Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Shooting and Hunting => Topic started by: Mark Smeltzer on August 19, 2007, 09:44:30 pm

Title: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on August 19, 2007, 09:44:30 pm

Just wanted to show a few pictures of yesterdays bear trip.  I have been trying to get a bear with a selfbow for several years, so this was quite a thrill for me.
Spot and stalk in this creek.........10 yrds.............double lung.  the bear flew up a tree ten yrds away and was dead in 15 seconds.  Cedar arrows and a sharp Zwickey really did a number on him.
Thanks, Mark.
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/MDS65/beartrip020.jpg)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/MDS65/beartrip023.jpg)
(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/MDS65/KlamathRiver008.jpg)

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on August 19, 2007, 09:58:31 pm

(http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e125/MDS65/SnakeyOsageRecurve049.jpg)

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Justin Snyder on August 19, 2007, 10:13:16 pm

Nice piece of work Mark.  Justin

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: mullet on August 19, 2007, 10:16:38 pm

  Very,Very nice Mark.I'd love to hunt one.

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Pat B on August 20, 2007, 12:03:50 am

Excellent Mark. Beautiful bow and bear. Congrats. 8)     Pat

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on August 20, 2007, 12:56:38 am

Thanks,
It was a big rush.  I have been trying for several years and have come very close on several ocasions to bigger bears but  had to end the dry spell and I ended up taking this smaller, 200lb bear.

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: cowboy on August 20, 2007, 01:30:07 am

I wouldn't worry about it just being a 200 pound bear with your stick bow :) their aint nothin around here that would bite back in the huntin woods cept maybe bob kitty's or a mad boar hog. That's cool I have a buddy going bear huntin in MN next month, I told him I want some fat if he gets one, would like to try bear grease to seal a bow just cause I heard about it. Where did you take the bear by the way?

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Pappy on August 20, 2007, 06:19:29 am

Nice bear and good looking bow,congrats. :)
   Pappy

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: DanaM on August 20, 2007, 07:54:55 am

Yer adreniline must have been pumping any bear seems big when close to ya ;D
Maybe next year it will be a 600 lb monster eh.  Great job!

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Woodland Roamer on August 20, 2007, 09:51:45 am

Congrats Mark, that's quite an accomplishment! Very nice bow too.

Alan

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: lowell on August 20, 2007, 10:10:20 am

Very nice bear and bow!!

 Got me thinking of bear hunt. Got one years ago with compound but would be the best to get one with selfbow.

  Thanks for pics!!

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: tom sawyer on August 20, 2007, 12:09:41 pm

Congrats Mark.  That is quite an accomplishment, I understand bears have great noses.  How did you manage to get that close?

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Kegan on August 20, 2007, 04:31:53 pm

AMAZING! Beautiful bear and equally exquisite bow :). I don't know why you had to settle for a 200lber, though, I know I'd hate to drag a 400+ monster outta the woods ;D

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on August 20, 2007, 07:24:40 pm

Thanks again guys.
Yea I wasn't too bummed about taling a smaller one, just that I saw some twice that size.   And color phases also.

Lennie:  I think that snakey Osage stave was one we trade for some Yew.   They do have great noses and I do alot of sent control things, but the bottom line is if you get up wind they are gone, most of the time.  Every once in a while you find one that does not seem to care, those are probably the ones you need to look out for.

This bear was taken in N. Cal. in the Klamath river drainage region.
Thanks Mark

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Little John on August 21, 2007, 12:52:35 am

Congratulations, I have a bear tag in my pocket and bears are plentiful this year.Am anxious to try for one. Again congrats an an awsome hunt with an awsome  bow.    kenneth

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Badger on August 21, 2007, 02:50:56 am

beautiful bow, great animal, great country and don't get much better than that. Steve

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: MattE on August 21, 2007, 11:02:27 am

Nice bear! I have been bear hunting with my bow one time. Never had a chance to harvest one.I am afraid I never will now.The one that got away. :)

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: GregB on August 21, 2007, 02:14:03 pm

That's a fine trophy with a stick bow! Really like your bow as well! Congrats!

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Marc St Louis on August 26, 2007, 08:14:36 am

I've shot several Bears with both gun and bow and I wouldn't shoot anything big any more, they are just not very good eating. A smaller Bear is perfect for that. Well done

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: jamie on August 26, 2007, 09:15:48 am

awesome. i told my buddy if he was worried about scent to put peanut butter in his shorts. the bears would come for him. lol

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: tradrick on August 26, 2007, 04:12:01 pm

Congrats,any critter taken with a selfbow is a trophy in my opinion.And I'm not a trophy hunter(I like to eat to much).That curvy snake skinned backed beauty you got there must be a real killer.You should be very proud of both.tradrick

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on August 30, 2007, 10:47:47 pm

It's cool people like you guys and this site that make this sort of thing possible.  Seems like only yesterday I was asking a coworker.... I wonder if it's possible for a guy to make a bow himself that is good enough to hunt with?   That was 4 years ago, I went looking for information and got it!
Thanks Guys!!!

Mark

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: cowboy on August 30, 2007, 11:53:26 pm

Mark: You ain't the only one ;D. I would have been knapping, building bows, etc anyway. But the people and info on this site have kick started my skills. I will prolly never take a bear, but a whitetail and other small critters will make me (almost) just as proud. Good site here and good people!!

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: Mark Smeltzer on August 31, 2007, 09:29:09 am

Knapping is what I would like to tackle next.

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: armymedic.2 on August 31, 2007, 09:55:19 am

yyeah, knapping a shootable point is not very hard, i did that on one of my first tries.  knapping a point that is shootable, pretty, sharp, weighs about right, and is a planned point instead of a flake that you turn into a point, now that is really tough.  i haven't done it yet!  it is fun though

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: armymedic.2 on August 31, 2007, 09:56:44 am

oh sorry, forgot to mention what a beautiful bear and bow that was.  Congrats!

Title: Re: Bear hunting pics.
Post by: bluegill on August 31, 2007, 07:22:09 pm

Awesome pics, sounds like an exciting hunt.