Bear Hunting:
Vanity and Perfection
by Jon Nystrom
www.strictlybowhunting.com
An archer typically has a lot of time to think while perched in a tree. Perhaps that is what draws us to those long hours of solitude. I found myself perched in a tree in Northern Wisconsin hunting bear with Bill Schutte as my guide. I have hunted with Bill before and know that there isn't a better guide anywhere. It is best that I be on my toes while on one of his stands. My hope is that while describing my hunt I will be able to point out some of Bill's perfected hunting techniques and some of my own vanity about bear hunting. Along the way I will share with you my hunt and its successes and failures. Opening morning my first bear appeared. I named him Two-tone. That was because he was black everywhere except his bottom jaw. His jaw was a light brown thus the name Two-tone. He was a small bear and very nervous. This bear seemed to look at me constantly sending me messages that said "I know your there and I got my eye on you."
Perfection: Bill Schutte found a perfect tree for
a stand. The tree was on the edge of a ravine. Down the ravine was
some real nasty terrain that butted up to a remote river. With my
back to the ravine I could watch the bait where the terrain flattened
out. Most of the bears come from the river. They would come up the
ravine topping the ravine right under my tree. With me being 16
ft above the highest point on the ravine my scent would carry across
the ravine in higher air currents leaving the bears clueless to
my presence. The pine tree was surrounded by plenty of other smaller
trees that provided the backing to match my camouflage. With a predominately
northwest wind, my tree was positioned downwind of the bait. The
perfect setup!
As Two-tone fed his head popped up and he took to the woods
at the pace of a gazelle at full speed. That is when I first saw
Blackie. Blackie was black from head to toe and also looked to be
around 130 pounds or so. Blackie didn't seem to be a very smart bear.
He fed without any reservation and barely came up for air while
eating. Not until barely-too-small showed up. His name came to me
because he seemed close to being a shooter by my standards of 160
pounds or more. I was hesitant to take such a bear on the first
morning of a seven day hunt so I passed.
Vanity: While hunting for bear I rarely move a muscle. This can be the most difficult thing to do or should I say not do! I don't want even the slightest movement to deter a big bear from coming in. It will take me 2 minutes to itch my nose. I do so without moving my upper body and I use my body to shield my movements of my forearm and hand.
It was lunch time and all 7 hunters were to check
in. I snuck out of my treestand. I was glad to stretch my legs,
it was sorely needed! Back at camp hunters gathered and stories
were told. 17 year old Hanna Wirkus shot her first bear with a bow.
Carrie Miller shot a nice bear too. 17 bears had been seen that
first morning. It was a great start to the hunt. I finished my lunch
and asked Dave Schroeder (Bills trusty side kick) to drive in with
me to the bait. I was afraid the sow and three cubs might be there
like they were the day before when I was first shown the spot. The
bears are used to the sound of the ATV and would know it was feeding
time again. I was safely strapped into my treestand while Dave baited
up the spot and covered it with logs. Dave and I were doing sign
language talking about the pop can sized scat by the bait that wasn't
there when I left earlier that morning. The bruiser Bill said was
working the bait had been in while I was eating lunch. Rats, why
did I have to eat!!!!
Perfection: Bill Schutte said; "it is so important to build
backing behind the bait. It makes the bears come around the bait
broadside for a perfect bow shot. The way the logs are piled on
the bait is important too. They are laid vertical to the treestand
and backing. This is done because big bears like to role the logs
off the bait. A good broadside shot is presented while the bears
are uncovering the bait. Bill also lays a 5 foot log in front of
the bait as a measure stick. The rule of thumb is if the bear is
5 feet long it is at minimum a shooter. Judging bear is difficult
even for the seasoned bear hunter but with hunters getting a tag
every 6 or 7 years in Wisconsin it makes it hard to judge the size
of bears."
It wasn't long before Blackie returned for an afternoon snack. With
the bait freshened Blackie was all too happy to gorge himself. A
while longer Two-tone arrived and Blackie "exited right"
as they say. She once again kept her eye on me but soon got mesmerized
by the freshen bait. Her head popped up suddenly and away she went.
Across the pine tree plantation out beyond the bait a black blob
appeared, then another and another. 3 cubs in all and bringing up
the rear was 250 pound mom. The cubs got to the bait first and like
little kids made noises of delight at all the treats. Mom wasn't
so sure and circled the bait several times before committing to
the bait for a short snack. It didn't take long and mom had enough.
Something wasn't right and she wanted out of there. The bears left
the way they came and that is when I heard a twig snap.
Vanity: Never follow noise with your eyes. Always keep your eyes
on the bait at all times. Some hunters can't stand it and they have
to look. Bears don't have the best vision but it is still as good
as ours. Remember, turning your head, upper body or worse yet turning
in your seat can bring attention to any bear watching. Bears have
all the time in the world. Bears have been known to lye 20 or 30
yards from the bait for know reason at all. Just like that they
will stand up and walk right into the bait. I sometimes play a game
where I close my eyes until I think a bear is at the bait. Sometimes
I win and sometimes I loose. I ask myself, "How long can I
sit with my eyes closed". Kind if silly but it works. I can
hear them walking a lot of times before I see them!
At the base of my tree something black appeared. I stuck to my rule of no looking. The bear moved out between me and the bait. I could see right away that this must be the bear Bill was talking about. He seemed large but short of massive. He definitely was the largest bear I have seen for a few years. I was going to take him at the first chance I got.
Perfection: What bait you use can make or break your hunt, Bill said. I hear all the time that hunters aren't seeing bears because there are too many natural food sources available. That is hog wash. The key is to pick a spot very close to those natural food sources. The bears are already in the area because of that anyway. If you were a bear and had a choice standing in front of you whether to eat acorns one at a time or a pile of bait with cookies, taco shells, corn and other assorted goodies what would you choose? The key is to know where the bears naturally feed. I have had hunters shoot bears while acorns are falling all around them!
Scar face, the name I gave him wasn't because of any scars. I always wanted to call something with a name that struck fear into the hearts of anyone who even mentioned the name like, "Scar Face!" He approached the bait with little hesitation after sitting below me for several minutes. With his rear end facing me Scar face settled down for a meal. He lay down completely with his hind pads facing the sky. Meanwhile I had come to full draw thinking he would turn broadside once he got to the bait. I was wrong and now I was in a dilemma. I held and held and held longer until I could not hold the draw any longer and let it down. I had to make sure I didn't accidentally let the arrow fling out of the bow. Of course I had only a minute to rest and he stood up. I came to full draw once again only to see Scar face lay down for a second course meal. I held once again for a couple of minutes before having to let down again. Several more times it looked like Scar face was going to get up only to be repositioning him self for more feasting. At long last after almost drawing back another 3 or 4 more times he finally stood up. I came to full draw and he started to walk away from me. I panicked because I was thinking after all of that I wouldn't get an opportunity for a shot. Just like that Scar face turned and gave me a quartering away shot. A good angle I thought, so I set my pin and let my arrow fly.
Vanity: Panic can be an overwhelming thing. I have never taken anything less than a broadside shot on a bear in my life. The bear has to be broadside with the front shoulder reaching forward or the shot just wasn't right. I also have never taken a shot at a moving target. Rule #1 and 2 broken! What was I thinking? In fact I was just boasting the other day that I had retrieved every bear I have released an arrow at. What a big mouth! The thing is I was so excited, I didn't even think, I just reacted. You can practice shooting 18 arrows a day all summer like I did in anticipation of one moment and all your preparation can be for not if you don't keep your cool!
Scar face completing spun around and let out a roar.
He ran straight for the thick jungle and crashed into it to escape.
This caused several other bears to make their presence known. Suddenly
bears were crashing through the timber in every direction! I wasn't
even aware there were other bears hiding so close in the timber.
The woods went silent and then Scar face let out a death moan. A
few deep breaths later and he expired. I made a fist in silence
and new I had been extremely lucky based on the shot I took. What
a bear!
I estimated the bear to be 300 pounds live weight. I was a little
heavy in my estimate. Dressed out Scar face was 230 pounds. He was
smaller than I had judged but a really nice bear. The shot placement
was perfect, a double lung shot. I got my bear back to camp with
help from Connie, Carrie and Dave and other hunters in camp. Bill
was helping another hunter who had downed a bear. That was four
bears harvested opening day. Congratulations were in order for everyone.
Perfection: When Bill saw my bear he congratulated me on a job well done. Then Bill said: "Why did you shoot the small one? Bill is always trying to get my goat! I answered: "This bear acted like he owned the bait. I figured he was the dominant bear." Bill Schutte said: "Do you really think this bear is capably of pop-can sized scat that was scattered around your bait?" I thought for a minute: "I guess not." Bill is always trying to teach his hunters the X's and Y's of bowhunting bears. Bears of all sizes were harvested in camp. Everyone in camp whether novice or experienced bear hunters were thrilled with their bears. It was evident by the ear to ear smiles on their faces. We all had just as much fun being there for other hunter's moments as our own.
The second day of the hunt two more hunters harvested
bear. By Friday 3 days into the hunt all 7 bowhunters had filled
their tags. I sat 3 more days in the treestand where Scar face and
I battled in a life and death struggle. I saw 20 bears in 4 days.
One of which I named bruiser. He was the bear that had left the
pop can sized scat. I am sure he tipped the scales at 350-400 pounds.
I plan to be back but until then I have plenty of memories to relive
this fantastic hunt.
For more information about Bill Schutte's Guide Service
Bill Schutte
65333 Old Odanah Rd
Ashland, WI 54806
Phone: 715-682-9216
Remember that in Northern Wisconsin you need at least 6 preference points to have a chance to draw a bear tag. It is worth the wait!
