Bye, bye comfort zone. Hello black bears.

Copyright Darrold Door.  Picture found at: http://www.maine.gov/ifw/hunting_trapping/hunting/bear.htm

Bear hunting. Just those two words can bring out some very strong emotion amongst hunters and non-hunters.  I would tell you to vote NO on1 and I could give you a long list of reasons why but if you are reading this, chances are I am preaching to the choir when it comes to understanding why hunting is necessary to keep animal populations healthy.

I have never gone bear hunting. I have really never had an interest. My friend Robin is an incredible outdoor woman who has been bear hunting for the past three years.  I have been OK living vicariously through her with the hopes of trading my unwavering support for bear meat, however, this year I am heading into the blinds myself to get a bear.

In an effort to truly understand what goes on 'behind the scenes' of bear hunting, I have gotten myself connected with folks who are going to take me out to the bait sites, show me how they run their hounds, and come the end of August, take me with them out into a blind with my rifle.  My first adventure is to see the bait sites next week.

To say I am nervous is a complete understatement. I am a proud (decent) deer hunter. As such, I compare everything new that I learn to hunt back to a deer.  One big different compared to bear: deer do not growl or charge at you. And when it comes to the deer that I have shot, they have not been hundred pounds heavier than I am.   But I am going to try it! The only way to grow as a hunter, a writer, and an outdoors woman is to try something new.  I am so far out of my comfort zone that I cannot even see it. 

I plan to write more posts and keep all of you caught up on my adventures as I try out bear hunting.