Nothing quite compares to the anticipation of opening day, and this year’s black bear season in North Carolina was one for the books! As a family, we were set on making the most of it, so Justin, Darenger, and I packed up our gear and headed out to Asheville for the first weekend. I had my trusty .270 WSM ready, and with the mountains calling, we were all buzzing with excitement. Not only did we harvest our bears, but we also came away with stories that will live on in family legend.
The First Day: A Perfect Harvest with My .270 WSM
The morning of opening day was crisp, and the mountains around Asheville were shrouded in that perfect early morning haze. We set out before dawn, Darenger walking alongside us with his little hands tucked in mine, his eyes wide with curiosity and excitement. Being able to share these experiences with him is one of my favorite parts of hunting as a family.
It wasn’t long before we had our first sighting. My heart was pounding as I steadied my .270 WSM, knowing that these moments don’t come often, and everything needs to align just right. One shot, and my bear dropped right there in its tracks! That’s every hunter’s favorite kind of tracking!
The thrill of that moment is hard to put into words. Seeing Darenger’s face light up, and the pride in Justin’s eyes, made it an unforgettable experience. This was a hunt I’ll remember for years to come.
Day Two: Justin’s Wild Bear Encounter
The next day, it was Justin’s turn. He had his heart set on filling his tag, and the mountains weren’t going to let him down. It wasn’t long before he spotted a bear—a big, beautiful one that had wandered out of the thick forest cover. He took his shot, but unlike my experience, Justin’s bear didn’t drop in its tracks. This one was a fighter, and it took off, disappearing back into the underbrush.
Justin and two friends set off on the track, winding through the dense Asheville thickets, following faint blood trails for hours. Finally, they found it lying in a heavy thicket, but the bear wasn’t down for good. Just as they approached, it got to its feet, eyes fierce, and came out of the thicket—charging straight for Justin.
Without a moment to spare, Justin reached for his 10mm Kimber pistol, pulling it from his pocket. In what can only be described as an adrenaline-pumping moment, he shot the bear three times, stopping it just 4 feet away. The tension of those few seconds felt like a lifetime, but that quick reflex turned a close call into an unforgettable story of courage and resilience.
Reflecting on an Epic Opening Weekend
As we packed up and headed back home, we couldn’t stop talking about the weekend—Darenger soaking in every detail, telling us his favorite parts, and even throwing in his own ideas for the “next hunt.” For us, this opening weekend was everything we could’ve hoped for: the thrill of the hunt, time together as a family, and experiences we’ll talk about for years.
With bear season off to an incredible start, it’s time to set our sights on the next adventure. Now, it’s on to opening weekend of muzzleloader season for whitetail here in NC, where more memories and stories are just waiting to be made.
