- Joined
- Aug 24, 2014
- Messages
- 273
Last year I was hunting a remote island in Southeast Alaska. I've told bit and parts of this story as to why I passed what was probably a B&C bear the first twenty minutes of the hunt. Why? Because if we are to tell a story about hunting it has to actually be a hunt with some story to it. Shooting the first bear in the first place we looked hardly constitutes a "hunting story." The camera guys disagree.
So, I passed thinking we would find that bear again within a few days. Never did I think I would find an even bigger bear further away from camp, but I did.
And never in my life did I think I would rush a shot when a bear starts to get spooky and completely whiff at 200 yards. Yup right under his chest. Airball. Fumble. Choke.
When I see a basketball player miss a layup at a critical time, Blair Walsh shank a 27-yard field goal for the Vikings playoff win, or a golfer ring the cup on a ten-inch putt that would win the round, I now know what they feel like. And here it is for the world to see. I suspect most other shows might put this one in the "round file" for the sake of personal reputations, but I deserve whatever ridicule comes my way.
I wish I could blame equipment. I can't. After the fiasco, the camera crew asked me to shoot at a big old rock with a small barnacle on it, just to confirm the equipment hadn't been at fault. Ranged the rock at 198 and blew the 2" barancle off the rock.
I suspect when my sponsors see this terrible gaff on my part they will wonder why the hell they sponsor a guy who can't hit a Volkswagen-sized bear at a mere two football fields. Needless to say, I have been practicing since then and in later episodes I have redeemed myself with some of my best shots ever, though nothing as stellar as this was embarrassing.
This is a YouTube only clip. It won't be on TV. If this doesn't get you excited to hunt Alaska black bears, I suspect you will never get the itch to hunt black bears.
The good news is that for spring of 2018 I have the same tag where this was filmed. I hope the bear I passed is still alive. He will be a lunker, for sure. The one I missed will probably have died of old age by then.
Enjoy.
[video=youtube_share;gpM0bkgpV2s]https://youtu.be/gpM0bkgpV2s[/video]
So, I passed thinking we would find that bear again within a few days. Never did I think I would find an even bigger bear further away from camp, but I did.
And never in my life did I think I would rush a shot when a bear starts to get spooky and completely whiff at 200 yards. Yup right under his chest. Airball. Fumble. Choke.
When I see a basketball player miss a layup at a critical time, Blair Walsh shank a 27-yard field goal for the Vikings playoff win, or a golfer ring the cup on a ten-inch putt that would win the round, I now know what they feel like. And here it is for the world to see. I suspect most other shows might put this one in the "round file" for the sake of personal reputations, but I deserve whatever ridicule comes my way.
I wish I could blame equipment. I can't. After the fiasco, the camera crew asked me to shoot at a big old rock with a small barnacle on it, just to confirm the equipment hadn't been at fault. Ranged the rock at 198 and blew the 2" barancle off the rock.
I suspect when my sponsors see this terrible gaff on my part they will wonder why the hell they sponsor a guy who can't hit a Volkswagen-sized bear at a mere two football fields. Needless to say, I have been practicing since then and in later episodes I have redeemed myself with some of my best shots ever, though nothing as stellar as this was embarrassing.
This is a YouTube only clip. It won't be on TV. If this doesn't get you excited to hunt Alaska black bears, I suspect you will never get the itch to hunt black bears.
The good news is that for spring of 2018 I have the same tag where this was filmed. I hope the bear I passed is still alive. He will be a lunker, for sure. The one I missed will probably have died of old age by then.
Enjoy.
[video=youtube_share;gpM0bkgpV2s]https://youtu.be/gpM0bkgpV2s[/video]