Brett's Bear Hunt

Well, we got up at 4 AM and got ready for the 22 hour day ahead. I camoed out with some of Dad's old pants and a Gander Mountain sweatshirt. Then I belted on my Gerber knife from Bass Pro Shops. My dad was proud to see me sporting my new Herb Bauer Sporting Goods hat because he has worked there a good fifteen years. I tied my boots extra tight that morning because I had a feeling that I might need the extra ankle support! Uncle Buck made us some hot chocolate and we loaded the truck and headed out to the gas station to meet our new hunting buds. After we got aquainted, we loaded into the other trucks and headed out to our destination- Sunday Gulch. My dad and I rode with Jasen and got to know him really well. I was happy to find out his experience with bear hunting was extraordinary. He also shared with us about his family and Christian values that impressed me even more. The road was dark and curvy and we finally got to our turnoff. I was overwhelmed with excitement as we moved up on the road to get the dogs to "clean out". I didn't know exactly what cleaning out the dogs meant until they started letting a few dogs out at a time and I kept smelling something that made me figure out the term. We had trucks, dogs, guns, radios, food, and drink, and some of the finest people I have ever met and we were ready!

The sun started rising and we jumped in the trucks in anticipation of getting the dogs to catch a scent and strike. We were in the lead truck. Jasen had two of his finest dogs leashed on the hood and ready to scent a bear. I was amazed at how this all worked. Jasen's other dogs were just behind the cab of the truck. We started up the hill and slowly let the dogs noses go to work for us. The dogs all of a sudden sounded off with a howl that was bone chilling- they smelled a bear! I thought to myself - it's on! Although, we kept going on as Jasen decided that it wasn't a strong enough strike. We made it to the top of a lookout just as the sun was risingand the scene was heaven sent. The tree lines of golden leaves showed the true colors of Fall and we were on top of the world. We made a u-turn and headed back the same way we came and this time the dogs got a hot strike! They all went off and the men decided to put em' out! My dad videotaped the great event of those dogs being unleashed into the wild after the creature that drove them crazy. They headed up the side of a mountain that I thought I was going to need to climb. Fortunately, I was assured that we would be driving around the mountain to find out where they went!

We spent quite a few hours stopping, listening, using the high tech tracking equipment to find out where those dogs went. I kept thinking of that song- Who Let The Dogs Out? I knew that they were out for a reason, but I had no idea that they would travel so far away. We got out of the trucks seemed like twenty times to listen and observe what was happening below. Agian, I was awestruck by the way the guys could tell if the creature the dogs were chasing was treed or bayed up just by the bark or the howl of the dog. The day carried on and at one point, I mentioned to my dad that I felt discouraged like nothing was going to happen. Then God changed things.

We got up to the top of this steep mountain and Cliff, Jasen, and Jimmy located the dogs at the bottom of the canyon below singing "We got our bear here, come and get 'em!" Jasen and Jimmy immediately grabbed some gear and bailed off the mountain like a couple of billy goats and we drove on up aways to wait for their call not knowing what was really taking place down there. Then the call came over the radio- "We got one treed, get down here now!" We grabbed our stuff and Cliff lead us on the wildest ride I have ever been on. I have been to Disneyland and Magic Mountain, but this topped the charts. We started through some thickets onlyto find the whole journey down the hill was nothing but thickets with trees and leaves and lots of dust. Cliff said "Come on, we got our choice of barreling through thickets or sliding on our behinds." We quickly chose to use our rearends as a 30 mile per hour slide. "Aim for the tree said Uncle Buck as he prepared for the first slide. Cliff went first and slammed his Marlin right across a rock and it broke in two pieces. He laughed it off and said come on down. Uncle Buck hit the first slide with my dad's rifle on his back and faired pretty well. My dad went next and yelled a few things I can't rmember but he made it to the tree. Then I sat down and made my way down and ran right into my dad. We had a series of these slides that made me actually laugh even though my rear end was aching afterwards. The dogs sounded much closer when we finally made it to the creek. Uncle Buck and Cliff disappeared as dad and I struggled to hop rocks and work our way down. I figure it took us nearly an hour to get to the dogs and I really began to wonder if I could make it. Cliff noticed that I was struggling and he encouraged me and let me know those dogs did their job and it was time to do mine! That pepped me right up and I finally arrived at a scene that will ever play out in my mind.

The dogs were already leashed up in bunches and looking up this tree. This was no measly pine tree. It reached the sky. I caught a glimpse of something brown on the first limb of the tree which we finally figured was about eighty feet up. I found my assignment to be a nice cinnamon colored young female bear that put up a fight with the dogs before heading up the tree. My heart was pounding from the hike in and I was pretty dazed for a minute. Cliff called me and my dad up to the shooting line which was above the tree about 15 yards. I had uncle Bucks shooting sticks to help me keep the Tikka T3 rifle of my dad's perfectly positioned. The rifle I used was a Winchester Short Magnum with a 130gr Barnes Tripple Shock Bullet. I basically had to lay on my right side, and my dad was right behind me. It took me awhile to get lined up and I felt like I was frustrating Cliff who was helping me. He assured me to take my time and take the shot when I was ready. Cliff let the other guys know "We're going hot" and my dad said "Lights On". Everything got real quiet- even the dogs. I immediately calmed down, focused and pressed the trigger. Whack! I looked back through the scope and could not believe what I saw. Everybody thought I missed the first second until the blood of that bears head gushed out all the way down on my dad's backpack and the bear went limp on the limb she was hanging on to. My dad screamed out "You did it son, I love you!" The whole group screamed and hollered and the dogs went absolutely bezerk. The bear took about 15 seconds to finally let loose of that limb and it crashed down landing on it's back. Then the dogs really went nuts. She rolled down the hill toward the creek and still had some life left in her so my dad was called down to finish her off with his 44 mag handgun. I sat in utter disbelief. The guys were amazed at my shot placed right below the jawline of that bear. I felt a rush of raw emotion I had never experienced before. I headed down to see my prize and Uncle Buck tackled me down and told me how proud of me he was. My eyes were wide open as I gazed over the beautiful cinnamon color and coat of my first bear. She was about 4 ft in height and I am not sure what she weighed, but I was totally satisfied that this was the one.

The cammeras came out and I proudly smiled as they all went off at the same time. I kept thinking to myself- this is a dream, somebody pinch me so I can wake up. As I write this story, I am still somewhere in the clouds from this whole experience. The guys let the dogs have a taste of the bear as their reward for doing such a fine job of finding it for us. Jasen got her gutted out and Josh helped him lug the beautiful creature down the creek and back to the road. I was emotionally and physically drained as we started down the creek. My dad kneww I was struggling to make each step and he reasurred me that we would take our time and that we would have no problem making it out. Cliff held back with us to ensure our safety and he knew I was struggling too. We got to a point where I had to sit down my legs got so shaky. I was so worried I could not do it. My dad reminded me how determined I was to get a bear and that should be the drive I needed to get out of there. I complied and was never so happy for us to find the skid road that led us back to the main road where everyone was waiting for us. I felt like I walked right into a group of family mambers. Everyone was smiling at me and congradulating me on what a great shot I took. I thanked each and every one of them and replenished myself with a sandwich and a soda. I was so thankful to be back and I knew that God was watching over me every step of the way.

We learned that all of the dogs were accounted for except for two of Seth's dogs. So after we said our goodbyes, we headed out to look for them. Nightfall came fast as we four-wheeled through a tunnel of brush. Jasen mentioned that we got a bonus of not only a bear but a four-wheel drive adventure as well. I thouroughly enjoyed it. I felt bad that we had no luck finding Seth's dogs, but Seth assured me when we said goodbye to him that he had faith that they would be found and for me not to worry. We ended up driving back to the gas station and said our fairwells to Jasen and Cliff and I realized how genuine and knowledgable these people we met were. We left for my uncle Buck's taxidermy shop in Redding and got there about 12AM Sunday morning. Uncle Buck and my dad immediately started skinning out my bear and I have chosen to have a rug made out of the hide and head. My uncle Buck has invited me to work in the taxidermy shop to work off my bill for this great rug. I can hardly wait! Thank you for everything uncle Buck- you are the greatest! We sliced up and quartered the bear and packed it in a cool ice chest. My dad and an old friend of his are going to butcher it in our garage in a few days. I can't wait to have a bear burger or two or maybe a roast. Bottom line, I am a hunter and I eat what I shoot!

So here I am at the end of a great hunting story that will forever be in my heart and soul for the rest of my life. At 13, I know that this experience will drive me to be more confident and determined than ever before. This experience strenghtened me in many ways. I know that so many bad things could have happened and I truly believe God is watching over all of us that day and every day. My dad and I will continue hunt whatever and whenever we can and I can confidently say that I anm ready for another bear hunt when the opportunity arrises. As for who I made friends with that day, God bless them and I will continue to pray for the safety of each and every one of you as you do what you do and enjoy the best. Thanks again for the greatest experience of my life and I hope to see you in the feild someday soon.