Bear hunt close to home pays off
Cameron hunter takes 600-pound trophy with bow near Wickware
Higher gas prices and busy schedules proved a bear hunting blessing for a Cameron woman who shot a 600-pound trophy bruin Friday.
Racheal Gifford used a bow and arrow to shoot the big bear while hunting with her husband, Jeff, south of Cameron near Wickware.
The bear dressed out at 553.4 pounds, with its live weight estimated at 600 pounds.
The Giffords earlier this year decided to pass up applying for a bear permit near their cabin in Exeland, hoping to save gas money and time by hunting close to home in Zone C south of Hwy. 8.
Racheal Gifford had applied for a tag unsuccessfully for 6 years in Zone A near Exeland.
"Finally after a long 6 years, I received my first bear tag. I was ecstatic," said Racheal.
The real excitement was yet to come. The Giffords began baiting Aug. 11, not knowing a trophy bear was in their hunting area.
"It wasn't long before our trail cameras showed us we were in for a hunt of a lifetime if this bear would cooperate," said Racheal.
While waiting for a new bow to arrive, Racheal practiced with her old bow as the season opened Sept. 3. The new bow arrived 2 days later, and the Giffords were in their tree stand on Sept. 5. Racheal passed on a pair of 200-pound bears.
"I passed on the two bears. As I lowered my bow, I looked over and the big bear was sitting there," Racheal said.
But the Giffords ran out of hunting light and spent the next 2 nights passing up smaller bears while only getting night photos of the brute bruin they nicknamed Marmaduke.
The following Wednesday, Marmaduke came through the camera range at 6:30 p.m., earlier than normal, but the Giffords were at work, not in the woods.
The hunters would get back to their stand Friday, a quiet, cloudless early evening with a slight wind in the hunters' favor.
"With the acorns starting to fall, a corn field to the south of us and plenty of blackberries, we knew we had to close on him quick," said Racheal.
Just when Racheal told Jeff she didn't think the big bear would come, and Jeff urged her to be patient, that, "It's not about the moment when nothing is happening but about the suspense of the time yet to come," a small bear appeared and stood still, looking back.
"Jeff said Marmaduke has come in behind this bear before according to the camera," said Racheal.
And sure enough, the big bear was tagging behind, oblivious to the antics of the smaller bear.
"The little bear began putting on a show and running around like crazy, barking and wolfing around Marmaduke," Racheal said. "Marmaduke sat down, scratched his ears and ignored him."
The little bear then stood off about 40 yards and allowed the big bear to quarter in closer to the hunter for a good shot.
With Jeff videotaping his wife's shot, Racheal pulled back and released the arrow. It appeared to be a perfect hit as the bear ran off.
"I just hit the bear of a lifetime and started shaking so bad I had to sit down," said Racheal. "I asked Jeff if he thought I got him, and he said the bear wouldn't go far."
It didn't. After the Giffords rounded up family and friends to help track, the big bear was found less than 100 yards from where Racheal shot.
"Words can't express the feeling I had when we recovered the bear, and I can't express the thanks to the people who shared this hunt with me," Racheal said.
The trophy bruin was weighed at The Bear Paw in Rice Lake and will be officially scored for Boone and Crockett.
And then, the home-grown bear the Giffords named Marmaduke will be a full body mount.
"Lord knows where I will put him," said Racheal.
