Back at camp, my hunting buddy Jack Czapala and I got our fishing poles and jumped into a boat to give it a shot at catching some walleye and pike. We were not on the lake ten minutes when we started catching fish. This is an added bonus about bear hunting. You have the option to do some incredible fishing. Believe me when I say Canadian fishing is AWESOME! After two hours, we headed back to camp to clean the fish and prepare for the evening hunt.
We cleaned the fish, sat down to an incredible home cooked meal ( the food was worth the cost of the hunt). After the meal, Jack and I got our equipment and some bait so we could replenish our sites had they been hit. We arrived at Jack's stand first. He got his equipment, I told him good luck and he was on his way to hunt. I proceeded to drive the remaining 20 miles to my stand. Parking the van, I gathered my gear and with great anticipation, started the walk to my stand. Getting to my site, I noticed the bait was exactly the way I had left it that morning. Climbing into my stand, I sat motionless, letting everything settle down. I must have replayed a hundred times in my mind, the bear I had shot the previous year out of the same tree. It was amazing how the time flew. Looking at my watch, it was closing in on 10:00 p.m., only minutes before it got dark. The time went by in a heartbeat with nothing happening. I walked to the van and headed back to pick up Jack. Jack, like me, hunted with lots of anticipation, but he also was bearless.

The next day started out with a big breakfast and then back on the lake for some fantastic fishing. After fishing, we had dinner and then headed to bear hunt. The hunt went the same as the night before. On the drive back to camp, we decided that it would be good idea to check out some other areas the following morning, possibly finding a bait that was active.
Getting up bright and early the next morning, Jack and I decided to pass on the fishing and check out some other areas. We found three locations where Fred had established baits. They were located on an old logging trail that Fred called the five-mile road. The bait I liked was located 100 yards off of the trail and in a very big timber that opened up into some clear cuts. The bait had been hammered so I decided that I would go back to the pit blind one more time, and if it did not prove prosperous, five-mile road, here I come. Jack also liked a location on the five-mile road and decided to hunt it that night. We felt like we had a good game plan and headed back to camp for some dinner before the evening hunt.

After dinner, Jack and I were on our way to five-mile road to drop him off. Turning onto the five-mile road, we noticed this big rock sticking straight up out of the road. This definitely wasn't a rock you wanted to hit because it was half the size of a beach ball. I slowed down and drove around the boulder at a very slow rate of speed. Arriving at Jack's site, he got out and told me to be careful not to hit the rock sticking up out of the road on the way to my stand. I told him not to worry, I would never do that. I proceeded to make my 25 mile drive to the pit blind. Cruising down the road I just knew this was going to be my night. I was pumped up with excitement. Then it happened. You guessed it, I hit the infamous rock. I was probably going around 45 mph. I had bears on my mind not rocks. My tire was flat and there I sat. I couldn't believe I hit the rock just after Jack had told me to be careful.

Getting out of the vehicle, I started to look for the tire jack. I have to tell you that I was never gifted when it came to mechanical skills, but I do know how to change a tire. Guess what, I couldn't even find the jack. With these new vehicles, I swear you have to have a degree in engineering to figure out how to change a flat tire. I started to get in a crummy mood. All I could do was walk back to get Jack. He's one of those guys who can tear his own car apart and put it back together successfully. Luckily, I was only a mile from where I dropped him off. I figured a little road work wouldn't kill me, so I took off to get help. When I got to his stand, he looked at me and said "what are you doing here?"

He said all he could picture was visions of the transmission all over the road. When I told him it was only a flat, he was greatly relieved. We made the walk back to the vehicle to change the flat. Jack had a tough time figuring out the tire jack, so I didn't feel quite as bad. We got the tire changed and finally I started my drive to the pit blind. Nothing happened at the pit so the following evening I went to my five-mile road stand. I noticed it had been visited by a bear. I replenished the site with some fresh goodies, then did a bacon burn. I put some bacon in a big Folgers coffee can and placed it on my sterno stove and lit my sterno can. Climbing in my stand, I got situated and in no time could smell the smoke of my bacon burn. I thought if there was a bear in the area, the smell of the burning bacon would lure him into the bait.

Three hours went by, nothing had come to my bait with the exception of a squirrel (patience is a virtue I kept telling myself). It was getting late. I thought, if it's going to happen, it'll happen in the next thirty minutes. The timber was quite and there was absolutely no wind. I'm talking big time quiet. Mosquitoes and black flies were all around me, and they were brutal. Then it happened!! I heard a branch break one hundred yards from my location.

Knowing it was not a squirrel, the noise had my full attention. It wasn't a minute until I could see the big black ghost making his way to my bait. Every bit of life in my body was keyed in on the bear. He did not hesitate and walked directly to my bait. As he approached the bait (which was only twelve yards) the big guy turned his head and looked my direction, giving me a great quartering away shot. I already had my High Country Force at full draw. I sent the AFC Shaft tipped with the 100 grain Thunderhead into the dull light. The shot was perfect, the bear crashed off through the dense woods in the direction he came from. I could hear the bear for approximately 100 yards when I thought I heard him go down. I got out of my stand and headed to the van. When I arrived at the vehicle, here came Jack. I told him that I had a good hit on a big bear and I knew there was no rain in the forecast, so I decided to get up in the morning to find the bruin during the daylight. He agreed, and we headed back to camp.
Needless to say, I had a terrible nights sleep. Though I felt like I made a perfect shot, I would not be comfortable until I saw the bear. The next morning, we ate a quick breakfast and headed out to five-mile road. Walking to the bait, we immediately found some blood that indicated a good hit. We followed the trail and in five minutes, we were standing over the big bruin. I thanked the good Lord and then gave out a war hoop, man I like bearhunting!!!!

For those who like to bowhunt, you have to give bear hunting a try. Talk about an adrenaline rush!!! Another great thing about bear hunting is the spring hunt helps to break up the year.

Fred Lutger runs an excellent bear hunt and caters to bowhunters. Fred had been bowhunting bear for 27 years and understands what it takes to bag a bruin with a bow and arrow. I highly recommend this hunt for a bowhunter. You have an excellent chance at getting a fifteen yard shot at a bear over a well placed bait. This was the second year that I hunted in one of Fred's bear camps and to date, I am two for two. Who knows, I may have to go back next year and try and make it three.

Authors Notes: Fred Lutger can be reached at FRED LUTGER'S WILDERNESS BOWHUNTS, 17250 S. Oak Park Avenue, Tinley Park, Il 60477 Phone: 708-532-4133 Email: fbs@bowhunting.net and their web site is at http://www.bowhunting.net/fbs

THE BUG TAMER IS A MUST: Shannon Outdoors makes a great one! SHANNON OUTDOORS, Rt. 3, Box 77, Winnsboro, SC 29180 Phone: 800-852-8058