Thanks to the kindness of a few experienced hunters, I was able to join a hunting party on Vancouver Island this past week.
I have just turned 40 and promised myself I would learn to hunt. The only problem being that I did not know many hunters and trying to find someone who would take a total noob was a bit difficult. I did have an offer last year, but it did not pan out due to logistics.
I ran into a friend from work at the local range and he thought it was pretty cool I was getting into hunting so late in life. He made an offhand comment about a bear hunt in May and I said I would be interested. A few weeks later I got a text asking if I was still interested ... HELL YEAH!
I was one of five adults and two children that attended the hunt. I was put with my friend's cousin and his friend who were both very experienced hunters. They decided it was a fun thing to teach me how to hunt a black bear. I was thrilled for the chance to learn.
We spent about five hours traveling the logging roads between Lake Cowichan and Port Renfrew. At around 1700 hrs we saw two black bears about 400-500 yards from us on a logging road across from about a 300 yard clear cut. The wind was blowing at us and the bears walking away from us downhill. We got out of the truck and entered the clear cut.
I could not get a shot off in time as the bears had turned a corner and I didn't want to shoot his ass
We continued through the clear cut and came down the road. By this time there was only one bear in our sight about 120-140 yards away in a flat clear cut.
I took up my rifle and took a shot ... my first shot ever on a live animal!
MISSED
The bear was spooked and ran about 20 yards towards the tree line, but then he stopped broadside towards me and looked back.
Click, BANG ... HIT
The bear ran towards the tree line and then dropped.
We covered the distance carefully and then found my first confirmed kill.
What a rush for a beginner!
I want to thank Rob for inviting me and Dean and Tyler for teaching me and putting up with a noob all day. I am hooked.
Remington 700 VTR in .308 with Nosler Partition 180gr.
We started at top of pic on a road, then crossed clear cut.
Clear cut where bear was shot ... near far tree line
I have just turned 40 and promised myself I would learn to hunt. The only problem being that I did not know many hunters and trying to find someone who would take a total noob was a bit difficult. I did have an offer last year, but it did not pan out due to logistics.
I ran into a friend from work at the local range and he thought it was pretty cool I was getting into hunting so late in life. He made an offhand comment about a bear hunt in May and I said I would be interested. A few weeks later I got a text asking if I was still interested ... HELL YEAH!
I was one of five adults and two children that attended the hunt. I was put with my friend's cousin and his friend who were both very experienced hunters. They decided it was a fun thing to teach me how to hunt a black bear. I was thrilled for the chance to learn.
We spent about five hours traveling the logging roads between Lake Cowichan and Port Renfrew. At around 1700 hrs we saw two black bears about 400-500 yards from us on a logging road across from about a 300 yard clear cut. The wind was blowing at us and the bears walking away from us downhill. We got out of the truck and entered the clear cut.
I could not get a shot off in time as the bears had turned a corner and I didn't want to shoot his ass
We continued through the clear cut and came down the road. By this time there was only one bear in our sight about 120-140 yards away in a flat clear cut.
I took up my rifle and took a shot ... my first shot ever on a live animal!
MISSED
The bear was spooked and ran about 20 yards towards the tree line, but then he stopped broadside towards me and looked back.
Click, BANG ... HIT
The bear ran towards the tree line and then dropped.
We covered the distance carefully and then found my first confirmed kill.
What a rush for a beginner!
I want to thank Rob for inviting me and Dean and Tyler for teaching me and putting up with a noob all day. I am hooked.
Remington 700 VTR in .308 with Nosler Partition 180gr.
We started at top of pic on a road, then crossed clear cut.
Clear cut where bear was shot ... near far tree line
Awesome hunt! And "Barnes_270" has a really good point! Pay it forward and bring another into the sport! 
