Well now that I figured out how to post pics, I figured I share with u guys my spring bear hunt in Ontario. I made the decision this winter that I wanted to switch over to traditional archery and bought my first bow, a Timberghost Smoke from Craig Phelps(maclineman here on tradgang) in Feb. The Smoke was 49# @ 28" but at my draw of 26.5 I was around 46#. With some help from him a few others on here and a local all trad shop here in Pa(Trout Outdoors) I started flinging arrows. Settled on 400 spine GT's at 28.5" and Simmons treesharks. So for 4 months I shot as much and as often as I could and I felt very comfortable to about 18 yds. I So about two weeks Before I started shooting broadheads only and they were flying perfect. Resharpened them and off to Canada. Got there a day early and got settled and helped the outfitter run baits. There were 8 guys in camp( all trad guys but 2 which were my buddy and his son). There were 11 very active baits and multiple bears on most with 4 more baits being hit sporadically. When all the hunters arrived we drew numbers and went to the bait site and hung stands. I set my lock on about 12 yards from the bait. Best tree and I felt very comfortable at that distance. The next evening we loaded up bait buckets(DIY after shown baits) and off to the stand I hung that morning. When I got there the barrel was about 60yds away. So I drug it back,reset it up and rebaited with a mix of fruit loops popcorn mixed with blue raspberry syrup and oats mixed with maple syrup. Up in the stand I went and got settled. I was soooooo nervous being up there with a stick and no sights. About 2.5 hrs later I looked to my right and there he was about 60 yds away just standing there surveying the bait and huffing the air. He looked huge!! Man oh man did the nerves start! Here he comes! Walks a few steps, looks around and that nose just going like crazy. Very very cautious. Took him about 25 min to close the distance. He comes into the bait and finally steps out into the open and holy (bleep) did he look gigantic! His head looked monstorous! At this point I'm standing bow in hand and I'm waiting for the perfect 12 yd shot. As he gets closer I put tension on the string and he turns and walks toward me. He walks to about 8 yards then turns broadside then quarters away perfectly at 8 yds!!!! It's now or never. I remember pulling back and that's it. Next thing I know the arrow is buried almost up to the fletch in the 10 ring. At this point I feel like I'm having seizures I'm shaking so bad!!! As he runs off I'm screaming in my head "I DID It"!!!! 20 seconds later I hear a series of crashes and I knew he was down! Guys I've shot a lot of critters, big Whitetail's, mule deer, elk and 3 other bears(2 with a bow) and None meant as much to me as what I have accomplished! Here r the pics. They speak for themselves! Can't wait to go back this spring! Once again a big THANK U to everyone that helped me get this journey started.
Roy Schmidt
Trad hunter for life!!! (http://imgur.com/gallery/NyqvF)
(http://i.imgur.com/jgsSiOt.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/eN38p7g.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/hSUBPxT.jpg)
(http://i.imgur.com/lpidtCu.jpg)
Huge congratulations, and you now understand the satisfaction of traditional Bowhunting.
:shaka:
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Congrats Brother ! Bear hunting is on my list for sure.
(http://i.imgur.com/wXZRhnF.jpg)
Congrats on a great bear and joining the trad archers' family.
This is really awesome! Congrats!!
Congrats Brother ! Bear hunting is on my list for sure.
Whew! Figured it out again! Man I'm computer illiterate!!
Beautiful bear, congrats.
Awesome! Congrats on the bear!
I forgot to mention we went 6 for 8 on harvests! One guy missed and no opportunity for the other. However the hunter that didn't get went back last week and took a beautiful bear. Congrats Eric(Tims son in law). Got to share camp with Tim Comsgrove from Kustom King archery and his crew! He is an absolute blast to be around and a hell of a nice guy! He also killed a gorgeous bear while we were there! Hope to see him and the same guys back in camp!
Well done , one heck of a first Trad harvest!!
Great Bear, Congrats! :thumbsup:
Congrats, Roy.
I know Kenny Trout quite well, been to his shop many times. I live over here by Irwin.
Roy
QuoteOriginally posted by Roy from Pa:
Congrats, Roy.
I know Kenny Trout quite well, been to his shop many times. I live over here by Irwin.
Roy
Thanks Roy! ( that sounds weird) I lived in Derry until recently. I now live near somerset but Ken is only an hr from me. I'll be going one day next week to pick up some arrows from him. Maybe we can meet up and fling some arrows.
Roy
Congrats,glad to have you in the Brotherhood!
Terry
That's awesome! Congrats on the nice bear and welcome!
Nice bear, Roy. Its been nice chatting with you, I can't wait to see that first buck with that beatiful bow. I'm thinking it will be sooner than later.
Congratulations on a great bear, and welcome to the Gang. This is an awesome sight and great people here.
Bruce
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: Made my day!!
Congrats, that's a beautiful bear
Very nice for anyone,and very nice for a first. Congratulations!
WooHoo! Great story and bear Roy, its just a great feeling of accomplishment and the journey it took to get there!
Well Done BEAUTIFUL Bear!!!!!
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Congrats!!
Congrats great shooting
Nice one!
Great story and great bear, way to go Roy!
Outstanding! Outstanding indeed!
Nice bear! Congrats!!
Great bear and shot! Congrats! :thumbsup:
Way to go!
Congrats,
Bisch
Nice Going. You are hooked now for sure !!!!!
Good job on the bear, and on becoming a true archer.
Awesome trophy for your first harvest with trad equipment. Hope you have many more coming.
That's some fine eatin! Congrats
That's just an awesome bear. Congratulations. Also love the bow.
My friends and I would use two poles and tie the bear belly side down. It eliminates the ball busting swinging of the carcass under a single pole.
(http://www.tradgang.com/upload/charlie/Minnbear14.jpg)
:thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Wow beautiful bear congratulations.
Beautiful bear! Congrats!
Just now reading this!! Congrats on a great adventure and trophy!!
:clapper: :clapper: well done
Good bear!
Very nice Bear, congratulations :thumbsup: that's one heck of a start to your Trad career. Way to go.
Steve Jr
Congrats. Nice bear.
Congrats, That is a beautiful Bear and a great Shot. Its hard to explain how you feel until you actually feel it when shooting your first trad critter.
:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Congrats
Good job! Great Bear!
Congrats!
Nice pictures too
Fantastic congrats Brother!
Awesome bear and congrats, well done sir!!!
Roy, congratulations on a fine bear and on your transition to traditional bow hunting!
Tim Cosgrove is a great guy to have in camp. The other person you referenced would be Eric Bell, Tim's son-in-law, who's also an incredible guy to be in camp with. They're both part of the Shrewhaven Gang deer camp that we share each fall.
Good luck with your continued journey in traditional archery. This is a great place to learn and thank you for taking the time to put your story on here.
Well done!!!!
Congratulations!!! There's nothing like the feelings that you get when you first see your animal to the time you start to pull back. Great looking bear.
My first trad kill was a black bear too.
Gilbert
Congratulations that's a great bear! You will always remember that one.
Wow
Congratulations Roy. That is a beast.
Congratulations on your first trad harvest!
Roy that is a great way to break the ice. Good bear.
Very nice! Congrats
Congratulations!!
Awesome !!
Great looking bear - congrats!
Congratulations on a wonderfull trophy!You laid the smack down on that Ol'Boy,when it counted.Well done!
Cograts man,thanks for sharing. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
CONGRATS!!!!
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Dandy Bear great shot congrats