Black Bear Bowhunt - Bear Track
Contributors to this thread:Bears
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
I had a great hunt with Bear Track Outfitters and killed my first bear. Ron & Jeannine Dare run a great outfit. Ron, Pat, & Kevin are the guides and Jeannine serves delicious meals. I enjoy Bowsiters hunt reports so I thought I would write a hunt report and post a few photos from my trip.
Outfitter: Ron Dare, Bear Track Outfitters, Manitoba, Canada
Guide: Ron Dare
Bow: Hoyt Nitrum 34, 31 inch draw @ 70 pounds
Arrows: Black Eagle Carnivores tipped with VPA 125 grain unvented three blade broadheads.
Camp is situated on Lake St. Martin and is very comfortable with hunters staying in nice two bedroom cabins. There is separate cabin where all meals are served and another "common area" cabin with couches & chairs.
My friend Tim travelled with me to hunt bear. I also shared camp with Dan & his son, Nolan. Dan runs "Rocking R Outfitters" in Colorado and it was a pleasure to meet him. Dan's friend and "Rocking R" guide, Joel, was also along for the hunt.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
Here is a view of camp from the lake.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
This is a view from the porch of my cabin looking toward the lake.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
Each of the three guides have separate areas where they run their baits. Ron runs his baits via boat, while Pat & Kevin use ATVs. There is a small harbor for the boats.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
We would check baits each morning, to check for sign, put out more bait as required, and pull the trail camera cards. After returning to camp we would check the trail camera cards on a laptop computer and the guides would formulate a plan for the afternoon hunt.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
Ron has baits on both Lake St. Martin and on the Dauphin River. We hunted both the lake & the river depending on wind and bear sign. I passed a shot on a bear the first evening. It was a medium size black colored bear with a white chevron on it's chest. I got to watch this bear for a long time at the bait and it helped me calm my nerves and get used to being so close to a bear. This a grainy photo pulled off video of that bear.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
Here is another view of Lake St. Martin.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
... and a view of the Dauphin River.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
Thursday I hunted "Frenchman's Rapids" on the Dauphin River. I had a good feeling about this sit. On the way to the boat Ron found an eagle feather and we both agreed it was an omen. When we got to the boat just across the river from "Frenchman's Rapids" bait site an eagle flew out of a tree over by the bait. I knew today would be the day I killed my bear.
This is a view from the ladder stand situated right on the river bank.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
At 6:35 a bear appeared from my right and strolled into the bait site. It is amazing how quiet these large animals are. The bear fed on the bait and milled around for about 20 minutes before offering me a good broadside shot. I drew my bow once, but the bear turned and I had to let down. The wind was good and the bear never knew I was there. Finally, the bear stood perfect at about 16 yards. I drew the bow, settled the pin and double-lunged him with a complete pass through. He piled up out of sight about 35 yards from the bait and let out a death moan.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
My first bear, a nice boar.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
My buddy, Tim, had some luck as well and killed a good boar. Here is Tim with his bear.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
From: SteveB
27-Jun-15
Another successful Bear Track hunt! Congratulations Andy, thanks for posting this and for the great photos. Way to go!!!!!
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
After I killed my bear, it was still early, so Pat took my bear back to camp and I stayed with Ron to see if Dan & Nolan had any luck. Ron & I were sitting in his truck talking for only 20 minutes or so when Dan came on the radio stating "bear down". We went to the boat and crossed the river to get Dan, Nolan, and the bear. After a short tracking job through some nasty blown down timber we found the bear, and what a bear it was. The huge black boar had died slumped over a log. It is a good thing I had stayed with Ron instead of returning to camp. It was all the three of us could do to get the bear out of the thick tangle of downed trees. Dan, Ron, & myself struggled but finally got the bear to the boat.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
Dan & Nolan and the great bear... and the mosquitos.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
Here is a shot of Dan's bear & my bear on the skinning table.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
Pat & Ron skinning Tim's bear.
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
It was a great hunting trip & I would definitely recommend Bear Track Outfitters.
Looking forward to returning next spring.
From: Charlie Rehor
27-Jun-15
The Mosquitos flying around Dan and Nolan look like "Booners":)
Congrats and great photos! C
From: GhostBird
27-Jun-15
Charlie... there was some Booner skeeters for sure.
I'll post some video to Bowsite TV and add it to this thread when I figure out how to convert it.
From: Bushbow
27-Jun-15
Those Skeeters look like a hex hatch of giant May flies - Geesh.
Great story and great photos. I missed it a lot this spring. Ron runs a great camp!!
Congrats on a really nice bear.
From: Ibow
27-Jun-15
Great picts and bear. Thanks for sharing both with us.
From: midwest
27-Jun-15
Good stuff! Congrats on the bear and thanks for the write up!
From: Rocking R
27-Jun-15
Great write up Andy. Congratulations again on your bear. It was a pleasure sharing camp with you.
From: GhostBird
28-Jun-15
Dan & Nolan, with Dan's bear and some more B&C skeeters...
From: HUNT MAN
28-Jun-15
Congrats. Nice bears. Looks like a great time. Hunt
From: cityhunter
28-Jun-15
Yikes them bugs might carry u away!
From: SteveB
28-Jun-15
Wow, those bugs looks nasty! Congrats again Andy!!
From: Reflex
28-Jun-15
Congrats again Andy! When I pulled into camp the following week, one of the first things I asked was whether or not you got your bear. Glad to hear you guys had a good time!
From: GhostBird
28-Jun-15
Here are a few more photos...
From: GhostBird
28-Jun-15
This is the bait site where I killed my bear, "Frenchman's Rapids".
From: GhostBird
28-Jun-15
From: GhostBird
28-Jun-15
The next three photos are of "Pork Chop" bait. The stand is right on the river bank and the brush is THICK! Bushes are 8-10 feet tall with ground level visibility less than 2 feet. Not the place you want to track a wounded bear!
From: GhostBird
28-Jun-15
Looking right...
From: GhostBird
28-Jun-15
Looking left...
From: SteveB
28-Jun-15
I remember that stand well.....and saw a big boar right at dark. Too dark for an arrow. Loved that spot!
From: otcWill
28-Jun-15
Congrats!
From: Buffalo1
29-Jun-15
Andy,
Super story and hunt. Congrats on a nice trophy and trophies for the group.
From: Brotsky
29-Jun-15
Congrats on a great bear and a great hunt! Thanks for sharing!
From: Skippy
29-Jun-15
Congrats on a nice bear, Always a great time with Bear track. I will be there next spring with my son.
From: elkmtngear
29-Jun-15
Cool pictures...great hunt for your guys!
Congrats!
Best Wishes, Jeff
From: Bear Track
29-Jun-15
That's the Pork Chop bait. Kevin and I did a tour of where we should move it to. that hazel brush is growing in way too thick.
From: GhostBird
30-Jun-15
That's right Ron... Pork Chop is the thick one. I corrected the original post.
