping the Northwoods Adventures crew could put it together. Dale runs a first class operation and had really done his homework. His sites were clean and well put together. He baits with a combination of pastries, grease, and beaver. Dale is a trapper by trade and this allows him access to the prized beaver. These small dam builders are candy to bears and a goods attractant for larger bears. His choice of bait, and dedication to baiting every day, left Nate and I with the feeling that something good was going to happen.
The first day of the hunt was fairly typical. Nate was on stand at 4 p.m. Bears are most active the few hours before dark. Unlike deer that seem to appear only on the edge of dark, the average bear can appear anytime in the afternoon. The Black bear is lees concerned with light and more with temperature. As the temp drops, the bears will start to move. Temperature would concern you too if you were stuck in a fur coat in June. On this day it cooled around 7 p.m. (sunset is at 10 p.m.), and as luck would have it a bear came in. It was a smaller female and Dale had said to hold out for a good bear. It was only the first night so Nate passed.
That night at camp Dale told Nate he was please he elected to pass on the 150-lb bear because ole pumpkin head was in the area. We asked, “what is a pumpkin head.†Dale explained that for years people had been seeing a 400lb bear in the area. The bear was plump with a big fat pumpkin head on him. Dale said he had seen the track on that bait and was sure it was him. Several people had hunted that stand and no one had seen the giant. Nate and I smiled and jested “he is living on borrowed time.â€
The next day on stand would be one we would not soon forget. As we approach the site we notice that another bear had hit after Nate left the night before. The barrel was tipped completely over and the beaver in the tree was gone. Hopes were high as we ascended our trees. Nate was set back about 22 yards from the barrel as he was hunting with a bow. And I was 13 yards to his left with the camera. One reason I think we are successful is because we listen to the woods on stand. No reading a book, just watch woods TV and acting like tree bark. As 7 p.m. approached, Nate and I saw a shape coming through the woods from behind the site. It was pumpkin head for sure. It looked like an oil drum with feet. The bear proved his wits by circling the site and viewing it from the high ground in the rear. Unfortunately, his observation deck was right under Nate’s stand. As the bear circled for a second time Nate could see the bear behind the stand to shoot, but I could not see to film. The bear would have to come to the barrel. As the bruin emerged from the thick cover on final approach to the barrel, Nate whispered “all he needs to do is give me that front shoulder.†The bear took two more steps and Nate let his muzzy fly. The shot was perfect and the 400lb monster fell in 45 yards.
I knew Nate was excited. His voice was two octaves higher as he tried to relive the hunt to Dale back at camp. Dale was happy, pumpkin head was down and it was taken as a result of his hard work .
Spring is not just for Turkey hunting. We are again headed to New Brunswick this spring, if you would like to join us, give me a call 207-527-2114 or drop me an e-mail to chriscobbett@hotmail.com
Here are a few of our 2006 spring bears:
Chris Cobbett
Nate Fenderson
