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I have spent the past six years bear hunting alongside my boyfriend, Wes Pietz. Six years ago I witnessed a black bear within 15 yards of me for the first time and I knew I was hooked. It was awesome to see them and I was not in the least nervous about the bow hunt.
Five years ago I started videotaping Wes’ hunts and always have been charged with each bear sighting. He labeled me as his ‘bear spotter’. That year I filmed his record black bear with a skull scoring 20 1/4”. What a rush! At one point his bear even stood up against our tree to check us out. I had leaned over with the bear spray bottle in hand, just in case and our eyes met with only two feet between us. Wes thought I would scream but I just sat there with wide eyes. I have never been so quiet and still in all my life! My heart pounded watching that bear finally make its way back to the bait at last light. I was sure I felt what Wes must have been feeling at the moment of his shot.
Four years ago he shot a nice black bear that was made into a gorgeous rug. It is not as easy as all that though; spring bear hunting is hard work and don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.
Three years ago I decided I was ready to hunt with my bow for the first time. We set up baits north of Athabasca, Alberta. My boyfriend/guide/videographer was by my side and I was admittedly quite nervous. After watching so many bears over the years, I knew my first animal would have to be a bear. We had a total of seven bears that year in black, cinnamon and blonde colour phases. For the first time I hung “my” bow in the tree next to me and Wes kept telling me that it is a different feeling when you’re the one shooting rather than watching. I brushed it off.
When I set my sights on one of the bears, I stood up to draw my bow and the adrenaline rush took over. I knew right there and then what Wes had been talking about. I did not tag a bear that year but I practiced the perfect shot n my dreams many times over. Last year we put in all the time and effort and were ‘skunked’. Literally no bears and I was crushed. This year, well that was a different story...
More determined than ever, I kicked off my high heels and traded them in for my hunting boots once again! With a rather slow spring compromised by snowfalls, I crossed my fingers and continued to dream of the bear hunt. I pictured myself in the hunt so many times, calming myself down from the ‘rush’.
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| Stacy and Wes with Stacy’s first bear. |
On my first hunting day, we saw four bears in total. A pair of milk chocolate siblings carefully made their way to our bait site. One was larger than the other and had a fuller coat—I fell in love and just knew that was ‘my’ bear! It was not a big bear, but beautiful. Wes and I watched them in their glory as they ate popcorn, jube jubes and my signature bear treat—marshmallows. Another hour or so later, two slightly larger bears came in; one black and the other a dark chocolate colour. Each one had its own distinctive markings that made them unique. This was a first for us to see three out of four bears in a different colour phase—it was awesome and a moment we will never forget. I must have pulled my bow back at least six times but ‘my’ bear did not present me with a good shot. It is a lot different practicing at the archery lanes versus an animal that is constantly moving! In my mind, I had practiced all possible shots and I felt prepared. This bear was smart and lay down with its back to me and in some cases sat down but pulled up its front leg to block the crease. I shook my head many times and in the end we left that night knowing they would likely all come back. Again, I dreamt of the shot angles and ‘my’ bear.
A few days later we were back and it was the beginning of my official hunting vacation. This time we were greeted by a small but gorgeous dark chocolate bear with a white blaze on its chest. It was too small but would make a nice bear in a few years. He came back to the bait site about 10 minutes after we settled into our stands and we watched him munch away on the goodies. About an hour and a half later a big black bear circled around and following close behind were the milk chocolate twins. I cannot tell you how relieved I was to see ‘my’ bear again! It always amazes us how a person sees the bears well before they hear them coming in. The black bear was huge and after about 20 minutes came in to the baits fighting off the smaller of the twins. There was a huffing and hunching of backs, so cool. The black one went straight for the beaver Wes had tied up with a snare inside the barrel. ‘My’ bear was mad and proceeded to circle around and get in on the action too. Each time the black one showed his strength and huffed, ‘my’ bear would stomp around breaking branches trying to be tough. Wes leaned over and whispered, “You can take the black one if you want, he’s a book bear.” Although he gave me multiple shot opportunities, I ran it through my head for a split second and said, “Nope. I’ll take my bear instead.” I knew the black one was a record bear, no doubt by the size, but I think a good hunter is one that knows what they want.
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| Stacy’s beautiful colour phase bear taken with a bow. |
Finally the black bear took off with a piece of the beaver meat and mine came in. I was already standing with my bow ready and release locked in on string loop. It was GO TIME! I will not deny that the adrenaline rush was there again, but I was able to control the shakes and calm my heart from pumping so fast. I slowly came to full draw while making sure not to spook the other bears near the bait. I picked a spot, aiming for the opposite leg as it was quartering slightly away. I then took one last glance to be sure and squeezed the trigger. I saw the shot through my site and knew it was a good one. I yelled out ‘yes!’ followed by the ‘hunting dance’ on the treestand (come on, doesn’t everyone do that?). For those of you that have not heard a death moan, it was a very eerie sound. When it started wheezing I knew I got the lungs, which is what you practice for.
I shot my bear at 12 yards and we watched it fall about 20 yards from the bait. We could see it easily from our stands. It has a gorgeous hide and it was not until then that I made up my mind to get a full body mount. The bear weighs about 200 pounds and is about five feet in length. I helped Wes skin the bear that night and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I had made an even better shot than I had thought. As Wes called it, ‘The full Monty’—a double lung and heart shot.
Dreams come true for sure and I owe it all to Wes who gave up his hunt to devote to mine, guide me and of course, his endless encouragement. Although family and friends are proud of me, I am much more so of myself. For all the lady hunters that think they can, take my advice—know you can. It is hard work and my time and effort spent making this day happen were all worth it.
It is magazines like Alberta Outdoorsmen that offer valued stories of hunting experiences and give first time hunters, like myself, the confidence to take on ‘the hunt’. ■
For previous Reader Stories click here.
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