Northern Maine Bear Hunt

Well let me just sit back with a cup of coffee here at camp and tell you my BEAR hunting story. This is my second year chasing Ursus americanus and let me tell you the bears are seriously winning! I honestly tried hard not to get my hopes up this year as early reports were showing very few bears being harvested and those that were taken most were 150-165 pounds or MUCH smaller. A huge production year of blackberries, acorns and beech nuts were keeping the bears fat and happy and well away from the "baits". I managed to find the time in my busy schedule to hunt 4 total nights for the black bruins and despite my better judgement my excitement was running high. Of the 4 nights the second night was perhaps the most interesting with 2 coyotes walking by me at 10 yards, a 8 point buck running through and lastly mister bear paying me a visit about 20 minutes after legal shooting. I like to think of myself as an ethical Sportsman but let me tell you that after not even seeing a bear last year I was VERY tempted to pull the trigger. Fortunately, common sense reigned and as my heart rate died back down I realized immediately I had done the right thing. My last two nights slid silently past with only the red squirrels to keep me company and as the sun set on the last day I was once again bear-less.

Eventually persistence, patience and consistency will all come together for me and I will undoubtedly shoot a massive black bear and at that time I will realize that all my waiting paid off big time! I plan to write an article for the Maine Sportsman (a follow-up to "Bear Hunt Taken To the Extreme" submitted last season) about this latest attempt at bear hunting and if accepted should be out sometime next August . . . wish me luck!