Success In The Field

Today is the last day of our early muzzleloader season here in the south western part of VA. It is also the last day to harvest a bear with a muzzleloader. I spotted a bear at the location I hunted this morning one week before it opened up, so that's why I went back there this morning.

I cleared out an area of leaves and was sitting on the ground with my back against a tree. It was just a few minutes before 7:00am and I heard leaves rustling, he came out into view about 60 yards directly in front of me. I placed the Encore muzzleloader pistol between my knees and had a rock steady rest. He was coming towards me at a slight angle so I just let him get closer. At about 25 yards while he was still walking, I placed a 200 grain SST at the base of his neck and it came out behind the offside shoulder. He went straight down and it was over. I took a few pictures and then field dressed him. The bullet took off the top of his heart and totally destroyed one lung.

I thanked the good Lord for the clean harvest and loaded him up in my Polaris Ranger.

Well, I better get off of here and get started skinning. As my buddy Ed said, "It's a lot of work but it's worth it".