Category Archives: Big Game Hunting

Articles about Big Game Hunting.

Very Successful Maine Bear Hunt 2025 with Foggy Mountain Guide Service

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Author Ed Hale and his large boar taken with Crossbow

I began my second Maine bear hunt with Foggy Mountain and my friend Brandon Bishop, owner and Master Maine Guide. 

https://www.foggymountain.com/

I was hunting along the beautiful West Branch of the Penobscot River below. A truly wild place in which time forgot!

 

Monday, September 9th was a cool morning 52ºF with clear skies. I arrived at the bait site after a 20 mile dirt road drive. I asked my guide Ken to place me at the furthest secluded bait site and a ground blind. 

The location was thick with fir trees, some fallen with gnarled roots thrust in the air. The rusted steel barrel in the picture below. If the barrel could talk, it would tell of many bear hunting stories.  

Above, my 10 Point Crossbow positioned on a Death Grip Tripod at the ready with my Swhacker broadheads below! The Death Grip Tripod held the crossbow in its vice-like grip.

 

The forest sounds were of blue-jays, ravens and red squirrels chattering in the distance. 

I was hopeful, with a rusty bait barrel full of bear goodies just 29 yards away.

By sunset, at the 7PM hour, I had a hard time seeing clearly. I slipped quietly out of the stand hopeful for the next day.

The 20 mile drive back to camp was long and dodging rain filled potholes at every turn.

I was shown directions to the bait just once. On the way out I was making sure I made the right turns to get back safely. 

A truly grand adventure, stretching my hunter capabilities!  

At camp I arrived to six bears on the meat pole taken by bear hunters on day one. There were 20 hunters in camp and a bevy of guides. Below Brandon Bishop looks on. 

 

Most hunters used a rifle, but I successfully did that last year. My Ten Point Turbo Crossbow was easily up to the task shooting my swhacker 2.5 inch cut broadheads at 350 fps.

This property I hunted on is owned by many Timber Corporations and comprises 3.5 million acres of prime wild and diverse Maine habitat. 

These millions of acres is accessed is by hundreds of miles of dirt roads maintained by these timber companies. See my muddy, but very sturdy, silver Tacoma TRD 4×4 below. My trusty steed!

The next day, September 9th after a big lunch, I was ready for the hunt. Trekking to my bear stand, I decided to park further away, so as not to spook game.

It was 2 o’clock when I settled in. I had to adjust my tripod and seat for the long anticipated 5 hour sit, without moving much.

It was 3:10PM, when suddenly a black bear appeared out of thin air at the bait.

I have harvested two smaller bears in the recent past, thus I checked the bear out with my binoculars. “OMG, I thought, its a big bear.”

The bear stuffed his head in the bait barrel for just a second, then backed out, and turned and walked toward me. It all happened in an instant. 

My crosshairs were on him but a chest facing shot with a crossbow is not a killing shot.

At 20 yards, he peered into my brushy blind and decided it was empty and began to turn back. As the bear swung broadside, I launched my 350 fps arrow. I watched the arrow disappear into the bears chest behind the front left leg.  The bear ran to my left.   I was sure I made a good broadside shot. I packed up my gear and headed out to wait for my guide. I sent a satellite text message to my guide and headed to a rendezvous point. At 5 PM I hooked back up with Ken, my guide, who was already recovering another hunters bear and loaded it in the hunters truck. 

Below, Ken had another bear guide with him and Ken’s pet bear dog, a small black lab trained for bear retrieval. 

At my bait site we found the blood covered arrow.

I was all Smiles.

It took the dog just 10 minutes to locate the very dead bear just 60 yards from the bait. 

Below back at camp my bear was about my height, a 67 inch boar with huge claws.  

I stayed an extra day till my meat and hide froze in the camp freezer. 

Below, this stream produced some local brook trout. Great fun!

Bear meat is in my freezer and my bear skin is at the taxidermist for making a rug. I will be doing my own meat processing and vacuum sealing. Bear meat is delicious!

Happy Trails!

Good Hunting!

 

Sharpening Mako Shark Broadheads

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First, I found these broadheads come sharp already but in my estimation they can be sharper still. On one head I found one side sharper than the other. You can use these heads for hunting right out of the box and can be resharpened and reused many times. 

Or you can disassemble them and use a Stay Sharp C sharpener below. Just don’t lose the tiny screw that holds the blade. The C sharpener does a very good job of resharpening your main blade and bleeder blades. 

Another method is to use a wheel knife sharpener below on the assembled main blade.

I took off the bleeder blade but you may not have to.  Experiment with the angle you draw the blade through. I have one on order. Many like the simplicity of the wheels. Tip the head down at a 45 deg angle or more. With some pressure, draw the blade toward you several times. You should feel some scraping. Then draw with less pressure. Strop with curved or folded leather or denim. Test to easily cut paper.

 

Yet another simple method is to strop these blades on an oval steel diamond coated Jewel Stick. This won’t sharpen the bleeder blades though. I like this method for touch up the most. It is quick and does a shaving sharp job with practice.

Good Hunting!

 

Arrow Energy and Penetration for Black Bear

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I went on-line in search of recommended minimum arrow energies and penetration criteria.  I found that baseline bow energies begin at around 40 foot-pounds and go up from there. My compound currently has a peak weight of 50 lbs., shoots 185 fps and has 45 ft-lbs of energy off the bow shelf. Is that enough? It depends on your arrow weight and broadhead choice. A light arrow of say 400 grains will lack momentum. Couple this light arrow with a mechanical broadhead or say a three or 4 blade head will offer better cutting but far less or even no full penetration.

On bear, full penetration through both lungs and an exit wound for a blood trail are a necessity.

Under lighter bow and arrow weight, it would be wise to rethink your arrow weight and broadhead choice. Heavier arrows penetrate better as does a cut-on-contact broadhead with a lighter bow weight/arrow weight setup.

The goal is accuracy coupled with penetration by choosing a heavier arrow and perhaps a sharp 2 blade cut-on-contact head to reduce friction.

Accordingly, my 50 lb bow setup (may increase peak weight before the hunt) uses a very heavy arrow of 575 grains for momentum and a two blade cut-on-contact broadhead to reduce friction and maximize an exit wound for blood trailing. Momentum per my Garmin Chrono. note PF- Power Factor is 105.8 KG Ft/Sec. 

I am using a 2219 XX75 with a 2 blade 125g Steel Force head. It shoots like my field points at 20 yards. Reviews of this head for strength are mediocre thus I may try a stronger broadhead. Stay tuned…

Long time big game hunters attest to using heavier arrows given short shooting distances especially on big and dangerous game. 

Good Hunting!

My Maine Bear Returns From The Taxidermist – Updated

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I chose a half mount and it came out pretty realistic. He is a small bear but made for a great life-like half mount. This fall bear feasted on blueberries and raspberries before I took him with my 7mm Rem Mag and a 160 grain Nosler Partition. This winter and cold spring my wife and I enjoyed bear meatloaf and stew, my favorite dishes. I even had it for breakfast! The flavor was terrific.

Below, I did a knotty cedar/pine wall in my basement with the bear as the wall centerpiece. 

I added my Lancaster Revolutionary war 50 cal. flintlock rifle on the left. I built it several years back and it shoots a ball and patch as good as it looks! 

 I’m headed back to Maine in a Month for another opportunity with my bow or crossbow. Who knows, maybe even bigger!

 

Good Hunting!

Big Game Crossbow Bowhunting For Seniors

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We older bowhunters still have a strong desire to hunt big game. As we age we have issues with arms, joints, eyes etc.

“Staying in the game” is paramount to many of us because we love the adventure and excitement of the hunt and the resulting associated adrenaline. Without the fight/flight adrenaline many of us would not be hunters or for that matter, fishermen. 

Enter the modern crossbow. Today you can find crossbows everywhere in the hunting world and they pack a punch and accurate.

I have harvested wild boar with a recurve crossbow from Excalibur;

and black bear with my 10 Point Turbo. 

Of prime importance is accuracy. We owe it to the game we hunt!

I still love to shoot my recurve and compound bow but find my ability to pull and shoot heavier poundage is waning as I age. Years ago, when I was doing IBO 3D, I was pulling up to 82 pounds. Yikes!

Todays latest crossbows utilize hand cranks to pull and load the string, thus making it easy for seniors and juniors to shoot a powerful arrow and a sharp broadhead at big game.

The crossbow allows much more kinetic energy and penetration today than ever before. But you still have to get closer to game making it a real challenge. The hunter still needs to practice with the crossbow, loading, unloading, shooting at many distances.

Good Hunting!

 

 

New Bear Adapt2 Compound Bow and Special Peep Sight – Update

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As many of my readers know, I stopped shooting my compound bow several years ago largely because my dominant eye became dyslexic and could no longer see through my peep. Shoulder issues “back then” added to my problem as well.   I found some Peep solutions for it, lowered my poundage and bought this smooth pulling Bear Archery Adapt-2 bow. Shooting is so much better. Instead of taking my crossbow hunting this fall, I am working toward using this new bow for hunting. But we shall see. Game animals deserve my best accuracy!

The peep sight, a Sterner Dutera String Splitter Peep. It has an 11/16 opening that is so wide, that it is like not having a peep sight.  And to make my anchor consistent, I use a kisser button. See below.

Some pics of my shooting the Bear Bow below.

So there you go… I used my traditional feathered XX75’s below at 20 yards. Hit a little low but very heavy hunting arrows at over 550 grains with a 45 lb bow. Felt Great!

Two Arrow Test

Peak Bow Draw weight 45 lbs. at 28 inches

Arrow Wt.     Chrono            Energy            PF 

      575g       171FPS      37.3 FT-LBS    98.3 KG FT/S

      390g       201FPS     34.6 FT-LBS      77.5 KG FT/S

At 25 yards the 575g arrow will provide deeper penetration due to PF Power Factor of Momentum. 

Good Hunting!

Back to Foggy Mountain for Bear in September

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Maine for me, is just up the road. I shot a nice bear with Foggy Mountain Guide Service last year with my own 7mm Rem Mag and Nosler Partitions. It filled my freezer with delicious blueberry/raspberry fed black bear meat, filled my memories of a great hunt, and the friendly guide service, food and sleep quarters were excellent. Consequently, I am going back to Maine in September. No airline or customs hassles either like my recent Canada bear hunt. More soon…

Last years Maine bear below

 

Good Hunting!

Rifles and Cartridges Used On Alberta Bear Hunt and Crossbow Thoughts

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It is very telling as to which rifles were used on my Alberta Bear Hunt. First, Saddle Hills offers scoped rifle $300 Savage rifle rental. Savage makes a great cost effective rifle. 

I think that is a big plus for most airline traveling hunters.

Given that shot distances are extremely short at around 20 yards, accuracy is maximized as well as delivered energy. Calibers in .270 Winchester and 7mm08 were often used delivering 2300 ft-lbs. at 20 yards. More than enough to take down black bear given a double lung hit and provide an exit wound.

In my humble opinion, Canadians use the .270 Winchester as an all around big game caliber, with the exception of hunting Grizzly bear. For that, many use the 300 Win Mag or similar high power caliber and a well constructed bullet. 

Bullets used were often soft point cup and core bullets. I used a .270 as a backup to my hunt and as a wolf caliber for a longer wolf shot.  A single hunter used a 6.5 PRC with excellent results on a 300 pound bear. It fell in sight of the bait.

Many say that USA  bear hunters like the lever action 45-70 for short range bear to maximize entrance an exit size for blood trailing but, to my knowledge, none were used on the hunt. Why? Most clients did not want the hassle to lug their rifle through Canadian customs given the option of renting.

That said, in Canada, I believe the .270 Winchester, for moose, deer and black bear, appears to be the best all around “available” caliber. I used a borrowed .270 successfully in Newfoundland for Moose. 

Ed’s Moose taken Sept. 19, 2023

My own personal choice of bullet would be a Nosler Partition or A-Frame type to ensure an exit wound. I used a 7mm Rem mag with a 160g Nosler Partition on my 2023 Maine bear. Plenty of blood to trail 20 yards.

Accordingly, don’t overthink bear calibers especially at 20 yards.

Think accuracy and double lung hits and you are golden.

I used my 10 Point Turbo crossbow on my Alberta bear with a Swhacker 2.5 inch cut mechanical.

The swhacker zipped thru the bears lungs and we never found the exiting arrow.  He fell dead right at the bait after climbing up a tree for 20 feet and then fell “crashing” dead as a door nail.

 

The downside to flying with the crossbow was the airline called the hardcase “oversize” and did not arrive as regular baggage off the carousel.  I had to go to baggage claim to find it and got hassled in Canada customs over my label of “Archery” Equipment. 

Good Hunting!

Alberta Bear Pictures

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Here are some pictures from the hunt.

 

Skinning Shed

Ed helping Kristie flip many eggs over-easy for breakfast! Great Fun! She say “My Flipper”

Another Ed – Practice makes perfect!

Bears Down!

Skinning a bear!

Crazy for the honey pot

Who’s bigger? Wanna fight? Two bears go at it. 

ORV Essential Transportation

A Carved Two Bear Seat. 

Big Color Phase Bear

Wild Alberta Bear Hunt – Encounter With An Angry Bear

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Saddle Hill Outfitters is a Trophy bear camp owned and operated by Rob and Kristie Sawyer. https://www.saddlehillsoutfitting.com/ 

I hunted June 1 to June 6, 2025. 

In camp were eight hunters, including myself. Most hunted with rifle. A few of us came with bow and I came with my 10 Point Turbo S1 crossbow.  I also rented a Savage scoped rifle in .270 Winchester for backup and for wolf. Yup, I had a wolf tag too.

We hunted from 5PM till dark, in Alberta’s Saddle Hills County. Guides drove us many many miles to each baited stand. In most cases, hunters and guides communicated via phone text. 

The Hunt

Rob and guides place white tipped stakes at bait sites so we could see bear shoulder height as the bears walk near. If the bears shoulder height was equal to the top of the stakes or higher, you had as trophy boar in your sights.

Trophy bear were taken by lucky hunters. The largest was around 300 pounds taken by Cason with 6.5 PRC rifle. Holy mackerel! What a trophy bear!

 

Some hunters misjudged some bears and harvested a few sows to the chagrin of the outfitters.  The sow is essential for producing and caring for the cubs and the future adult bears. 

Harvested bears are skinned and measured. Rob is a taxidermist and can create your mounts or you can take you skinned bear home to your own taxidermist.

I was not that lucky but observed many lesser black, cinnamon, and blond bears during the week.

I double lunged a smaller boar with my crossbow during the last 3 hours of my hunt after observing over a dozen bears during the hunt. At the shot, the boar ran 20 feet up the nearest tree, only to discover he was clearly hit in both lungs. He fell 20 feet straight down like a heavy sack of potatoes only to emit his erie death moan.

 

Encounter with “Angry Bear”

Upon getting the bear back to camp, my hunt friend excitedly said, “Ed, you shot  Angry Bear!”

I responded, “Say what?” 

He said, “You shot the bear that attempted to attack a sow with three cubs and aggressively attack me in my treestand a few days earlier. I had to fire my rifle to get him away from me, but after 5 minutes he came back snapping teeth and growling.

And he was trying to kill the three cubs with the sow at the bait.” The cubs climbed nearby trees!

The mother bear chased the angry bear up a tree three times, all the while the boar was growling and popping his teeth. 

After hearing this crazy encounter, my hunter friend was so glad I had killed that bear with my Swhacker 2 1/2 inch cut mechanical broadheads. Love those swhackers!

 

Mother bear also climbed up the tree-stand to check out the hunter. Peek-a-boo I see you!

Hunters, be aware that most of the bears I observed will climb up tree stands to see who is in it. I shout hey! The bears leave the tree but remained to eat the bait.

Below, my crossbow view overlooking the bait site of Angry Bear. On the ground behind the bait barrel lies Angry Bear. Quite dead!

I learned a lot about black bears on this hunt. 

Stay Safe – Good Hunting