New to Traditional and first harvest!

[Roy Schmidt]

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!!!    

[Roy Schmidt]

[Roy Schmidt]

[Roy Schmidt]

[Roy Schmidt]

[CRS]

Huge congratulations, and you now understand the satisfaction of traditional Bowhunting.

 

[Roy Schmidt]

[ARCHER2]

Congrats Brother ! Bear hunting is on my list for sure.

[Roy Schmidt]

[suburbanirma]

Congrats on a great bear and joining the trad archers' family.

[ThePushArchery]

This is really awesome! Congrats!!

[ARCHER2]

Congrats Brother ! Bear hunting is on my list for sure.

[Roy Schmidt]

Whew! Figured it out again! Man I'm computer illiterate!!

[TooManyHobbies]

Beautiful bear, congrats.

[BDann]

Awesome! Congrats on the bear!

[Roy Schmidt]

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!

[Big Ed]

Well done , one heck of a first Trad harvest!!

[huntingarcher]

Great Bear, Congrats!  

[Roy from Pa]

Congrats, Roy.

I know Kenny Trout quite well, been to his shop many times. I live over here by Irwin.

Roy

[Roy Schmidt]

Originally 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