Where are you from and how long have you been hunting big game?

Well, I’m from Virginia. I’ve been hunting big game probably for about 40 years, few breaks in between here and there, life gets in the way but always come back to it. I Deer hunt, Turkey hunt, and this was my first Bear hunt.

Who got you started in the tradition of hunting?

My uncles. That was my introduction to hunting, you know, of course they were all older than I was but, you know, they started taking me along and introduced me to hunting. That had been their lifestyle since they were kids as well.

What do you hunt back home?

Well Turkey, Whitetail and of course I travel other places to hunt Mule Deer and occasionally Elk.

How does the black bear opportunity here compare to back home?

Well in my part of the country we do have a lot of Black Bear but the way the seasons run it’s kind of, for me, in where I hunt specifically it’s kind of hit or miss. I see bear all the time. I keep a lot of cameras running on the farm that I hunt so I see a lot of Bear but to see one when you’re out hunting you know it’s kind of hit or miss. So for me it’s hard to say “Okay I’m going to concentrate on Bear hunting at home.” It’s just kind of if you’re out there Deer hunting in the week or two that Bear season and deer season run concurrently you know you might just have an opportunity but hasn’t worked out for me yet so far.

As a first time hunter here at Bone Quest, what are your impressions of the camp?

Well I can say a lot on that. It’s a great place. Very happy with it especially for my first time black bear hunting in Canada. It’s just, it’s a great place, great people. Very comfortable. I’ve been, I’ve been to quite many different places in the last 10 years or so and this is by far as friendly and welcoming a group of people and outfitters I’ve ever hunted with. Just very comfortable very relaxed. It’s a friendly environment there’s not pressure. The people that actually, the outfitters they don’t act like they’re pressured. You know now they may be but they do a good job of not acting like it which makes you comfortable and you know they’re working hard for you without any doubt about that.

What are your impressions of the guides?

It’s a hard-, we were just talking about this morning, it’s a hardworking bunch of people. I mean they’re going at it from first thing in the morning till sometimes 2, 2 o’clock the next morning. So when when we got our Bears you know we were in here to 2:30 in the morning and then back up at it the next morning because they have to get ready for the next day’s hunt for the other people. So they’re putting in tremendous number of hours.

What do you think of the lodge.

It’s great. Comfortable. It’s got everything you need. Just very homey, really it’s a nice place.

Have you found enough to eat?

Well if you don’t find enough to eat here then you’re not even trying because yes there is plenty of food and it’s great food too. This, the food here is as good, well it’s better, than any of the other lodges I have hunted with to be honest with you. That’s not throwing off on anybody else but, they do just a great job with food here, there’s always plenty of it, it’s always good.

Day 1: Headed out to the stand, what were your thoughts?

Yeah it’s a good question you know a lot of things you’re thinking about, like if you’ve not done this before, been in a bear stand when you’re bear hunting you don’t know what to expect. So it’s all new. Found out pretty quick that it’s not always what you think it’s going to be. Some of the bears they like to get a little friendly with you in the stand. Had that happen on at least three times on Monday now that you mentioned that, where the bears wanted to get up close and personal in my stand with me. Don’t know why that was, no one else had that issue as much as I did on that one evening I don’t know what the deal is with that. You know you’re thinking like now I didn’t really anticipate this is just I never gave this any thought that a bear would actually want to come up in the stand with you, you know. So yeah there’s a lot of things that hit you by surprise that you hadn’t given any thought to.

What were you looking for, regarding characteristics of the bear?

Well, you know, being new to the bear hunting and trying to judge bears, you know, I was listening to everyone in camp especially, I guess, most everyone had been here before I think who was here when we came in. They had been here previously, years past, so had a lot of good information about how to judge a boar and you’re trying to apply that when you’re out on the stand.

How did you do, sizing the bear at the stand, compared to the weigh in?

Well it went pretty well and that’s always I guess the first, your first bear, you’re thinking about that like is this the right bear, will it be the right bear when after I’ve after I’ve pulled the trigger? Worked out really good. Listening to the other people in camp and outfitter telling me how to judge that bear off the barrel size and that type thing. It’s a good place to start when you’re trying to pick the right right bear. They were very helpful in that regard, trying to prepare you before you ever went out.

How many bears did you pass up before you chose your shooter?

Six, on Monday night, that I passed, but I saw a total of seven.

Tell me about your weapon of choice.

Came with crossbow this year. I have used crossbow in the past on Whitetail and decided I wanted to give that a try for bear and I’m glad I did. It worked out very well.

What were your thoughts when you first put your hands on the Bear?

The size the size of the head, the weight of the head. We were taking some pictures you know, you need to kind of hold the head up so that you get a good picture of the head and then just the sheer weight of the head alone is surprising.

What three things will you remember most about this trip?

Of course you’re going to remember the people. Every outfitter I’ve hunted with there’s always some people that you remember. Maybe it’s someone you hunted with you never met before, perhaps if it’s a Deer hunt. Of course the guides, you know someone who’s really worked hard to help you, and don’t want to disappoint the guide. I mean, that’s me anyway. Guides working so hard, I want to do what I’m supposed to do, and, because he has worked so hard to help me. But here the guides are great. They’re going to be people you remember. Of course the food, you always remember the food you know that’s one thing you always think about cuz everybody wants to know how’s the food when you talk about a place you’ve been and that’s really important to most people. Just the accommodations, the lodge, you know that it’s all, it’s like being at home, it’s better than being at home in some cases cuz you don’t have to mow the grass. You just sit out and enjoy yourself. Just a very enjoyable place all the way around. There’s nothing I can say like well I wish this was different or that was different. It’s all great.

Would you come back next year?

I plan to, I plan to already, already making that plan absolutely.