Idaho Spring Bear Hunt – Team Camp Stories and Alpine
Who says Spring is the Archery “off season”……?
The Three Creeks Crew had the chance to join our friends and sponsors at Alpine Archery in Lewiston, Idaho for
an amazing Black Bear hunt last weekend – and oh boy, what a trip! Mark drove over from Portland in time to
meet Tommy flying in from Philadelphia for the first evening’s hunt on Thursday. After meeting Vince Kite and
Dustin Bomley from Alpine Archery along with their friend Corey Davis at the factory, they headed out for the first
evening on the set up. Neither Mark in the ground blind, nor Tommy in the treestand saw any bears, but it was
clear the baits were being hit and a matter of time.
I arrived after work on Friday just in time to meet up with everyone for a tour at the amazing Alpine factory. Pulling
me out of there was difficult, as I could have spent all day in the facility watching and learning how the best
shooting bows get designed, produced and manufactured. Only the lure of that ground blind and the possibility of
seeing my first Idaho black bear pulled me out of there. Less than 90 minutes later, we were headed down the
logging road on our way to the treestand where Mark and Tommy would sit bear-less for the night. But not before
we saw our first game animal: A cow moose at 60 yards. We joined her in a stare-down contest for over 10
minutes before we called it a stand off and both went our separate ways. My time in the ground blind with Dustin
and Corey produced no sightings that night, but we did hear a very aggressive bear popping its jaws and moving
around us for over an hour. Having only read about this behavior, it was both eerie and exhilarating to hear and
feel it less than 100 yards away with only and Eastman blind separating us from those snapping jaws. Vince
greeted us all back at the truck around 10:30 with an impromptu bbq meal – we wasted no time sharing stories
under the star-lit Idaho skies soaking in our first bear hunt and enjoying everything that Camp Stories is all about.
Unfortunately, Tommy had to leave very early the next morning for a previously scheduled trip, leaving Mark and I
to carry the torch for Three Creeks and bring home a bear. Since we only hunt in the afternoon, Mark and I slept
in before heading over to Dustin’s house for some great hospitality of hunting DVD’s, a cookout and some 3D
shooting in his yard. You gotta love afternoon hunts…….As it came time to pull on the camo and head out, Mark
and I flipped a coin to see where we’d sit for the night. As it turned out, I “won” that fateful flip when George
Washington’s head landed face up – I was going to the treestand location, while Mark was headed back to the
ground blind. Corey and I headed up to the stand and got set up – things were looking good upon arrival, as the
bait had been hit hard for the 3rd night. Corey and I took our places in the stand and spent the next 4 hours
listening to sticks break, curious crows and aggressive turkeys gobbling within 50yds of our location. But no
bears. Suddenly, and with only 3 minutes of camera light left, Corey’s back stiffened and he raised the camera.
With wide eyes, he mouthed to me, “BEAR”. Looking around with my eyes, I said, “Where?”. Pointing directly at
his Danner Pronghorn boots, he flicked on the camera. Looking down under the stand, I saw him – a really nice
bear directly under my stand walking in front of us. How he came in so silently, I’ll never know – but I do know
this: I couldn’t breathe for about 10 seconds after I saw him. Just being 8 ft away from such a magnificent
creature and with precious minutes left to seal the deal, I was overtaken by adrenalin, excitement and bear-fever!
As soon as his head went behind the first tree, I came to full draw and held for almost 2 minutes as he meandered
around in our space. Waiting for a shot, it felt like it would never come. After what felt like agonizing hours, not
minutes, he finally turned and gave me a quartering away shot to my left. With literally seconds of camera light
left, I put the top pin from the Montana Black Gold in the middle of his body and let the arrow fly. With a solid hit, I
could see the arrow went in about 3 inches back from where I wanted it, but quartering away, I was confident in
the shot. As the broadhead smashed into the tree behind him what a loud “CRACK”, the bear whirled on his
heals and crashed down the hillside. I watched in amazement through an opening in the forrest as he went down
only 70 yards away. My legs began to betray me as the reality of this successful hunt hit me hard. We’d done it.
After recovering him in the pitch black, we enjoyed a happy photo session and soaked in the moment.
For months, we’ve been planning this hunt with our
friends at Alpine and to have it all come together at
truly the last minute was just too much to take. The
work, effort and hospitality that Dustin, Corey and
Vince showed us was above and beyond and it all
paid off. For my first bear hunt, I couldn’t imagine
anything better. In addition, we really grew the
Camp Stories family and philosophy, adding some
great moments before and after the hunt to our
scrap book and, along with this great bear will show
you on our Camp Stories - North America DVD later
in the fall. Who says spring is the “off season…..”?
Kent Thomas - Team Camp Stories
Who says Spring is the Archery “off season”……?
The Three Creeks Crew had the chance to join our friends and sponsors at Alpine Archery in Lewiston, Idaho for
an amazing Black Bear hunt last weekend – and oh boy, what a trip! Mark drove over from Portland in time to
meet Tommy flying in from Philadelphia for the first evening’s hunt on Thursday. After meeting Vince Kite and
Dustin Bomley from Alpine Archery along with their friend Corey Davis at the factory, they headed out for the first
evening on the set up. Neither Mark in the ground blind, nor Tommy in the treestand saw any bears, but it was
clear the baits were being hit and a matter of time.
I arrived after work on Friday just in time to meet up with everyone for a tour at the amazing Alpine factory. Pulling
me out of there was difficult, as I could have spent all day in the facility watching and learning how the best
shooting bows get designed, produced and manufactured. Only the lure of that ground blind and the possibility of
seeing my first Idaho black bear pulled me out of there. Less than 90 minutes later, we were headed down the
logging road on our way to the treestand where Mark and Tommy would sit bear-less for the night. But not before
we saw our first game animal: A cow moose at 60 yards. We joined her in a stare-down contest for over 10
minutes before we called it a stand off and both went our separate ways. My time in the ground blind with Dustin
and Corey produced no sightings that night, but we did hear a very aggressive bear popping its jaws and moving
around us for over an hour. Having only read about this behavior, it was both eerie and exhilarating to hear and
feel it less than 100 yards away with only and Eastman blind separating us from those snapping jaws. Vince
greeted us all back at the truck around 10:30 with an impromptu bbq meal – we wasted no time sharing stories
under the star-lit Idaho skies soaking in our first bear hunt and enjoying everything that Camp Stories is all about.
Unfortunately, Tommy had to leave very early the next morning for a previously scheduled trip, leaving Mark and I
to carry the torch for Three Creeks and bring home a bear. Since we only hunt in the afternoon, Mark and I slept
in before heading over to Dustin’s house for some great hospitality of hunting DVD’s, a cookout and some 3D
shooting in his yard. You gotta love afternoon hunts…….As it came time to pull on the camo and head out, Mark
and I flipped a coin to see where we’d sit for the night. As it turned out, I “won” that fateful flip when George
Washington’s head landed face up – I was going to the treestand location, while Mark was headed back to the
ground blind. Corey and I headed up to the stand and got set up – things were looking good upon arrival, as the
bait had been hit hard for the 3rd night. Corey and I took our places in the stand and spent the next 4 hours
listening to sticks break, curious crows and aggressive turkeys gobbling within 50yds of our location. But no
bears. Suddenly, and with only 3 minutes of camera light left, Corey’s back stiffened and he raised the camera.
With wide eyes, he mouthed to me, “BEAR”. Looking around with my eyes, I said, “Where?”. Pointing directly at
his Danner Pronghorn boots, he flicked on the camera. Looking down under the stand, I saw him – a really nice
bear directly under my stand walking in front of us. How he came in so silently, I’ll never know – but I do know
this: I couldn’t breathe for about 10 seconds after I saw him. Just being 8 ft away from such a magnificent
creature and with precious minutes left to seal the deal, I was overtaken by adrenalin, excitement and bear-fever!
As soon as his head went behind the first tree, I came to full draw and held for almost 2 minutes as he meandered
around in our space. Waiting for a shot, it felt like it would never come. After what felt like agonizing hours, not
minutes, he finally turned and gave me a quartering away shot to my left. With literally seconds of camera light
left, I put the top pin from the Montana Black Gold in the middle of his body and let the arrow fly. With a solid hit, I
could see the arrow went in about 3 inches back from where I wanted it, but quartering away, I was confident in
the shot. As the broadhead smashed into the tree behind him what a loud “CRACK”, the bear whirled on his
heals and crashed down the hillside. I watched in amazement through an opening in the forrest as he went down
only 70 yards away. My legs began to betray me as the reality of this successful hunt hit me hard. We’d done it.
After recovering him in the pitch black, we enjoyed a happy photo session and soaked in the moment.
For months, we’ve been planning this hunt with our
friends at Alpine and to have it all come together at
truly the last minute was just too much to take. The
work, effort and hospitality that Dustin, Corey and
Vince showed us was above and beyond and it all
paid off. For my first bear hunt, I couldn’t imagine
anything better. In addition, we really grew the
Camp Stories family and philosophy, adding some
great moments before and after the hunt to our
scrap book and, along with this great bear will show
you on our Camp Stories - North America DVD later
in the fall. Who says spring is the “off season…..”?
Kent Thomas - Team Camp Stories
| Ordinary Guys Making Extraordinary Memories |
 |  |  |  |  |  |
Mark and Kent celebrate Kent's first bear!
