We had an eventful but unsuccessful hunt. We headed up on a stiff breeze and had a bit of a choppy ride up. Then it blew hard but happily our tents held up: a new Eureka Northern Breeze screen tent stood up to 30-40+ mph gusty winds for 3 days (well guyed of course). During the 2 calm half days, the screen tent paid for itself keeping out noseeums, mosquitoes and whitesox biting flies. And it kept us pretty warm with half the flaps down and a coleman lantern - but it really wasn't cold, just windy. My buddy's new 8 man Cabela's Alaska Guide tent didn't even wiggle. They are great tents and Cabela's stands behind them. This was a full replacement after last year's tent fly failed from very moderate sun exposure.
We hunted a lot and saw quite a few cow moose and one "maybe" bull but we couldn't get close enough to tell for sure. So one buddy- Tim tried calling him later that day while another friend and I set up to intercept any moose in the area. An hour or so later I hear a shot and maybe some talking. MEAT! I think. But in case he missed, I stayed put and watched my area for any escaping or approaching moose. About 20 min later I see a big brown back and think maybe its our moose. By the time I get the binocs up, I see its a Big bear right near my boat and I'm 300+ yds away. The bear is slobbering and foaming at the mouth and chomping his jaws - sure signs of major stress. Now I wonder if he was trouble for either of my partners and what he might do with the boat. He stays away from the boat but heads my way sniffing the air but being real nervous and careful. Looked like he was feeling surrounded and trying to figure out where to go. I was on a small slough bank - he and my boat on one side, me well concealed on the other side and right along a bear trail. When he started my way I stood up and started whistling which happily seemed to scare him. But he crossed to my side of the slough still 200 yds away but acting like he wanted to walk the bank towards me. So I waded the slough to the boat side going over my hip boots and away from the bear. Never saw the bear again and I beat feet to the boat with rifle ready (300 win mag but wishing for a 375 right then). Then I couldn't find my friends for about 45 minutes and no answers to my calls. This is all happening just at dark and the light was falling fast. We finally got together and every one was ok. BUT the bear had been stalking Tim doing the calling and came within about 25-30 feet in thick brush. Tim saw the bear at about 50 yds and it then came at full speed for about 30 yards before my buddy fired his 7 Mag and started yelling. Tim used good sense, stood up and even took a step towards the bear (mainly to get into shooting position). He said it was scary how fast the bear moved on that false charge or whatever it was. And the bear had circled him from down wind but still came in. After that we hunted close together and didn't call much, especially in low thick brush. He left with my friend yelling "good bear, good bear, go away bear. This guy is 6'5" and 250 while so his size probably helped. I'm 5'9" and 150 and durned glad I wasn't the bait.
Note, the gunshot drew NO reaction from the bear. That has been my experience many times. They don't run they just stand there looking confused, or in this case, the bear never took his eyes off Tim. Wonder how a flash-bang grenade would work?
That night Tim had a couple big pulls off a little flask of 10 yr Bushmill's I'd brought along in case we had something to celebrate.
We boated home today ~ 40 miles across Nushagak Bay. About 10 miles from home Tim's motor quit. We had a rising wind (SW 20 gusting higher 30?? ) against a falling tide which makes for very steep and rough water. I was able to tow him and his boat home very slowly - 6-10 mph with my 18 foot open Lund and 40 hp Honda. We usually travel about 25-30 mph. Originally we timed the trip to hit high slack tide and before the wind could come up but the breakdown blew our timing. The wind got real strong and the tide was running hard. We have to cross a big tide rip to get into town. The steep waves were 4 to 8 feet and a bit confused. Sloppy going and pretty spooky. I realize now that if I didn't have big Tim in the boat with me and my other friend and the boat behind, my 18' Lund skiff might have not fared so well in the steep chop. But we made it into the harbor safe. When I went to start my boat to load it on the trailer, it wouldn't start and the prop is jammed. Don't know what is wrong but at least it kept running when we needed it. Off to the repair shop tomorrow I guess. That motor is less than 2 yrs old and has run like a top. Hope 10 miles of hard pulling didn't mess something up.
My 11 yr son, Ben had been crying for not going - glad he wasn't with me on this one. I would have been scared.
One really cool event yesterday afternoon. We were eating lunch and something skittered out from under a tent platform ( we use a vacated fishing guide camp site). Mark at first said mink but then it came out again and it was a Marten! It was quite tame (we were inside the screen tent) and gave us a really good look at him. He was very pretty and had a very orange chest spots. What a beautiful animal. We all said together, "drat, my camera is in the boat". Its the longest look I've ever had at a live Marten.
We also found a bear rub tree in one of our favorite spots. The tree was chewed at about 7 feet up, heavily clawed below and a bunch of bear fur stuck on the branch nubs and in the pitch. The bark was smoothed off too. It may have chewed off some branches as they were piled at the base. Have read about this and have spent lots of time in bear country but never saw one before.
This was one of the toughest trips for bad luck that I've ever had. Both of my boats are down now after years of trouble free use and pretty careful care.
But the good luck is we're home safe.
Like my dad, used to say "we were building memories" this trip.
Hope I can get operational, the weather settles and I can take my boy out for another try.
That's how my hunt went. So nice to have a shower this eve.
