There’s been a bit of a lull in deer picture submissions, which is not unusual for mid-October. But I’ve gotten a couple great bear pictures, including this one.

Kurt Webber shot this big boy on Oct. 9 while hunting in Botetourt County. Webber reported that he used a Mathews Q2 bow set at 65 pounds, a 28-inch Carbon Express arrow tipped with a Montec Q5 broadhead.

This burly bear weighed 277 pounds and green scored 19.5 in the Pope and Young system, which has a minimum of 18 for their trophy listing. Webber said the green Virginia system was 25.

Webber said he was hunting with friends Adrian Wynn, Duane Wood and Toby Brow. He added, “I highly recommend shooting bears with friends and ATVs around. … I shot a 200-pounder in 2009, the big difference being I was 1.5 miles from my vehicle, and I was alone. I will not do that again. It was 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. saga.”

Webber also said that the group saw eight different bears that day, and no deer.