Oh No! We're Gonna Die by Bob Bell

Author:Bob Bell [Bell, Bob]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781578333417
Google: uDn0JwAACAAJ
Publisher: Todd Communications
Published: 2006-11-15T00:34:19.237551+00:00

SOMETIMES PRINCE WILL IAM HAS BAD MANNERS

Sam and I went hunting and fishing in Prince William Sound several times a year in his luxury cruiser. Back then, Sam was a partner in my firm and also owned one of the larger construction companies in Alaska. He had grown up hunting and fishing and thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors.

I always admired Sam’s ability to cut through the details and minutia of business and get to the heart of the issue. In contrast, I found him to be more of a “gentleman” hunter than a gut–it–out type of guy. This was reflected in his boat. It was a 45–foot Ocean with overstuffed furniture, twin marine 300 diesel engines, forced air heating, TV, a stateroom, and many other conveniences.

Going out with Sam was always a cushy experience. We would hunt Sitka black tail deer in the fall and winter and black bear in the spring. We even came across an occasional brown bear. Often we would spot bears from the boat and then plan a stalk.

I remember one trip in particular with Sam and Raymond, a retired hunting guide who now worked for Sam. We spotted a large black bear while we were anchored in Bainbridge Passage. He was on a snow slide right where it intersected the beach, next to a 15–foot drop–off where the tide had washed the snow away.

I decided to shoot from the boat because there was no way to go ashore without spooking him into the brush. Shooting from a boat even when it is anchored is very difficult. I figured this out after I had fired the 10th or 12th shot with little effect. The bear took off up the very steep snow slide, with me blowing holes in the snow all around him. I finally hit him and he came tumbling down the slope over the cliff and onto the rocks below. Sam commented that that should take care of him.

We were all astounded when the bear got up and started running down the beach. I shot him several more times before he went down. Sam commented that he was the toughest bear he had ever seen. As Raymond and I ran to the skiff to retrieve our trophy, Sam yelled, “Hey, he is back up again.” I grabbed my rifle and gave him two or three more rounds.

Sam warned us that if that bear got in the water and started swimming toward the boat he would fire up the engines and leave. He wanted no part of an invincible bear. He had no more than made the statement when the bear got back up lurched into the water and started swimming. It only went 10 feet and returned to shore. Sam took his hand off the starter. I shot the bear again.

We then launched the skiff and went to shore. I started toward the bear and Raymond went in the other direction. Experience guided Raymond’s path; ignorance guided mine. As I walked up to the bear he got back to his feet.

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