It's 4:30am, what am I doing???

[Rookie]

Well guys, I'm off to bear camp with my dad and brother. We'll see what we can find today. Sure is fun waking up at 4:00 am.

[royal0014]

Right here with 'ya Coulda' slept another hour....

Going on a different kind of Bear hunt today Jacksonville, Alabama.

Yee Haw Ya'll!!!

[jerryd6818]

Most all the early risers around here head on over to The First Cup Diner. You're more than welcome to join us.

http://www.allaboutpocketknives.com/kni ... e7#p312298

Keep your powder dry, 'cause you know runnin' won't do no good.

[Rookie]

Well, I made it back. My brother actually saw a nice size bear. It was pretty far off, but walking down the mountain straight at him, so he got the crosshairs on it and just waited with his heart in his throat. The bear walked within 150 yards and all of a sudden bullets started flying. Some guy up the ridge saw it and just opened fire, scared the bear away.

The guy came down to look for blood, but there wasn't any. Later on the guy saw my brother sitting there, so he walked over. He apologized for his "hail mary" shots, saying he wouldn't have let the lead fly if he knew another hunter was down there. Turns out he was over 300 yards away, shooting through brush, with a lever action 30-30, and open sights. He said he couldn't really see the bear cause his iron pin covered up the bear, because he was so far away.

It gets annoying that we keep finding these type of "hunters" in the woods. Oh well, it was still nice weather, and fun to walk around the woods with my dad for a day.

[Cutty]

That's why I hunt in a private, family and close friends only "club" Well marked and closely watched.

Glad you guy's are o.k. and you had fun with your dad

[TripleF]

There's not much quite like the rush of preparing for a hunt, except when the hunted actually appears!

Thanks for sharing!

[caddyman1973]

4:30 huh? Well, I'm sitting in the parking lot, getting ready to go into work. But not before checking AAPK and doing a little looking on EBay.

[Quick Steel]

Rookie: I know it would be a bother and maybe not too practical; but if you could get a name or find his car and get a plate # or registration I think a police report would have been in order. Surely there is something he could be charged with, maybe negligent discharge or reckless endangerment. Besides his stupidity and gross disrespect for the animal he is an obvious danger.

Maybe a complaint to whatever office issues hunting licenses?

Glad you are back safe and sound.

[Rookie]

Yeah, back a few years ago everyone had to wear the hunting license on their backside, which showed their name, and city they live in. Now the new licenses you just carry in your wallet, so no easy way to tell. Add to the fact that we were in the Allegheny National Forest, so there were probably about 100 cars parked in the different parking areas, it would be a stretch to find out who it was.

My brother just showed him he was disgusted, and then moved on to find another place where he wasn't close to anyone. Seems like there are always more hunters in the woods than whatever we are hunting.

[Cutty]

If you can find and afford a SAFE club, I would do so. Depending on how much you hunt it's worth the price. Public land or WMA's can be sketchy, clubs are better depending on members and how much "fence" crossing goes on. There are usually set camping areas or a cabin and set areas/quads for each hunter and check ins and outs. As well as club meetings to deal with issues and land maintenance days etc.