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October 26, 2003
Bear bumps deer hunter in blind
Mike Sawyers/Cumberland (MD) Times News
ACCIDENT — Lee Kelley says he has a heart problem and arthritis in his arms, a combination that made him decide to stop bow hunting from treestands and start hunting from the ground.
“I got one of those portable, pop-up hunting blinds and I was using it to try to get this big buck I’ve been watching for three years,” Kelley said.
On Oct. 14 at daybreak, Kelley was in the blind with his crossbow. He had spread some corn on the ground hoping to attract the buck. The only window of the blind that was open allowed him to see in the direction of the bait. Baiting for deer is legal on private land in Maryland, but not on public land.
“I heard some limbs breaking and leaves rattling and I thought I was going to see the buck,” Kelley said. “Then all of a sudden the blind shakes and I hear this noise right behind me.”
Kelley said that to have enough room to shoot he must sit back against the blind and his back bulges the fabric.
“Then I’m thinking what’s going on and something knocked me in the back. I could hear huffing, puffing and sniffing. I think the bear probably shoved me with his nose.
“I’ve got to tell you, and I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but that is the most scared I have ever been with something I couldn’t see on the other side of a thin cloth knocking me around.”
The animal then moved to the zipped up door and started pushing at that side of the blind.
“I took my crossbow and I didn’t shoot, but I pushed the broadhead (mechanical) that sticks out about an inch and shoved it through the blind,” Kelley said. “There’s a big hole in it now.”
Kelley said his adversary jumped back after being poked. He unzipped the door and one cub was close and a sow and another cub were about 20 feet away. He said the cubs were almost as big as the sow.
Kelley, who has killed seven bears in Canada, said he had not been interested in hunting bruins in Maryland, but may have just changed his mind. He said there is a bear of 500 pounds on his property and that he has seen five adult bears together.
“I’m glad it worked out the way it did,” Kelley said. “I didn’t want to be the first person mauled in Garrett County.
Bear bumps deer hunter in blind
Mike Sawyers/Cumberland (MD) Times News
ACCIDENT — Lee Kelley says he has a heart problem and arthritis in his arms, a combination that made him decide to stop bow hunting from treestands and start hunting from the ground.
“I got one of those portable, pop-up hunting blinds and I was using it to try to get this big buck I’ve been watching for three years,” Kelley said.
On Oct. 14 at daybreak, Kelley was in the blind with his crossbow. He had spread some corn on the ground hoping to attract the buck. The only window of the blind that was open allowed him to see in the direction of the bait. Baiting for deer is legal on private land in Maryland, but not on public land.
“I heard some limbs breaking and leaves rattling and I thought I was going to see the buck,” Kelley said. “Then all of a sudden the blind shakes and I hear this noise right behind me.”
Kelley said that to have enough room to shoot he must sit back against the blind and his back bulges the fabric.
“Then I’m thinking what’s going on and something knocked me in the back. I could hear huffing, puffing and sniffing. I think the bear probably shoved me with his nose.
“I’ve got to tell you, and I’m a little embarrassed to admit it, but that is the most scared I have ever been with something I couldn’t see on the other side of a thin cloth knocking me around.”
The animal then moved to the zipped up door and started pushing at that side of the blind.
“I took my crossbow and I didn’t shoot, but I pushed the broadhead (mechanical) that sticks out about an inch and shoved it through the blind,” Kelley said. “There’s a big hole in it now.”
Kelley said his adversary jumped back after being poked. He unzipped the door and one cub was close and a sow and another cub were about 20 feet away. He said the cubs were almost as big as the sow.
Kelley, who has killed seven bears in Canada, said he had not been interested in hunting bruins in Maryland, but may have just changed his mind. He said there is a bear of 500 pounds on his property and that he has seen five adult bears together.
“I’m glad it worked out the way it did,” Kelley said. “I didn’t want to be the first person mauled in Garrett County.
