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Colorado Bear Hunting the Country Way!
A few years ago I had the privilege of visiting the
beautiful state of Colorado. Most go to Colorado to hunt elk,
moose, big horn sheep and the like. But there are a few folks who
do like to bear hunt. Well, I learned in a round about way that
although the actual activity of tracking and hunting bear can be exhilarating, the actual taking of the prey can
be intimidating…Case in point.
About 10 years ago, my Hidatsa sister and brother in-law and
I decided that, rather just take off for our usual hiking and trekking on Sunday, that we would go up on Saddle
Butte mountain and track a bear that had been seen carousing around the area, and had caused some concern for
the well-being of the folks and children that lived here and there upon the mountain, not to mention the
livestock.
Well, since we had decided to do this on a lark, we really
had not prepared well and intelligently for what we intended to do, which for my brother-in-law and sister, was
to kill the bear if found….Me myself, I considered the bear to be my brother in spirit in the Indian way, so I
knew I would not kill it, except in self-defense of course, so, we weren’t adequately armed as well as we should
be. My brother-in-law, Jim, took his shotgun, I don’t even remember
what gauge now, my sister took a 44 she owned, and I took my son’s .410.….yeah, pretty stupid…..but like I said
it was “on a lark”……
Well, if you know anything about bear hunting you already
have voiced your criticisms and remarks about how irresponsible we were. Believe me, lesson learned….And you know, it just shows the arrogance and
immaturity and disrespect we have for our four-legged brothers and sisters.
We divided up with Jim taking the left side trail that wound
around the mountain to the top, and I and Lovette took the right. Immediately, we could sense electricity in the air and
uneasiness…just this feeling that made the hair on the back of our necks stand up. Within moments we heard a grunting sound. Well, needless to say, we were frozen in our tracks! We had been following the trail and were midpoint up to the top of the
mountain, quite a little distance from the truck. Ahead around the curve of the path, we could hear and smell
our brother bear and knew he waited just around the bend.
Call it just plain old fear if you
like, but I prefer to call it wisdom in acknowledging in our spirit that Bear was telling us, “don’t come any
farther sisters…respect me and my territory….this was my home before it was yours, and I will protect myself
from any comers who foolishly desire to have bragging rights over my mounted head or skin on their
walls…..” And what was fascinating was the fact that both Lovette
and I both heard the same words in our spirits at the same time.
So, we slowly backed down the trail all the way down to the vehicle, constantly praying under our breaths and
sending thanks for the spirit and angels that possibly intervened on our behalf. I will never forget that day, or that experience which is really difficult to
describe, but still is vibrant within my spirit.
Colorado is a beautiful land of abundant game and
forested beauty. Just always make sure you have prepared and know in
your spirit that you are hunting to feed and not for bloodlust or arrogance…..and especially, never on a
lark……
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