Late notice hunt

[ncboman]

Seems a couple of guys from tradgang are planning an opening week deer hunt on Pocosin Lakes beginning @sept 11th.

I think I'm going to try and see some knapping and maybe kill something for a day or two and would like to welcome anyone interested.

The hunt is based from the campground at Conman's.

www.homestead.com/conmans/

the rate is $15 per night
no hookups
nice showerhouse/ restrooms
Clean atmosphere

Good chance to check out the area for the later bear seasons.

I hope to be bear/deer hunting during the December season in the general area and could entertain forum members at Conman's campground during that time. It would be wise to reserve camping spots well ahead of time for bear season hunt.

I cannot guarantee anyone to even see a live bear but I can guarantee anyone wanting to can see evidence bears are abundant in some spots. Just hanging around Conman's place during hunting season may prove worth the trip.

It would be wise to study info of the area and be aware of where bear hunting is allowed and where it is not. I'll see about some links.

btw, I DO intend on killing a bear with my bow.

[1YLAB]

Can't go in Sept, I've used all my vacation time up this summer but may be in December. From what I understand their are good numbers of deer and bears in the area. From the post at ncdeer.com, Conman seems to be a nice guy and would be very helpful.

[freedomrules3]

I would love to try and make it down, not sure how I can pull it off though . A December hunt I may be able to pull off though, at least a few days. I'd love to see some guys Knap who know how to do it though. a bear with a bow has always been on my mind since way back .

[ARO]

rick, i am thinking of going back to the place where i bear hunted a couple years ago. its called ron henry's guide service, its in quebec (about 12 hours from balto). they provide a cabin, beds, outdoor shower, and bait. they pre bait the sites a couple weeks before the season, and when you arrive, you bait the sites. you bring your own food, camping supplies,etc..
its $500 for a 7 day hunt, $90 for bear license. its a spring season bear hunt, and its bow hunting only. i have been there twice and had a great time both times.
the season is mid may through june. if you would be interested let me know, next year or year after. maybe we could do a forum hunt there, 4 people could ride together and split gas, tolls, we usually pitch in 50 bucks each and buy all the food before we leave, canadian food stores are expense!

[freedomrules3]

I don't think its really necessary to leave the states to kill a bear anymore, not like it used to be. West Virginia is prime bear hunting anymore . If you contact the DNR in the charleston area they will give lots of good info on exactly where to have a good chance at one. I talked with one a few years back and he was very helpful , but I never could pull off the hunt. license is high but travel is easy there . For some reason a spring bear hunt in canada , all I'm seeing in my mind is "black flies " the price is right though.

a Dec hunt In Nc may be doable, Only time will tell though. Conmans place looks real nice. wheres the topo of the area .

[ncboman]

I don't think its really necessary to leave the states to kill a bear anymore, not like it used to be.

It is to kill a 'book bear'.

While the size of the bears in eastern NC can be awesome, the big skulls usually come from Canada. I've often thought a spot and stalk bear hunt along the rugged rivers and lakes up there would be fun. I have absolutely no appetite to go to Canada and hunt bear over a bait barrel.

[ARO]

the only way to hunt bears in lower quebec is over bait, i have never heard of an outfitter that offers spot and stalk, its way to thick.
a good place to spot and stalk bear with a bow is the western us, the terrain is good for that.
NC does produce some brutes, hunting is mostly done over fields with a gun, isnt it?
spot and stalk bear hunting on the east coast is like trying to spot and stalk deer in pocomoke state forest, slim chance!

[freedomrules3]

I would have loved to have gotten down that way to watch some pros do some knapping. I suspect thats where Nc is right now sittin round a campfire.

[ncboman]

Yeah, I took em some rain down there. ;D

I got to see Conman's buck and the pics don't do it justice. It's bigger in real life. Thick all the way thru is a good way to describe it. It'll be interesting to see an official score as the circumferences are really impressive. It should be P&Y with ease.

I didn't kill anything but a truckload of skeeters but I did meet some good guys and think I got off to a good start with the knapping.

Thanks go to Stonemedic for the great lesson, even in the rain, and Rick also for some really good tips and info. I met Bernie but by the time I got back from hunting he'd already turned in.

I'll put up some pics when I get time.

oh, there was one event that still has me scratching my head. I was in my aluminum boat and had gone a good distance when I decided to get up on the closed road next to the canal for a looksee. There was a good slide coming down to the canal so I nosed over to it and carefully got out without getting dumped. The bank is rather steep, weedy, and the water 4to5 ft deep at the edge. Kinda tricky in a boat that'll run.

Anyway as I got out I smelled the strongest odor. I looked around good thinking snake but saw none. As I climbed up to the road I could still smell it, very strong. Nothing around but of course I'd made noise moving in the boat. It didn't smell like something had been there, it smelled like it WAS there. I may have bounced a bear but all kinds of animals had been using that slide and there weren't any real fresh bear tracks there. I dunno. Lots of guys were seeing bears but all I saw were pigs. Something smelled to high heaven but I missed seeing it.

[1YLAB]

They say Bigfoot smells really bad. ;D

Glad you had a good time.

[ncboman]

A pic Bernie took of Conman's buck and Jeff's rattler.

Several rattlers were taken along with some deer.





Here's one of the pigs I saw;

[ncboman]

this is pocosin



think there may be a snake?



bowhunting some of it just isn't feasible;



Now that the roads are closed, some excellent hunts can be made along the road edges.



more later.