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THE
REAL CANADIAN JOES


Joe Fortin
CAMP CURTIS
My first black bear experience is one I will never forget, as it was also my first real 'big game' hunt.
My first black bear experience is one I will never forget, as it was also my first real 'big game' hunt.
It all started when friends that I scuba dive with, invited me to their hunting spot in the beautiful boreal forest of Northern Ontario. As you can imagine I had the biggest grin on my face that spanned from ear to ear.

I have only been hunting a few years, sticking to waterfowl and small game. Going away to hunting camp for a week would be quite a new challenge. This trip would also mark the first time bowhunting and shooting from a tree stand.

My brother Jarrod and I made the 12 hour drive north, arriving at camp mid-morning. Even though we were both exhausted, we still had a lot of prep work ahead of us, including setting up our tree stands, and checking bait piles. After trekking through the forest on a ATV, we reached my bait pile. We then set up my ladder stand and I made my first ascent. I sat down and for a few precious minutes simply took in the scenery that was infront of me.
The sun was shining through the trees, and the sound of ravens echoing through the trees, sent shivers down my spine. At that moment, I knew what brought people to bow hunt! From below our friend Brian yelled, "We dont have all day! What branches do you need cleared?" 

Once everything was done, we headed back to camp, were we quickly unpacked and took a quick nap before we set out for the evening hunt.

First two days we had zero activity, which I didnt mind because I was still getting settled in the treestand. On the evening of the third day, I heard something move from one side to another, but I didnt see what it was. With adrenaline coursing through my body from the mere thought of a bear, I thought my heart was going to come through my chest. Later on at camp Brian told me the sound I heard was from a marten.

The next morning we checked our piles and unlike the  previous days, the bait was gone and the logs were rearranged!
TI was ecstatic, I couldnt wait to get up into my stand!

That afternoon, with my harness strapped to the tree, I remember thinking how boring this was getting. I recall silently praying to the bear gods, asking them to help me out. It was getting hard to hear if anything was coming because of the noise coming from the ravens. Feeling cozy up in the stand, I briefly looked at my bait then rested my eyes. It was then I heard a familiar sound over head; geese migrating south. I watched the flock pass over the tree tops. As it was nearing the end of shooting time, I slowly turned my head to have one last look at the bait. Immediately my eyes were wide with amazement, and my heart was pounding through my chest. I was suddenly no longer tired. 

There coming down the trail following its nose was a beautiful black bear. My hands began to shake so bad I thought I was going to drop my bow. The bear looked up at me and (thankfully) concluded that I was not a threat. As he turned his back on me, I slowly drew my bow and put the cross heirs on him. He was quartered away and I couldnt hold for a broadside shot. I pulled the release.

The Bear didnt even move but dropped on the spot!


TI immediately got on the radio and informed the boy that "I GOT ONE!"

When the others got to the site I gave everyone a great big hug as this was my first big game and my first bow kill! 

The next evening, I heard the echo of a .243 and knew my little brother Jarrod just shot his first bear as well!

This was an unbelievable adventure for my and it will hopefully be one of many.I want to thank my good friends Brian and Wendy for the hospitality and the experience, thus starting me on my path as a bowhunter for LIFE!

Stay safe and enjoy what nature has to offer, and pass on our hunting heritage.

Joe Fortin  
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