Yogi Palooza Barb 1.0

      Well, here we are, THE YEAR.  Barb has been putting in for her Michigan Black Bear Tag since 2013.  I drew mine, my 2nd, last year to no avail.  Barb is hungry.  She waited 11 years for this hunt.  We have hunted together for years.  Although she had no interest in hunting wild pigs with me, she wanted a bear.  She is a good shot, always has been.  She will be using her Remington Model 7, 7mm-08 with 150 grain Core Lokt bullets.  This is the rig she has harvested several Axis deer at our winter place in Texas as well as a nice whitetail buck in Oklahoma.  Of course, a good bear is much larger with very sturdy bones, but my bride can put the shot where she wants to.  

      Of course we want the meat, but my wife's Dream Bucket List is a bear rug.   We have several leads on taxidermists but am always on the lookout for suggestions.  Ironically, she will be guided by Paul Martin who also drew his own tag.  I offered my own assistance, which will be handy as Paul wants to hunt as well and won't be able to accompany Barb in the blind every night.  He and his son will still provide guide services as needed.  Paul has had exceptional success here in the lower peninsula and knows the area well.  This is a shorter season than what I hunted in the Upper Peninsula. 10 days vs. 6 weeks.  Regardless, Barb was ready.  We will be hunting in several areas, but still pretty close to home.  

Great trail cam pics of bears over the bait prior to the season

      I worried a bit about Barb being patient in the blind for about 5 hours.  I told her she can bring her phone, BUT NO VOLUME and no smoking.  I didn't even know if it was possible for her to go that long without........well, peeing.  It did take a turn toward the unexpected as the guide decided to send his son along to accompany Barb.  I was hoping to be there but knew that he was the best qualified to help her ID the right bear, locate it, and retrieve it.

  

Guide Jon Martin and Barb

       On opening day I dropped Barb off with the guide about 20 miles SE of our home in the Manistee River Valley at 3 p.m.  I returned at 6:30 to wait out the last 90 minutes or so of opening day.  Only 17 minutes later I heard a shot close to our proximity.  Even though this was a poor cell phone area, about 30 minutes later the text came:  I made the shot, a quartering forward.  The bear is about 100 yards out.  We're waiting for it to die.  Another 30 minutes later they both walked out, hands covered in blood, yet both beaming with satisfaction.  They had gutted the bear but couldn't move it because it was so heavy.  

      The guide called 3 of his friends to come out and help drag the beast to the truck.  Barb and Jon got some good pictures when they found the bear and we all took some more once they got it back to the truck.  When we got the bear to the processors about 90 minutes later, it weighed in at 220lb. dressed, which equates to about 275lb. live weight.  The cape, head, and paws/claws were done by the processor.  We picked them up and had DNR inspect and seal them within 2 days.  Then we delivered it to the taxidermist.  

      I couldn't have been prouder of my wife.  She has always been a good outdoorswoman and a very good shot with a rifle.  She was still a bit shaky when she arrived at the truck; a good hug was in order.  I tried twice with no success the past 11 years, but Barb was successful on Season #1, Day #1.  It's no less of a Bucket List victory for both of us.  Of course, there will be a few bear meal recipes to come.  

      A special note:  our own friend/guide Paul harvested a monster 300 lb. beast 2 nights later.  I can't say enough about how good Paul Martin is as an outdoorsman and bear guide.  He definitely knows his stuff.  We highly recommend him if you draw a Michigan Bear Tag in Red Oak.  

"May this intelligent animal always have a place"

Mike McIntosh

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