Hi Tradgangers,I haven't posted for awhile,but thought I would share some pictures and a short story of the bear that I shot on May13.I should be calling him my "prayer bear", because of a stupid thing I did that evening.
This was only the second time that I hunted this year.We've had a very cold spring here in NE Saskatchewan and weather has only warmed up in the last week or so.With the higher temperatures the bears really started hitting the baits.
Anyway getting back to the story.So like always when I got settled into my stand,I took a few practice draws towards my bait imagening a P&Y bear was standing there.But when I drew back the rubber straps on my quiver made a squeeking sound.Knowing that the sound would draw attention to me,I made a REALLY dumb mistake and took my quiver off.So as the evening progressed I had bears feeding off and on,and noticed they were very nervous.This is a good sign of a larger bear in the area.At about 8:15pm the bear at the bait,attention was drawn to the north of my stand.Immeditaly the smaller bear ran off and at that point I knew something larger was approching.Withing a minute I caught the first glimpes of him,a very large male.As he approched the bait I knew this was a very good bearand my heart rate increased rapidly.
When he made it to the bait I knew he was a shooter,and I began the process of getting ready for a shot.I watched him feed for awhile,giving me time to calm down and focus on my shot placement.Then it happened,he turned slightly to pick another piece of bait out of the barrel giving me a perfect quartering away shot.In one fluid motion I drew anchored and released,like I did thousands of times before.But this time it was different,as the arrow sailed towards the bear I knew something was terribley wrong.
The shot had struck the bear 10 inchs further back than where I was aiming.The bruin let out a loud OOOOF as the arrow passed through him,he ran about 60 yds. and stopped.As I watched him  standing there a sick feeling came over me.
By removing my quiver it threw the balance of my bow way off and in turn my shot placement .Minutes went by,then the large bear started to walk off.Knowing I just made a huge mistake,I immediatly began to pray to my lord for his intervention.He can turn a marginal shot into a 100% kill shot,I know because I've had it happen before.
So I waited till almost dark and left my stand quietly.I picked up my arrow and checked the shaft for blood sign.To my relief it was solid blood,and looked like a liver hit.
After a restless night I went back in the morning and picked up the trail where I last saw him.To my relief he had gone only another 40yds.I thanked Jesus again for this magnificent animal then began the joyus job of getting him out.
I used a 3pc. longbow that I built this winter to take my "prayer Bear".It draws 57# @ 28",62"ntn.The riser is figured bubinga and bocote.the limbs are stained action boo.I shot Beman Classic shafts and Ziwickey heads, a deadly combo. I hope you all enjoy the pictures an story,by for now
                  Dell.

Nice bear.

good lord bro

nice

  That's the way!

what a brute!!! Congrats and I'm glad everything turned out well. Tripper

Nothing wrong with that one! Man you guys have some bruzer deer and bear up there. BUT - you only get to wear shorts 3 days a year, so I guess it's a trade off.    

Congrats on a fine animal!

CONGRATS on a fine trophy  

Holy Wha-a-a-a-a - are the front tires coming off the ground. Nice bear!

Congratulations.  Every outing is a lesson.

Nice!

Wow, nice bear and congrats.

Way to go Dell.

great story and photos...you are going to need a bigger atv...hahaha

heartshot

Nice bear and nice bow.  Congrats.

You were right, he was a very big bear!

Congrats. Wise move, praying, and then waiting
to follow up. "When in doubt... back out".

Awesome.

Congrats! Thats a beauty of a bear!

Thanks for the congrat's guys,I hope someday you all have the chance to come up here to enjoy our great hunting and fishing.

Beautiful bear!!!  I love bear stories.  A beautiful bow also its lines remind of a Striker LB.   Joe

Well done all around...bow, bear, & story! How about some specs on that bear?