Commissioner
Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2014
- Messages
- 16
Oklahoma just held its 6th bear hunt in the history of the state, and I was fortunate enough to participate.
I had major reconstructive back surgery the last Thursday in June which included adding an artificial disk, 2 rods, and 4 screws to hold it all together. Without being fully recovered from surgery I was only able to hunt half days, because I just couldn't hunt or sit that long. Luckily, Oklahoma allows the use of crossbows for archery season. I have an Excalibur Matrix 380 and I was using NAP 180 grain 2 blade mechanical broadhead called "F.O.C.". It has a 3" cutting diameter. Excalibur makes a cocking device that allowed me to be able to cock the bow without hurting my back and this device also aids in accuracy by cocking it the same way each and every time. Btw, that 3" whole made for a great blood trail and was a complete passthrough.
I didn't see anything but a lizard the first 2 afternoons, but was fortunate to see a small bear the size of a Labrador Retreiver on the 3rd and final afternoon. There was no way I was going to shoot a bear that small and was fortunate enough to have a much bigger bear come in and run off that smaller bear. As the big bear was focused on the smaller bear I was able to get my crossbow in position and was able to take the shot at 12 yards. That was a major league adrenaline rush.
Oklahoma has an estimated 2,000 bears and the hunting is limited to 4 counties in SE OK. My bear field dressed at 250 which would have put him over 300 pounds or more for a live weight.
I just want to encourage hunters with a disability not to give up. If you can't shoot a regular bow anymore, get a crossbow and get out there. You can still find some success even if you can't hunt as hard as you used to.
I had major reconstructive back surgery the last Thursday in June which included adding an artificial disk, 2 rods, and 4 screws to hold it all together. Without being fully recovered from surgery I was only able to hunt half days, because I just couldn't hunt or sit that long. Luckily, Oklahoma allows the use of crossbows for archery season. I have an Excalibur Matrix 380 and I was using NAP 180 grain 2 blade mechanical broadhead called "F.O.C.". It has a 3" cutting diameter. Excalibur makes a cocking device that allowed me to be able to cock the bow without hurting my back and this device also aids in accuracy by cocking it the same way each and every time. Btw, that 3" whole made for a great blood trail and was a complete passthrough.
I didn't see anything but a lizard the first 2 afternoons, but was fortunate to see a small bear the size of a Labrador Retreiver on the 3rd and final afternoon. There was no way I was going to shoot a bear that small and was fortunate enough to have a much bigger bear come in and run off that smaller bear. As the big bear was focused on the smaller bear I was able to get my crossbow in position and was able to take the shot at 12 yards. That was a major league adrenaline rush.
Oklahoma has an estimated 2,000 bears and the hunting is limited to 4 counties in SE OK. My bear field dressed at 250 which would have put him over 300 pounds or more for a live weight.
I just want to encourage hunters with a disability not to give up. If you can't shoot a regular bow anymore, get a crossbow and get out there. You can still find some success even if you can't hunt as hard as you used to.
