It was a female voice on the other end. Yes, the population of female hunters is growing, which is good because I have 3 daughters. Anyways I assumed she (Qian) was asking about the hunt for her father or boyfriend. Well, I got that assumption wrong and just made an ass out of me! Qian told me how she is a student at one of the local Winnipeg universities and wanted to try to hunt. She had started fishing a year ago and really enjoyed it, so her friends (non-hunters) suggested she try hunting. I asked her how she found my information, she said through my YouTube channel.
The problem was Qian didn't have a weapon to use and only had time for a 1-day hunt. Luckily I had just received a new cross-bow for friends and family, so it would work out perfectly. We arranged a day for the hunt, and the plan was to get her to practice before walking in. Cross-bows are extremely easy to shoot, so I had no worries that she wouldn't be proficient. Before the hunt, she watched my tutorial on how to shoot bears, and I did encourage her to watch other videos as well.
We met and drove out to the spot. I set up a target with a tripod as a rest for the cross-bow. Her first shot was not good, I started to have second thoughts. After a few adjustments to the tripod, Qian was able to hit the center every time.
As we walked in we spooked a bear, we never saw it just heard it. At this bait a few days earlier I noticed a sow in there with 3 toaster-sized cubs. I suspected that it could be the sow. About an hour into the sit a sow with a unique face walked in, she was off-limits. She came to investigate but took off shortly after like she was shot from a canon.
I caught movement to my left and told Qian it was a boar and to get ready. It was a young boar probably 3 years old, but a good bear for a 1-day hunt. Well, this bugger would not stay still especially for a brand new hunter. Multiple times I though Qian was had her shot only for the bear to move at the last moment and me frantically telling her not to squeeze the trigger.
Finally, it gave her that moment in time we all dream about. She made the perfect "Shiddle" shot. Side note: definition of "Shiddle" - "between the should and the middle" in my opinion gives most room for error if you are off left or right.
She basically pinned her bear to the barrel, and it had to push itself off of the bolt to run away. What an experience for both of us! It is quite amazing that Qian was able to learn how to shoot a cross-bow then go shoot her first bear on her first day all within 4 hours!
Thought it was neat how the bolt stuck in the barrel after passing thru!
Guess as to why the sow blasted out of there?
