08/29/2026
Our 2026 Fall Bear Season got off to a great start last night when our guide Bob Emery's granddaughter Bella shot her first bear on youth day! The young boar strolled into the bait just after 5 pm, and Bella made a decent shot, just a touch too far back. The bear bolted off, and within minutes, it started pouring down rain, washing away any sign of a hit. Bob had called, making me aware of the situation, so I got ol Jasper collared up and Adam & I headed down to see if we could find the bear. By the time we got there, it was 6:30, and a few different waves of thunder showers had rolled through. I knew we were asking a lot of Jasper, but I figured its always worth trying. We got into the bait sight, and he struggled to pick up the track, so I walked him out the direction the bear had left. Slowly Jasper, started pulling tighter on the leash, digging a little harder as we went. He would lose the scent for a bit, make a circle, find it, and dig back in. About 200 yards out, Jasper stopped quick,picked his head up off the ground and started staring ahead ,made a couple short yips, and at the same time I looked, kinda knowing what it meant, to see the bear laying about 20 yards in front of me, head up, staring at me. It got up and hobbled off, badly hurt.( There was no chance for Bella to get another shot there)We decided to give it a little time, now knowing that with the fresh track we would have no trouble finding it. After some time , we started back in, Jasper barking fiercely letting us know he wanted that bear! We only went about another 200 yards before catching up to the young boar, laying in a raspberry choked skidder rut,and Bella had her first bear!
Congratulations Bella, and Bob!
