BearTrack,Wounded Warrior Hunt,Semi-Live
Bears
Well guys it's finally here! Brian and Derek are with Ron and Jeannine at Camp and last night was their first hunt! A BIG THANKS to all you Bowsite guys who made this happen. Brian has never hunted bear before but it has always been his dream! Derek is the Escort/Associate with WWIAF traveling with Brian and he will get some pics and maybe video!
There are 7 other hunters in camp so Ron will post when he can! Ron also told me at least 4 of the other hunters are ex-military! Thanks men! I'm not there myself so I'll be waiting with baited breath as well!
GOOD LUCK Brian!!!
Looking forward to the updates Charlie! The weather looks great up there this week and they should have a phenomenal hunt. Most of Ron's hunters last week were ex-military as well. Guess it's a trend! Ha!
Good luck! I will be following this thread closely.
Good luck to our warriors!!!
Great! Best of luck to them!
Good luck. Anxiously waiting for updates!
Best of luck guys. Thanks for your service. Hunt
We all owe a great deal of gratitude to our service men and women for putting themselves in harm's way so we can enjoy times like these.
Great thanks go out to Ron and Jeannine for providing the opportunity; they are great people.
Shoot straight men; enjoy every minute in camp and in the woods. Our thoughts are with you in having a great week.
I am told that our Marine has a beard now:) Come on Ron give us an update!
Perhaps the hunters are "knocking" them down and keeping Ron busy:)
Good luck fellas ! I'm ready to see some big bears on the ground !
Got this one picture! I am thinking good things are happening.
Picture is at Ron's camp. Left to right, Ron, Jeannine, Derek and Brian! Have fun!
Quit slow playing us Charlie! Ha! Good things indeed!
Sorry all, I've been so busy with the camp and guests. I have lots to tell you, but in the morning. It's after 1:00am and I have bears on the skinning table for the morning. This was a late one with 4 bear shot last night. One needs to be recovered in the morning with Pat and brother Rick leading the charge. I'm staying back to make room on the skinning table. I thought I was a pretty god tracker, but my match was met when I hired Pat. If Pat comes back with no bear, it probably can't be found.
I'm getting yelled at to come to bed, so in the morning it will be.
If any of you are a Purple Heart recipient or know someone who is and you'd like to go on a trip like this please go to the Wounded Warrior in Action Foundation website at attached link and register.
They do there best to match the Warrior to his/her desired hunt. If you have any questions please send me a pm. C
Fantastic. Look forward to the updates.
Thanks to Stika Gear for sending Brian a complete outfit for this hunt. Sitka is our Platinum Sponsor for Outdoor hunting gear and is a big supporter of our Vets and Wounded Warriors! Thanks!
Also a big thanks to Dennis Razza who has donated his service to mount Brian's bear should he be successful. Thank you Dennis!
In addition, some following contributions were made and the Bowsite guys asked to remain anonymous.
1.Two round trip airline tickets paid for by air miles. 2. A contribution of $500. Dollars and two contributions of $250.! 3. Additionally, a bunch of you also made individual contributions of $25 dollars and up!
Bottom line is the ENTIRE trip was provided by Bowsite community members and sponsors.
Way to go Bowsite community! Thanks!
Last week ended like this. Being up here for 13 years I know this crap won't be around for ever. I had to track a bear in this snow. Brutal
This is only Wednesday and Jeannine and I are changed people for the rest of our lives after meeting both Derek and Brian. I have listened to only a few stories, and not of combat and I've had to hide my wet eyes. Humbled as I type this and may get in trouble for giving you a hint of my feelings for these men. Freedom is not free.
That said, with last week as a primer for the season and baits ready for some serious hunting, we started our week. First thing out the door, we posed for the picture Charlie posted. We were to find, bears already at the baits waiting for us.
I started the day our poorly, when I realized when I was now 40 miles form camp, that I had left my atv ramp back at camp. So we walk. My bait pails were heavy after a few hundred yards. I did get some help from a younger retired Navy man named Buddy. Very nice young man with I believe 9 years of Navy to his credit. In fact most of the men in camp were retired military. They turned into a tight group by week's end.
Here is Derek showing Brian the advantages of travelling with a ramp and how to use one. Just kidding! I snapped this shot after I dropped of our Navy man.
I had this bear picked out for Brian or the one below.
I had these two as my back ups, but picking a site to have 2 guests sitting together can be a problem.
This guy was also on my list of bears to show the boys.
Wowser, those are some beauties and I'm not talking about Brian and Derek:)
So after a breakfast of egg benedict we headed out to check baits and hang a stand for my Warriors. My 3 target baits were in bad need of bait and I chose the bait we call the Tower Bait/ of Sindy's Bait for the first night's sit. I pretty much expect a guest to shoot a bear most every night they sit, but it does not always happen of course. My other guest, Buddy, will sit at the Chicken Sign bait for the first night.
If you see any drool here, it's just me. I'll clean it up shortly ........
This year, the bear rutting activity is advanced. Most adult bears are showing up in 2's.
Lots of smaller bears out there too.
Great stuff Ron! Kudos to you for making this happen for these guys!
Keep the updates coming!
Mark
Keep us updated Ron. Good luck to all.
Awesome stuff Ron! Thanks for taking us along.
I took my guys out on the lake to set baits and found a few black morels ring by the barrel but no where else.
Over in the yard where we keep the baits, we have squirrels that we thin out daily. We have a couple weasels that do clean up on this exercise. For some reason, they drag their prize though my equipment shed. They entertain us while we're skinning bears.
I'm caught dragging this out, aren't I?
Just near 8:00 pm I get a text that Brain, our Wounded Warrior has taken a shot and I'm only 10 minutes out and arrive to Derek and Brian for their stories years later. with anxious smiles on their faces.
I've done this hundreds of times and I like to drag it on a bit so the new hunter has more to remember years down the road.
I load up my coach gun and tracking bag, drive in to the site and hear what they have to share with me about the hit, and direction of travel out of there. 50 yards in, and lots of daylight, no bear. Now I'm wondering why the bear is not there or how far I would normally see a bear laying after mortally hit.
Back to the atv for my gun and toilet paper for tracking. We start picking a marking and I see the bear. I ask Derek if that's the bear up there or not as he's moved up a bit in front of me.
He confirms it looks like it is.
My, My, dreams do come true. So he got that bear on his first sit with Derek sitting right next to him. That is fantastic. I hope you can tell us more of the story and post some more pics.
Great job as always Ron!
I'm not sure how to close this and maybe Jeannine and I will just let this run it's self to the end. We are the beneficiaries with this donation and experience. We get to move forward with understanding and will carry forward, the message that these men, offered up the supreme offering and asked for nothing. Sheep dogs are what our warriors are. They protect and only want to protect us here more each day so we sleep safe at night and our babies sleep safe into their future. I learned more from what they did not say, than what they did say.
Brian could not be more happier he says and Derek could not be any happier for Brian. With these sheep dogs, it's more about the other sheep dog that themselves. Boy did I get that!
What an awesome story. So glad these heroes were able to be successful.
In closing, I want to thank Charlie and the Wounded Warriors in Action for this opportunity to give back in such small way, but giant in our hearts. Charlie is incredible and the logistics are so easy to walk through. Everything is well thought out and t's crossed and I's dotted.
Though I'd hoped to make my warrior hunt more hours and a few days, but it did not happen. That's about the only thing I'd like to change.
Ron and Jeannine Dare
First class in every way gentleman, outstanding! Thank you Charlie, Ron, and Jeannine for all you did for Brian and Derek. Most of all, thank you to Brian and all of those who have served for what they have done for us.
Congratulations Brian! That's a hell of a bear and no one deserves it more! Way to go!
Congrats to all involved in this hunt ! It was just too short :)
Congrats on the bear kill!! Class act from Ron and Jeannine!! Thank you for all who serve and sacrifice for us to be able to enjoy our freedom!
Brotsky worded it perfectly! We can't begin to thank these men & women enough for their sacrifices to protect our freedoms.
Again, a huge thank you & well done goes out to the people that helped to make this hunt happen as well!
Great bears! Congrats and well done!
Way to go to all involved! Thanks Ron and Jeannine!
So that Brian can relive the experience, I was just wondering if Derek was able to video the hunt?
Derek took some GoPro video of the bear and shot. He is also taking more video clips around camp. When he gets home he'll send me the SD card and I will do a video for them to remember the trip and I'll be sure to play it on Bowsite!
Ron said it well! Being around these Warriors is very special and you can never take for granted these gifts we get from these men that served. It's an all volunteer service and these guys answer their call.
Congratulations Ron, and thanks for making this possible. You guys are truly first class and I'm so thankful for this happy ending! What a great bear to top it off!
We're proud of you all and Im glad to know you.
Awesome. Congrats to all and thank you for your service!
Congratulations to Ron & Jeannine, and Charlie for putting this hunt together. Congratulations to Brian... beautiful bear!
Great stuff! Thanks to all invloved
What a great ending to this story. A big thank you to all involved for letting the rest of us share it with you.
Well done by everyone involved!! God bless.
Congrats!!!
Awesome! Would love to hear the whole story as time allows.
Fantastic ending to a great story. Thank you Ron and Jeannine for hosting this wonderful hunt. And again, thank you to Brian and Derek for all of your sacrifice.
Nicely done all around!
Good work Charlie! Thanks for making us a part of this hunt.
Congratulations to Brian!!!!
Also, THANK YOU for your sacrifice and service.
Ron, both you and Jeanine are class acts. Your contributions to charity through your donated hunts are a great way to give back to others.
Charlie, simply put, it's people such as yourself that makes this world such a great place!
Derek is a fellow Purple Heart Recipient, a duel citizen of the US and Canada and served in both the Canadian Army and US Army where he did multiple tours. He now goes on hunts like these to share experiences with fellow Wounded Warriors like Brian on their dream hunt. Derek is a Hero as well in many ways.
He could not get on Bowsite from the bush but sent me the account of their hunt below! Thanks Men!
From Derek: "Now this is a true story and kinda freaked me out. I just had that feeling. I told Brian at 8pm a bear would be in our position within one our. I closed my eyes and did a short meditation and concentrated on the forest and nature and asked for oursus Americanus. From the beginning I knew a bear would most likely come in behind us.
Sure enough, I opened my eyes and looked behind me to the right. Where there was nothing 2 mins ago stood a magnificent black bear. She walked around, periodically stoping and sitting until she made it to the trail and moved down to the bait barrel. She played around and eventually presented Brian with a perfect broadside shot. He pulled and fired. The hit caused her to run off. We texted Ron who showed up in a few mins. We found her about 150 yards where she expired in a patch of green moss. Brian was super excited having harvested an animal he had been dreaming about for quite a long time. As a WWIA Guide I'm so honored and humbled by all this and the generosity of all those who made this happen. You can post this for me if you wish.
I'm extremely humbled by the whole experience. What an adventure for sure.
Ron offered me a hunt but since I don't have my own bow or rifle I said save it for a paying customer and I'm very thankful for the opportunity. I came up here with one mission in mind; to put Brian on a bear and having done that, I guy like me couldn't ask for anything else."
Derek L Duplisea U.S. Army, Retired Airborne, All the Way!
Awesome recap of the encounter.
Charlie, thank you for all that you do for these warriors. These hunts would not happen without your tireless efforts.
Great stuff, Bear Track and all!
Charlie, Dan, Ron, & Jeannine, A huge thank you for all the time and energy you put in to make these hunts happen. While our greatest thanks go to our heroes, the warriors, it takes wonderful people like you to make sure they are provided the opportunity to get back in the outdoors, hunting. You have built life long memories and friends for life, I am sure.
Thank you all so very much.
What an honor when Jeannine and I were presented with these.
Congratulations and thank you
That was an awesome thing you have done. Congrats on an awesome guiding job!! Congrats also to the hunter.
Brotsky x 100
Thanks warriors!!!
Mark
Congrats Brian and Derek!! Great bear!!!!
Congrats on a fine bear! Good on all those involved! There are lots of good people out there as evidence of this very fine gesture!
Neat adventure and a very worthwhile endeavor.
The true spirit of giving- by everyone.
Congrats on a great trophy. Thanks for sharing with us on Bowsite.
Update: You may remember as part of the Bowsite sponsorship of Brian's amazing bear hunt was Dennis Razza, Owner of Razza's Taxidermy to do a bear rug mount for Brian. Dennis just got the cape back from the tanning service and I'll update a few pictures as Dennis gets it ready for Brian! This will be another tangible memory from this great hunt! Thanks again to everyone! C
Well done Dennis. I hope you get to meet Brian one day. He changed mine and Jeannine's lives for sure. One of many incredible young men and women keeping us free and safe.
