After setting the dekes and popping the blind, I started calling. 30 minutes later look who showed up...[attachment=1]
Have had encounters with sows and cubs turkey hunting over the years but this guy REALLY got my attention.
He smelled the decoys and stared me down in the blind from 4 yards. I was considering my options and didn't have my
bear spray, had grown lazy about it. Now it's back in my vest....
I never thought of using a turkey call for bears, I might have to try that next month. :biglaugh:
That sure is a big, ol' thick one!
That's cool! I would've been quaking in my boots.
Rough Run,
Have seen a couple more bears here this spring and all were FAT. Last year had a banner year for mast (Soft & hard) so they all went into winter carrying extra lbs. Coupled with a fairly easy winter they'll have to get out the jogging shoes :)
You don't need spray, you need a bear tag.
Cool, I love close encounters.
4 yards may as well be 4 inches with that big ole dude. You've got more nerves than me :scared:
Very cool! The possibility of calling in a bear did cross my mind briefly this spring. All I got were raccoons...
WOW! I hope I can see a bear that big when I'm up bear hunting at Stickflingers the first week of June! He really is carrying some weight. Nice big head too. :bigsmyl:
:scared:
wow, that's a story for sure. Great looking bear
Really cool. 4 yards is great for turkeys but I'm thinking that is a little too close for that guy! Great pic and story.
Wow he's a big one!
My heart was thumping with a tom at 4 yards. I can't imagine how I'd feel with a nice big bear like that at 4 yards. Might have flung a blunt at him at 15 just to remind him to be cautious of humans. Or to make myself feel big for a second.
That is really cool since everybody minded their manners!!
Good looking bear.
Idk we've got a million bears around here. Never seen one go after a turkey. Never heard of it either. Don't know if it was actually called up or just wandered through and caught an odd scent on the deke.
I've had em at 4 yards as well boring a hole through me. I don't think it was more than trying to decipher what we were. My daughter was I think 13, it nerved her up enough she missed him at ten yards and she can shoot her bow. She even had a hard time getting to full draw. Great story for her though as I'm sure for you
Cool encounter. Beautiful bear
Bowguy67,
I agree. It's the rut and he probably came by happenstance and got curious. However, maybe my calling was so bad and weak he thought there was an easy snack waiting! :goldtooth:
Some birds have really weak calling so it wouldn't matter. Either way I'm sure you're calling is fine, your handle is birdbow. You must have taken a few.
I've killed many, never one w bow. Don't know why as a kid I tried but that was in the early 80s. Maybe tomo I was thinking last night. Already taken a few this spring w a spear! Just kidding I took them w gun
Sweet :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
That is a really nice bear, but I don't think you were in any danger. A couple of years back a friend had a coyote shred his roll-up turkey decoy. He declared it was vicious and dangerous, "Them yotes will get ya." We had a lion that liked posing for trail cam pics in the valley last year, nw Iowa, he showed himself once at several hundred yards, while I was trying to call deer. It shut me up real quick, I wanted no part that action.
Nice old bear. Had a bobcat and a hawk attack my hen decoy. Fun to watch
Are black bears considered to be dangerous? We have them around here, but I've never given them a second thought.
Truffleshuffle,
IMO anytime an apex predator is in very close proximity and showing no regard for your presence it should get your attention and playing the'what if' game. Problems are very rare indeed but never hurts to err on the side of caution. Actually, a cow moose with a calf very close gives me more heartburn!
Thats a biggie!
I like that picture so much I made it my PC wallpaper! Thanks for showing it to us. Very cool. :o
That happened to me once also! Chewed on my decoy!
Also had this one just follow my scent trail right to me... It got behind a root ball and I put a stump between us....it got about 8 yards away and I scared it off... kinda. It ambled off after a short couple trots.
https://vimeo.com/271550585