When it comes to baiting for black bears in Idaho ,
I am fairly new to it and still learning . I do however have a couple of friends that have been very successful at running baits for several years . After helping them bait for a year and asking them questions , I figured the time for me to strike out on my own was at hand . I learned a ton of valuable information that first season . I learned exactly how much work it was to establish a bait site by yourself , along with how important stand location was . That first spring I had several bears coming in except for the days I would sit in the stand . It took me a few evenings to figure out that I had placed my tree stand in the wrong location .
I had decided for the 2013 spring season that I would move the bait and my tree stand to a better location . Seven hours later , the bait was set in the new location . After waiting a couple of weeks I couldn ’ t stand it any longer . I had to get up in the tree . A couple of bears came in the first night but never presented a shot opportunity . I was excited to get back up in the stand for the second night . Three hours after climbing up the tree I noticed a bear off to my right starting to make its way to the bait when I heard the familiar sound of motorcycles coming up the trail . The bear turned and took off for Colorado . I figured my night was done . I was really chewing those guys out in my mind when I looked off to my left and there was a good bear standing there only 40 yards away . The bear would walk a little bit and then sit down and sniff the air and look around . When he finally made
the commitment to come in I thought to myself that I was about to harvest my first bear . I did my best to control my breathing and pick a spot to place my pin . As I drew back the bear heard the little bit of noise from my jacket and turned to leave . I thought I had just blown it when it stopped to look around . I settled the pin and let the arrow loose . It found its mark . The adrenaline rush that took over my body was unreal . My whole body was shaking like I was standing out in a snow storm in only my underwear .
As I climbed down the tree to recover my bear a feeling of uneasiness came over me . The shot looked great to me , but was it really good enough ? A short distance later I found the bear piled up at the base of a large tamarack . Even though it was only an average sized bear I was proud as all get out . I have a spot picked out on the wall for the rug to be hung so I will have a constant reminder of all that went in to this hunt . I am hooked !
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