| Bill Regan's Bear Hunt to Maine with Woody's Guide Service |
| I would like to first of all like to thank all the people whom made a dream of mine come true. Those people are Dan Leonard and Jim Hanlon of New York Outdoorsman Central and Dan Wood of Woody’s Guide Service, Dan and Jim for drawing my name and Dan for donating the great hunt. Saturday Aug 23rd 2008 I left Syracuse NY via the NY’S thruway at approx Ten thirty am. The trip was approximately five hundred fifty miles each way. I was expected to arrive on Sun. the twenty forth yet I arrived at about 8 pm. on the 23rd. Although I was early I was welcomed with opened arms and I was made to feel right at home. The new lodge is situated in the beautifully scenic state of Maine. All were very friendly and helpful, ready to answer any questions that were thrown their way. |
| We enjoyed an evening sitting around a camp fire sharing conversations, relaxing, and reminiscing of other hunts. Sunday morning everyone awoke and everyone was preparing for the arriving clients. I’m not sure how you can get something (the lodge) in better shape when in my opinion it was just perfect. Family and friends of Dan pitched in and worked their butts off, well they looked busy anyway. The clients started arriving at a little after noon. There were Clients whom came from upstate (me) as well as down state NY, Mass, and Pa; everyone was friendly and looking forward to their hunt. We all sat around the fire pit and talked about hunting and fishing and our trip to the Woody’s Lodge. It was and still is awesome how knowledgeable Dan Wood is, of course he was born and raised here but what continues to amazes me is how friendly and personable he was. Sunday evening came everyone had sighted in their bows and or guns and made corrections if needed. Dan wood’s mother in law whom was camp chef put on a feast that was hard to compare, each and every meal. Finally Monday morning came and the day was overcast with very little wind. Dan assured us that this should be a perfect day with the temperature and all for the hunt. Everyone in camp was beyond anxious; no one in this group had ever hunted black bear before. All the clients except one chose to hunt with rifles. The exception was Don from Pa. whom I will say was shooting very well with his bow. The plan was we’d leave for our stands at approximately 3:00 pm. everyone took showers with scent eliminating soap and got into their hunting gear. We left the lodge at approximately 3: 30 pm. so everyone could be guided to their stands. Every precaution was taken, Dan Wood our guide made sure of everyone’s safety, he went over how to use the tree stand safety harnesses and shot placement of the animals and what to expect while we were in the woods. Dan told everyone to be careful of the many moose that are in the area. The bull moose are just starting to feel restless and you need to be careful. It really is quite simple all you need to do is to place a tree between you and the moose and let them pass; they are a big magnificent animal. |
| Everyone was in their stands for the evening hunt of day one. Although as every hunter knows the weather does not always cooperate and everything at first seemed fine, temperature, slight overcast etc. etc. but for one exception the wind. The wind not only blew it blew, and blew harder and harder as time pasted. We were all safe in out stands thanks to Dan but as for the bears they do not like losing two of their senses all at once. The wind will affect the bear’s sense of hearing and smell. Needless to say no one saw any bear the first night out. We returned to the lodge and sat around the table for another fabulous meal. The food if I haven’t mentioned was plentiful of top quality and prepared just right. |
| Everyone was cheerful and the evening event was continued chatter with the usual joking and all. Was anyone upset? would be hard to tell. Any hunter knows you can never control the weather any more than the guide or outfitter can. The other thing that can’t be guaranteed by the guide or outfitter is the shot. When that opportunity comes it is up to the hunter to place that ethnical clean shot for the quick kill. After sitting around the fire that evening and talking about the wait for day two to arrive everyone finally wondered off to bed and the choir of snores serenaded the country side while the dreams of the next days hunt had to be creeping into everyone’s heads. |
| Day two- Everyone wondered out of bed fairly early. Dan was already out to freshen the baits on the stands that we were not hunting. We would freshen our baits when we arrived for our hunt that evening so as not to disturb the area any more times than needed. We all enjoyed another meal and while some made phone calls and others just visited with one another. Several of the cliental went down to the lake (of which we were on shore of Kingsbury pond) to try their luck at fishing. Dan has kayaks, canoes, and a motor boat which he allows the clients to use. The lake has salmon, slake and brook trout. I was also told that the ice fishing was excellent during the winter months. |
| The weather remained cool all of day two and the wind also continued to blow and to blow and to blow, but everyone’s afternoon I do not believe there was a person whom did not keep their eyes on the sky or the tree tops that continued to sway in the wind. I’m sure that everyone was wishing or praying that the weather would cooperate for the second evening. I should mention Pete another guide and friend of Dan who came to help out with the hunt this week. And there was Billy walker from Walker productions which was my personal camera man that Dan made available. They were both really great people and also were full of knowledge. Several of the hunters would ride with Pete while the rest rode with Dan. I however rode with Billy to our stand area. Billy and I had a close encounter with a cow moose and its calf. I want to tell you she lifted her head up out of the ditch as we were about to pass her and instantly bolted to cross the road the only problem was our vehicle was in her path and that wasn’t going to stop her. I yelled something like moo- moo-moose and Billy hit the gas just in time to miss the collision. With out any exaggeration I could have reached out and slapped the cow as we squeezed through. As our hearts were still pounding we continued to our stand. The wind started to settle down more and more as dusk continued to get closer and closer. Billy and I decided to call it a night with no visits from any bear to our site. Upon leaving the site we started our driving journey out of the area to meet the rest of the group we saw another moose then several miles further we seen another cow and calf that traveled down the roadway before running into the wooded areas. Upon reaching the rest of the clients with Dan, Pete at the meeting area we discovered that Dave had shot a bear. Dan told all that we would go have dinner then we’d go recover the animal. We all were really happy and excited for Dave. Dave was just as they say, biting at the bit to get out and get his bear. Finally we were on the way out to retrieve the bear. The trip was several miles but seemed like a hundred miles to us and must have been a million to Dave. We arrived at the stand area at which time our guide told us that he would travel in first. We followed in single file behind Dan. Before Dave could even tell Dan where the bear was standing or even where he seen the animal last, Dan had a clear blood trail to follow. Dan told us all to stay put and proceeded to follow the blood. He traveled only a few yards and there lay Dave’s trophy approximately 30 yards from where the animal was standing when the shot was placed. How exciting that evening was to all. After several pictures and much hand shaking and back slapping the bear was loaded by Dan’s helpers and dragged out to the waiting trucks. What an evening no one could wait for day three. Day three: Dave’s bear hide was delivered to the taxidermy studio and the carcass was delivered to the butcher both highly recommended by Woody. After a long wait for some and a short night for most with the celebrating if you know what I mean everyone arose for another fabulous meal and the beginning of yet another wait for the evening hunt. Don’t get me wrong there is so very much to do with Woody’s Guide Service’s expertise of the area. Yet it is a long wait to get back to the stands with the hope that evening you will be the one to score. The day started out very calm, and it was defiantly another chilly morning which actually warmed up quite nicely through out the day. Well after walks taken by some, fishing by others , going into town for a couple and just plain relaxing for the rest it was finally time to get ready to go to the stands. Everyone loaded up and Woody’s crew took us to our locations. The weather was quite warm and not to much of a breeze. The bugs were quite bad but everyone was prepared for that since Dan Wood doesn’t leave out any details when you book with him. He warns everyone of the bug situation so we were all okay. Well after sitting for the evening hunt we were picked up by Dan’s crew and the stories all were told of the abundant wild life that was seen. The bears were the only thing that happen to be missing this evening and I am sure they were there they just did not come to the bait sights while the hunters were there, it may have been the warm evening. The temperature had been right the previous night of course. It could also been the movement in the stands. It was learned that most all of us were not exactly still while waiting for the bears to come, I was certainly very guilty of it. Dan kept trying to tell us and we just needed to practice what he was preaching. So here we are back at camp with our stories and sitting down to another great meal by Gilese. Finally it was off to bed with dreams hopefully to come true for day four. Day four: Everyone awoke to the smells of fresh coffee and breakfast cooking. What a beautiful morning a slight breeze and beautiful blue skies. The temperature was considerably cooler than the previous morning. Dan Wood was busy taking care of chores and such both around camp and at the bait sites. Dan’s helpers were also were busy preparing future baits so they could be used when needed. Dave and Eugene went out and sat on a site that coyotes frequently visited. They returned saying that they heard some, yet the coyotes did not come in. As the morning turned into midday there was some re-sighting in of both guns and bows. Everyone was still right on the mark. We all ate a wonderful lunch then just sat and rested in anticipation of that evening hunt. As the hour got nearer everyone started the shower routine that had been followed the previous days. The scent free clothing was donned and everyone was delivered to their stands. Billy Walker and I arrived in our stand at approx 3: 45 pm. Billy my camera man re-baited the sight (which I should mention was demolished just like all the other sites every night) and settled in for the wait. It wasn’t long before the chipmunks and red squirrels started their daily routines. We watched them as well as the birds pick up the crumbs from the previous baiting. The bears hit every site each night and took all the bait set out. Woody has told us again and again that you have to sit still; you have to be motionless and quiet. It’s amazing how true that is and I want to say that I sat motionless at least until Billy told me to wake up. I was snoring to loud and he had it on tape to prove it. Well as luck would have it I got a little sore from sitting so long and started moving around. I tried to move with extreme caution but even I could hear my movement. I felt like this is just great I’m going to blow this whole hunt. The squirrels continued to search for food and the birds continued to chirp but no bears were to be seen. Suddenly the woods became different; the squirrels scattered and scolded as they went. After a minute or two it was only the tree frogs chirping or at least I believe that was what they were. Dark was rapidly approaching. After another five minutes or so all seemed quiet even the tree frogs, everything then I seen it to my left. What appeared to be a black ghost slowly was approaching the bait site. I realized that I needed to shift a little to my right if I was to get the shot opportunity. I started to move and all I heard was Billy walker whisper “sit the ___ still. I did not reply I was concentrating so much on visualizing my shot placement it was really a wonder that I even heard him. However the bear momentarily froze in its tracks then continued toward the bait. Boy it was getting close to quitting time. The bear stood up and reached for the bait ad Billy told me to take the shot, “shoot if you’re going to” I said ‘I can’t find the cross hairs on the bear’. Even though the conversation was at a really quiet whisper the bear dropped down to all fours and proceeded to leave the same way it had come. I turned my scope to full power which drew in just enough light, then settled the cross hairs onto the chest. Just then as the bear paused and looked in our direction I pulled the trigger and it was over, it was a perfect shot. The angle I had was slight quartering away and down from the ladder stand. The Winchester 180 grain 30/06 caught just enough of the spine and penetrated both lungs. The bear could not have gone anymore humanitarianly, There would be no tracking this night. After some high fives and congratulations Billy and I climbed down from the stand and checked out the animal even though we were unable to capture the kill on Billy’s video camera, we latter found out it was on the game camera that was on the sight. What an awesome rush I absolutely went immediately to cloud nine. Then Billy and I decided as we made our way to our vehicle that we’d play a trick on Dan. The trick went like this; first let me state that after the hunt each evening we all meet to assure that everyone gets out safely. Then whether or not a kill is made we go to the lodge eat supper. After everyone eats, if there was a kill, who ever wishes to can go back for the retrieval of the animal may. Well we met back at the assigned location and everyone was there. Dan wanted to know how we made out my reply was “I don’t want to hear It; I know I can’t sit still, I just don’t want to hear it tonight.” Billy said “he moved and spooked the bear from the sight.” Dan shook his head and said “I told you guys” He then said “no more” Billy then said “we’ll talk at the lodge” and so we proceeded to drive out and back to camp. Upon arrival at the lodge everyone started asking questions and with out fabricating anything we told all but just short of the shot and actual kill. As everyone was filling their plates with delicious food I suddenly said “Dan I am all done hunting that is for this year!” Dan said “no your not! Your going out tomorrow and your going to shoot a bear” At which I replied “no I’m not I’m done. That was it I’m done after tonight.” Again woody said “no you are going to your stand tomorrow.” I then replied “oh crap, Billy?” Billy walks thru and said “oh yea we got to go back and pick up the bear” at this point everyone froze and just looked at us. Dan asked “what!!” Billy Walker said “yea bill shot the bear” Dan said “ no you didn’t” and I threw him the empty shell casing and the next reply was “you son of a guns you got me, I can’t believe you guys pulled that one off.” Then after a whole lot of cheering, back slapping, high fives, congratulations we all settled down to our really great meal then went out to get my bear. The bear was an average size sow and also like Dave’s bear from Tuesday which had a white chevron. What an awesome trophy, I was so very happy. The following morning Woody took me to the check station to get my bear checked and tagged with a seal. Then we went to a taxidermy shop and had it caped out for a rug. I asked Woody to then take me back to the lodge and I then quartered the bear carcass and put it on ice for the trip home. What excitement, I was feeling as if I was still on cloud nine. As awesome as it may seem Woody whom has witnessed hundreds of harvests was also so very excited. That is the type of person he is very carry. Well I got to sit in with Dave that evening and just relaxed. Finally it came to the time and the guides and hunters returned to the lodge. Let me tell you there were stories that evening. The hunters had seen bears but no harvests were made. But the camp was defiantly in an up-beat mood. We settled in for the last evening around the campfire after another fine meal by Gisele some of the hunters asked to extend for one more evening hunt at which Woody accommodated them. Saturday morning came quick for me and before you know it it was goodbye’s time and I headed home. Sunday morning I received a call from Nancy Wood whom wanted to tell me that Eugene had scored on Saturday evening. Gene got a really good bear that was about a hundred pounds bigger than our bears how exiting it must have been for all. Well what a fantastic finish to a wonderful trip. I can never thank New York Outdoorsman Central for making it possible by drawing my name. They can be found at www.nyoc.us. I also will never be able to thank Dan Wood enough for making the hunt in Maine possible. Dan’s service can be found at www.woodysguideservice.net. Some things that I will close with are, get going to www.nyoc.us and get signed up right away. They give away so many trips that it will amaze you beyond belief. The other thing is go to Woody’s site and check it out, but don’t wait for your name to be drown for this one. Dan is already taking reservation deposits for 2009 and you really are missing out if you don’t book with this guide. Dan really knows his business and is so organized you can only expect nothing but the best in all aspects. I know I’m going back and hopefully I’ll fill the lodge with are my old as well as new friends. Good Hunting to all, and Thank you Dan Woods and New York Outdoorsman Central. William C. Regan Fulton, N.Y. |
