Hunting season withdrawal is a real thing and it’s at its worst at this time off year. It’s been 8 whole months since we really got to hunt. Yes we had a Turkey season blip in the spring (and spring bear season for some) but it’s been a long time since we got to get out there and really hunt! But if we wait just a bit more the fall bear hunt is about to kick off the most wonderful time of the year.
When I was young (I’m old now-my grey hairs, sore body parts and kids tell me so all the time) I was part of running a bear hunt for about 10 years, and my dad was a guide at the same camp. We would be baiting in full force and almost ready now because the hunters would be arriving the first Saturday after August 15th and then the fun started. That was the time of year, before call waiting, that you couldn’t use the phone after my dad got home because we were waiting for the call that a bear was down and back to work we went to track it, clean it and bring it in for me to skin and butcher the next day. That is also when Murphy’s Law dictated that the second I stepped into the shower the phone would ring. I had just as much time to finish showering and get dressed and into the truck as it took my dad to answer the call and put his boots on. I quickly learned how to do it but a lot of the clothes were put on in the truck as we went down the road and my dad rolled his eyes at me.
When I say I have skinned and butchered 150+ big game animals I really have. I was affectionally called low man on the totem pole and it quickly became my job to help the hunters with this task when everyone else was too busy. I was often asked how long it would take and my answer was always the same “about an hour-two if you help.” That was because if I was doing it I had one knife to worry about, if they helped I had to make sure I watched theirs too. I usually made sure they were at opposite ends of the animal from me and more than once just watched and instructed when someone got a little knife happy and I didn’t want to get cut.
There are a million hilarious stories I could tell you that happened during those bear hunts. The full grown men that were terrified of the bush. The time the beaver cut down a tree with a man in the tree stand in it. Having a 10ft+ space from other shoppers at the grocery store because we smelled so bad after spilling bear bait on ourselves (if you have ever baited you know the smell). The time they gave us chocolate sauce, marshmallows and Jello to use as bait and I came back smelling like all of the above and prayed I didn’t have to explain. The time I tripped over a tree because I couldn’t see, swung my arm in a downward motion to grab anything I could to save myself. He screamed..I screamed.. then all was silent and neither of us would admit what happened. I often worked with the boss’s son because he could drive but was too scared of the bush and too dumb to remember where the baits were, we had exactly the same personality and many fights took place over the years. I loved what I did even if the hunters did ask me a question then turn around and ask one of the guys the same thing to verify the girl knew what she was talking about.
In Chisholm the dates are slightly different and due to the fact of having small kids I didn’t encourage bears to come to my own property. Some day I may try it again but for now I have taken a break from bear hunting unless one starts being a problem. I did try for one a few years ago when neighbours kept seeing one around the house. He did eventually go away but not before I tried to get him (and let me tell you the massive freak out when your daughter is a rung below you on the ladder stand and you’re hunting bear and your belly decides that’s the best moment to growl it’s loudest growl ever is priceless). I just can’t help but mention the bait I used to try to get him. I got a call one day from a friend of mine who shot his goat on his farm after it did a bunch of bad stuff and the final straw was it eating the cords off all his power tools. He asked if I wanted it. With little to no meat in the freezer I was all over that idea and went and got it right away because people eat goat, it must be good right?? I rushed down to get it, skinned it and brought it home. After multiple people told me I couldn’t eat it and I argued it was only about a year old and ate only the best I found out why it was told that and why no one else I tried to give it to would eat it. It looked like gorgeous meat and I thought they were nuts but before completely butchering it I decided to try a piece of the loin, the best part. The piece I cooked was soft and tender and great-at first-then in a few moments I had a horrible taste in my mouth and I then understood. Goat meat tastes exactly like goat poop smells. So after completely disgusting my ex-mother-in-law that I was eating something that she viewed as the equivalent of eating a dog the goat became bear bait.
How do we get over hunting withdrawals? Hang out with your hunting buddies if you’re fortunate enough to be able to do so. Plan your next hunt-where you are going, scout out new areas if you can or think of what you’re going to do different next year. Gear up-maybe you need a new scope or more ammo. But if all that fails-I guarantee you that a new firearm will cure what ails you and get you through to the next season and make it even more wonderful than the last.