Tuesday column: big bears and a bear of a race
My column today in The Roanoke Times, which you can read HERE, included a lead note about how bear season seems to be progressing.
Because bears must still be “hard checked” at check stations it’s hard to get a firm idea how the statewide kill is trending. The best we can do is to poll check stations individually. Naturally, of the stations I called yesterday, some were reporting good years and others were reporting off years.
There have been some big ones killed, including a 496-pounder checked at Pembroke Stop and Save in Giles County, and this 436-pounder killed by Charles Wilson of Axton near Eagle Rock on Nov. 28.
Who has been bear hunting? Would appreciate some additional reports.
I also had a note about the Hellgate 100K running race held starting Friday at midnight. I knew three people running. One of them, Joe Dudak of Salem, finished 8th. Josh Gilbert, a Salem chiropractor who owns the Mountain Junkies race management company, was 11th.
I wondered if Dudak encountered bear hunters on Saturday, and he said he did. They were all friendly and accommodating, he said. No surprise there.
December 11, 2012 - 8:58 AM
I hunted all day yesterday in the Havens WMA. Saw plenty of sign, but no bears. I think I went up too high, as they were probably staying closer to water as dry as it has been. I’ve never been bear hunting with dogs, never been invited and never knew any bear hunters to ask! I would love to tag along sometime.
Wow!! Congrats on a huge bear!!
I think I can safely say that no bear hunter will ever have to worry about this “deer” hunter ever killing a bear regardless of how easy of a shot it may be. Having my fill of dragging one of those gelatinous masses that Sammy Bass took in 2006 cured me of that. I want no part of fooling with one of those things once it’s on the ground. Period! Thats just me though.
Wow Charles! Big Bear! Congrats!
On Saturday 12/1 I had a beautiful, BIG Bear come right by my stand! I “shot” the Bear with my Video camera for a full 7 minuutes! I’ve shown the bear footage to several people who estimated him at 300 to 350 pounds! I would have loved to have taken that bear home with me but I used my tag during archery season so all I could do was watch. Nontheless it was a great hunt just to be able to be close to that majestic black beauty as he strolled through the woods.
You are right Kevin,never again. What a nightmare……..
awesome kill charles!! glad i was in on that hunt with you at the ROCK! i know my grandma’s glad you took that bad boy down!hope we see another one next year at the farm!!got a workout loading him up though! enjoy the bear rug lol!!
How disgusting. People like this are the reason I don’t feel any sympathy for the victims of ‘hunting accidents’. It’s too bad they don’t happen more frequently.
emily sounds like you need to go hunting and have a accident of your own