I just walked back in my house after an amazing week in Maine hunting with Ragged Lake Outfitters. First off, I had never in my life saw a bear in the wild prior to this trip so I was more than thrilled at the thought of being able to take aim at one with my Monster. Alden had done his homework. When we arrived we found out Ragged lake was boasting a great success rate with the other hunters that had already been hunting with them this year. We quickly found out why. The first night there with Adam Dudley behind the bow and Eric Ross running the camera, they saw 13 bear and Adam was able to take a great bear with his bow. I will let them two fill you in more in depth since there is so much to say about that hunt.
Shortly after in the week, Peter Oakes took aim and made it happen on a great bear with Josh Atkinson behind the camera.
Friday was my day to shine, I got the good luck token (Josh) behind the camera and set off to a bait site that just looked amazing. But the day was extremely windy and I wasnt sure about bear movement in high winds, but we went out and sat through the storm. After sitting there for 4 hours I started to have doubts about how amazing it was, but I had faith in the Ragged Lake guys. Around 630 our tree started to shake even more than what the wind was doing to it. It was me doing it now, I was all of the sudden trembling like I would if a 200 inch typical buck walked out, but now it was a bear that had stepped out. I don't even know how to explain the thrill and excitement that came over me having something like that black bear walk out in front of me at 20 yards. He was offering me a chip shot at 20 yards, perfectly broadside. I went to draw the ol' Mathews Monster back and about three quarter of the way through my draw it felt like I hit a brick wall, I couldn't pull my bow back any further and couldnt't figure out why, I tried and tried to get it back but couldn't. My cam was either hitting the shooting rail giving me resistance or my elbow was stopping at the tree because I was trying to avoid the shooting rail. Either way, by the time I figured things out my shot was not there anymore. That bear grabbed a donut and walked off into the woods. I saw hit sit down to nibble on his little prize, so i just stood there ready. Right when I saw him pop out behind the brush again I went to full draw, unfortunately he walked around, toward us some, then back to the bait not offering much of a shot. After a solid 20-30 seconds at full draw he offered me a good quartering away shot. I had a tracer nock on which made it so easy to watch my shot. I put it right in there. Bear down baby!!!!
Alden and I
My good luck Cameraman Josh and I
We had a great week up there with Ragged Lake Outfitters. Anyone who hasn't been on a fall black bear hunt needs to call up Alden Bragdon and
www.RaggedLakeOutfitters.com and book a hunt. My only regret is that I now have another addiction. Thank you to the Guys and Gal up at ragged lake, you made my last week unforgetable.
