I Wanted to Hunt Black Bears with My Bow. My Guide Didn’t Trust Me

This story, “Upshot: A File Bear,” appeared within the June 1969 concern of Outside Life.

The 2 canines took off like twin streaks, and inside minutes they have been out of listening to. We ran to the truck and drove again the way in which we had come, stopping from time to time to hear. We heard the canines faintly as soon as after which misplaced them utterly.

We backtracked and ended up the place Sam had first scented the bear path. Sam and Blue had chased the bear over the mountain after which again once more. They have been now 4½ miles from us in a deep valley on the backside of a mountain.

Blue could possibly be heard plainly, and it was apparent that they have been having fairly a time with the bear. The bawling would flip to sharp barking, and we might inform the bear had bayed on the bottom. Then the barking would change once more to bawling — the bear was off once more. That occurred two or 3 times earlier than the canines have been capable of tree the bruin for good. I used to be searching with my cousin Vic and information Dave Handrich of Santa Barbara, California. Vic and I each dwell in Los Angeles. I dwell in Mar Vista, and Vic lives in Sherman Oaks. I work for my father at his glass firm in Santa Monica, and Vic has a glass store of his personal in the identical city. We now have been searching collectively yearly for the previous three years. We’ve had fun and a profitable hunt yearly, and 1967 was no exception.

Within the early a part of that 12 months, I made a decision to attempt my talent with bow and arrow. I went to a neighborhood archery store and acquired a 54-pound (draw weight) Colt bow after taking pictures each bow within the store. I had aluminum arrows made up and started practising each night time after work and each weekend I might get away. I practiced all 12 months, and towards the tip I had no hassle hitting a pie plate at 35 to 40 yards. My teams have been tight, and I might hit all simulated ani­mal targets from rabbit to bear.

I purchased some broadheads for my aluminum shafts and determined to attempt for a deer towards the tip of the season. The broadheads I used have been very vast and appeared to have a large leading edge. Later I discovered that they planed off to at least one aspect or the opposite. I had no management over my taking pictures and couldn’t group in any respect. I’m sorry to say that I came upon about these broadheads within the area. That disappointment made me marvel if I had what it takes to change into a bowhunter.

I raced all the way down to my native vary and shot each arrow I had. The broadhead­ed arrows didn’t even hit the bale of hay on a regular basis, however the arrows with area factors all pierced the pie plate.

So then I took all of the arrows all the way down to the archery store and had new broad­ heads placed on. That point I selected a 4­ bladed head, the Black Diamond made by the Zwickey Archery Firm. After I used them, they flew as true as my area factors.

The deer season closed earlier than I bought straightened away, so I regarded for some­ factor else to hunt. The one recreation that was open and posed a lot of a problem was bear. Was I prepared for such an animal? I assumed I used to be.

A few of my pals thought I used to be loopy and advised me so. Others didn’t say a lot, besides that I ought to be cautious. I’m certain most individuals thought I actually was loopy.

I requested my cousin if he wished to e-book a hunt with Dave Handrich to hunt black bear close to Redding, California. Dave costs $250 for a assured bear hunt. The cash is refunded if an grownup bear just isn’t taken.  He costs $200 per hunter for a hunt that’s not assured. Both hunt lasts six days. Dave additionally provides cougar hunts at increased costs. All costs embody meals. If a hunter needs to take action, he might carry alongside his personal meals and tenting gear and deduct $7.50 per day from what he pays.

Vic mentioned he was prepared and gave me the go-ahead on reservations. After I first advised Vic of my plan to take a bear with bow and arrow, he didn’t say a lot, however later he advised me that he thought I’d get a bear with an arrow.

My follow had been an obsession for nearly a 12 months, and eventually I used to be going to see if I had the stuff to take an actual prize.  Vic mentioned he was going to make use of a .30/30 Winchester.

Friday, the twenty seventh of October 1967, marked the beginning of our hunt. We left Los Angeles at 5 p.m. Our vacation spot was the Squaw Creek space of Shasta County. Twelve hours later we stopped for some sleep in Redding, 30 miles from Squaw Creek. After a couple of hours of relaxation, we stuffed the truck’s gasoline tank and ate breakfast. Then we have been off to see our information, who had a camp arrange at Squaw Creek.

We adopted the map Dave had despatched us, and after the longest 29 miles we’ve ever traveled, we got here to our information’s trailer. Once we pulled into camp, six canines got here out of partly buried oil drums, barking and straining at their ties.

The trailer door opened, and Dave’s spouse got here out and requested us in for espresso. We launched ourselves, and shortly we have been speaking about searching.

Dave Handrich hunts bobcats in addition to lions and bears, and he actually is aware of his enterprise. Dave assured us that we’d get pictures at bears. He was slightly skep­ tical about my taking a bear with a bow, however he knew that if the arrow have been positioned in the precise spot it will be deadly.

I assured him that I might put the arrow in the precise spot as soon as we noticed the bear. Dave smiled and mentioned we’d relaxation that day due to our lengthy drive and since it was actually too late to begin searching. I couldn’t assist considering that Dave’s smile meant that he was additionally considering, “He needs to be loopy,” however I used to be used to that.

I spent the remainder of the day taking pictures area factors and broadheads right into a bale of hay Dave had for his pack horse.

Dave and his spouse watched me shoot for a while. I believe that Dave felt slightly higher after seeing my teams, however I’m certain he nonetheless had his doubts.

The searching discuss resumed at supper. I requested Dave about possibilities of getting a black bear with a brown pelt. He advised me that the chances have been about 50-50. I hadn’t recognized that the brown section of the black bear was that widespread, however that was what I wished. Vic, nonetheless, wished a coal-black bear.

Each of us wished massive bears. We wouldn’t have taken a small bear if it had walked proper into camp. Dave mentioned he would do what he might, however he couldn’t assure the colour of the animals. He would assure a mature animal, although. He promised that he’d get us inside taking pictures distance of a grown bear. The remainder was as much as us.

The next morning we awoke to search out frost overlaying the bottom and our sleeping luggage, nevertheless it didn’t final lengthy. We ate a fast breakfast, after which we have been off to get my bear. Vic and I had flipped a coin to see who would have first shot, and I had gained.

We drove the truck about 5 miles earlier than we got here to an previous street now not traveled by motor autos. We parked and let two of the six canines out of the again. Blue had a loud bark, however Sam had the nostril and a repute for with the ability to comply with a chilly observe most canines would move by after a sniff or two.

We walked the grown-up street for about half a mile earlier than Sam picked up a scent. It was a heat morning for that point of the 12 months, and it was arduous to imagine that just a few hours earlier than, frost had been on our sleeping luggage. Sam labored backwards and forwards from one aspect of the street to the opposite. He couldn’t make up his thoughts which method the bear was going. Dave let him work it over for a couple of minutes, after which we moved on down the street.

After one other half-mile, the street ended at a spot overlooking a gorgeous valley. We have been on our method again to the truck when Sam stopped once more to examine the place the place the bear had crossed. That point, Dave advised Sam to go down the aspect of the mountain and leashed Blue whereas all of us waited for the I’ve­ picked-him-up bawl from Sam. When it got here, Dave launched Blue, and the 2 canines took off like streaks, as I discussed on the outset.

After driving midway again to camp, attempting to maintain in listening to vary of the canines, we lastly ended proper again the place Sam had picked up the bear’s scent. We began off on foot after the canines. I had my bow, and Vic had his .30/30 Winchester.

From the minute we left the previous street, we needed to make our personal path. Taking place the aspect of a mountain wasn’t too unhealthy, however with all of the vegetation leaning down towards the bottoms of the canyons, you’ll be able to think about what it was like attempting to climb the opposite aspect of the valley. The undergrowth pushed us down one step for each three we took. Some­ instances the comb allowed us to drag our­ selves up the aspect of a hill, however most instances it beat us again. The canines have been out of listening to many instances whereas we have been in canyons. Once we topped every ridge, the sound of the canines advised us once more that the bear was nonetheless treed.

After about 1 ½ hours we got here to a gorgeous stream, crystal clear and icy chilly. I had by no means recognized how good chilly water might style. We rested for a couple of minutes and had a smoke earlier than we began on the final leg of the hike.

Sam and Blue sounded very shut, and our hopes grew with each bawl. Ten minutes later the canines sounded as if they have been proper subsequent to us. Blue appeared at Dave’s aspect as we stepped into the one clearing that we had come throughout on the entire hike.

Dave had mentioned earlier than we began out that the bear could be within the tallest tree within the space and that he knew simply the place it was. Then I noticed a dark-brown kind excessive in an amazing tree. The tree dwarfed the bear. The animal was 60 toes up, and at that degree the bear was solely slightly thicker than the tree trunk. It was the most important tree I had ever seen apart from redwoods.

The bear was standing together with his entrance toes on an enormous limb and his again toes on one other. Straight below the bear’s chest was a Y-shaped limb. It could be a tough shot.

If I shot from the entrance, my goal could be the pinnacle, or the abdomen be­ tween the arms of the Y-shaped limb. From the rear, the arrow would pierce a lung or perhaps the center. A shot from the entrance might end in a intestine hit-not the factor to kill a 400-pound bear. I made a decision to shoot from the rear.

Although I’d had a number of follow, some from tree stands, I had by no means shot nearly straight up. I wasn’t certain methods to intention. Associates had advised me about their experiences with bushes and limbs whereas attempting to take deer. I made a decision to intention dead-on, with no allowance for drop or rise. If my arrow hit both arm of the Y, I’d modify and shoot once more.

Dave tied the canines to a tree shut by after which requested, “Are you certain you don’t wish to use the rifle, Mike?”

“No,” I answered. “If I want it, I’ll use it, however solely after I’ve used all my arrows.”

I requested Dave to depart his rifle with me. He had advised me that he had guided one or two archers, however had all the time ended up serving to out together with his rifle. Dave didn’t appear too completely happy about leaving the rifle, however he put it down beside me and moved again with Sam and Blue.

“O.Okay., let it go,” he advised me.

I nocked an aluminum Easton arrow, got here to a full draw, and centered on the center of the Y. I loosed, and the arrow flew straight and true by way of the Y and entered the bear’s chest.

The penetration was one thing I hadn’t anticipated. The arrow penetrated 28 inches. Solely the feathers confirmed. The bear set free a compelled gust of air as the purpose exited by way of the backbone, after which he began to climb increased.

I rapidly nocked one other arrow, nevertheless it wasn’t wanted. As I drew, the bear misplaced his grip on the tree and slid down. What occurred subsequent, I’ll always remember. The bear tried desperately to hold on however couldn’t muster the energy. He peeled a three-foot strip of bark from the tree earlier than he let go. When he fell out of the tree, he got here out unfold­ eagled, snapping off limbs the scale of a person’s thigh as he got here down.

The bear made an entire flip earlier than he reached the bottom and hit in a standing place. The precise rear leg broke on affect, and half the tree’s limbs adopted him down. Then the bear rolled down the hill about 40 yards earlier than coming to a cease.

We waited for about 5 minutes, had a smoke, and talked concerning the shot. Then Dave and I went to ensure the bear was lifeless whereas Vic stayed with the canines. The bear was a gorgeous massive boar. I yelled to Vic to show the canines free and are available down to assist us get the bear on degree floor so we might pores and skin him.

All three of us tried to drag the bear up the slope, however as arduous as we pulled, the bear began slipping downhill. We lastly needed to let him go. He rolled downhill 100 yards, however after we reached him he was on pretty degree floor.

We took motion pictures of the bear, however I’m sorry to say they didn’t come out, be­ reason behind the dim gentle within the forest. We skinned the bear and speculated concerning the bear’s possibilities for the data.

The hike out was one other factor I’ll always remember. It was twice as unhealthy as coming in. The heavy conceal had about 10 kilos of fats on it, and the cranium appeared to weigh one other 10. After struggling for 2 hours we have been again within the truck and on our technique to camp for dinner.

That night we boiled the cranium and tried to get a tough measurement. It scored l91o/lG, and we have been pretty certain it will qualify for each the Boone and Crockett and the Pope and Younger.

We spent the remainder of the night speaking concerning the hunt and the opportunity of the cranium’s shrinking beneath the mini­ mum requirement for the Boone and Crockett  e-book,  which  was  then 19 ( width plus size totaled, in inches). I knew that it will place fairly excessive within the Pope and Younger record.

The next morning we went to Anderson, near Redding. My taxidermist, Jeff Sievers, has his enterprise in Phoenix, Arizona. We have been to hunt every week longer, so I took the conceal to a taxidermist in Anderson to be fleshed and salted. That method, Jeff would obtain it in good situation. The remainder of the day we spent round camp, cleansing up the cranium and resting for the hunt the next morning.

We awoke to search out frost once more overlaying our sleeping luggage and the bottom with a skinny white blanket. We ate a hearty breakfast and began out to get Vic a bear.

After about eight miles we stopped and set free two canines, Rowdy and Speck. We jumped again into the truck and drove up the street slowly with the canines touring simply forward of us. Thirty minutes later the canines each shot off the righthand aspect of the street, bawling and operating in excessive gear. We pulled the truck over to the aspect and checked the street. Very clear prints confirmed {that a} good-size bear had crossed the street early within the morning.

The canines by no means went out of listening to.

They treed the bear after operating solely a few mile.

The three of us began off after the clogs, hoping that the bear would keep ti-eed. Though the going was tough, we made good time and have been quickly look­ ing at one other big bear. He was coal black, and he was in an imposing oak. The limb the bear was standing on was giant sufficient to assist him regardless that he was 20 toes out from the trunk. The limb was parallel to the bottom and about 5 toes above the canines.

Dave leashed the canines, and Vic bought into a very good place to make the kill. He climbed up the aspect of the kill, and confronted the bear head-on. He waited for the bear to cease weaving backward and forward after which positioned his shot a few foot beneath its nostril. The bear took one step again on the limb, slid off of it, and pulled down the hill about 30 yards. We might hear the bear growling deep within the brush, however we believed he was completed. After ready a couple of minutes, we checked him out. He was stone lifeless, and he was in stunning situation. We skinned him, had a smoke, and began again to the truck.

The cranium measured 19 10/16  inexperienced, and we thought it will make B. & C. if it didn’t shrink an excessive amount of.

Dave was actually happy that we’d had such a very good hunt.  Vic and I had each bought trophy bears within the shade phases we wished. We thanked Dave for the nice hunt and advised him we’d see him the next 12 months for a lion hunt. We took Vic’s bear pelt to Anderson, had it fleshed out and salted down, and set off for residence.

I wrote Jeff in Arizona and despatched him a drawing I manufactured from how we wished our bears mounted. 5 months later, the mounts arrived in stunning situation. Anybody interested by searching bear, lion, or bobcat can attain Dave Handrich at 6474 Stagecoach Highway, Star Route, Santa Barbara, California.

After the 60-day drying-out interval required by the Pope and Younger and the Boone and Crockett golf equipment, my bear’s cranium was measured by Dr. Kenneth Stager on the Museum of Pure Historical past, Los Angeles. The cranium measured 19 3/16, and would have simply barely certified for the Boone and Crockett e-book. Subsequently, nonetheless, the Boone and Crockett minimal for black bears was raised from 19 to 21, so the cranium now not qualifies. I’m assured, although, that it’s going to place excessive within the Pope and Younger data of archery kills.

Vic’s trophy cranium was stolen from his automobile earlier than it could possibly be measured dry. As you’ll be able to think about, he was sick. He nonetheless has a gorgeous trophy in his den although.