Bear Of A Lifetime!

A 717LB North Carolina Giant

"Throughout our lives, I believe we all have sets of experiences that so greatly exceed our expectations that we find ourselves woefully short of enough time or diction to accurately describe them. Their impact is monumental to our lives in many ways. Such was the morning of December 10, 2022 for me."
Join the Author in his hunt in "the land of giants", North Carolina.

Common Sense, Common Courtesy, & A Common Cause

Common Sense, Common Courtesy, & A Common Cause

It's not cool to be the outlaw or to be the nomad. That old way of life that held allure for so many is a problem in the hunting world. We bear hunters must have common sense, common courtesy, & a common cause to secure our future.
Join the Author in part 51 of our Legendary Bear Hounds series.
"This story is one about diversity and loyalty in unexpected places. It’s a revelation of the uses of resources for occupation and recreation. It’s also the story of the reversal of roles, of students becoming teachers and of learners leading the learned. At the heart of the story are hounds in pursuit of bears, bobcats, coyotes, and raccoons, and the recognition that perhaps breed, despite long standing loyalties, doesn’t matter as much as the outcome. This is the story of a Northwoods lad that took to hound hunting at a very young age and learned a lifelong trade that became his passion for 61 years. Michael Piontek, a career lumberjack and houndsman, was 10 years of age when he got started."
"With nothing but a fixed blade strapped to my belt, I left my friend and our two boys in the Toyota as I darted across the overgrown logging cut towards the bellowing of the hounds. This bear had come up treed once before, only to make a run for it as the other group had arrived. Feeling foolish for leaving my rifle in the other truck, I headed toward the pack knowing that, at the very least, if things got western or the sun set before the shooter could arrive, I could call them off."
Join the Author in her experience running hounds during their annual "houndsmen weekend".