Giant Alberta Bear with 50 Pound Bow

I have dreamed of killing a bear with my bow since I started shooting archery when I was 18 years old; I’m almost 40, so a 22 year dream of mine.

Hinterland Outdoors, run by Ben Brochu, was offering a discounted last minute hunt to fill a spot someone cancelled. I was able to talk Dan into the trip, so we immediately started preparing.

Now, the year prior, I had suffered a delt muscle tear, and had to lower my bow poundage down to about 50lbs so that I could pull it back. Recovery was slow, but I was doing well at that weight. Knowing how big these animals are, with a lighter pound bow, I knew I had to get some heavier arrows and larger, fixed blade broadheads. With some online research, I found your website, and your broadheads made with a focus on larger animals; I immediately bought some.

My husband, being as thoughtful as he is, decided it was a good idea to purchase some arrows from you as well; I’m so thankful he did! Everything came with just under two weeks to sight-in and get comfortable with the arrows. They shot great!

Once in Canada, the hunt was on. The first day, I saw 7 bears. One bear was a shooter that had previously been injured by another hunter, but it was still healthy and doing fine. The shot just wasn’t there, so I waited.

The next few days, numerous other boars came in, but none of them were old enough in my opinion, so I passed. I knew there was one giant in the area named “Tank” that had been moonlighting. With the rut starting, I knew I had at least a decent chance of seeing the bear I was after.

Now, I’ve never bear hunted before, but I’m that hunter that will sit in a stand for 24 hours if that’s what I need to do to up the ante; my husband calls it determination, others call it crazy…I’ll let you decide.

My dad, who was my hunting partner from the time I was old enough to walk until the time he passed away in 2012 always told me, “you can’t kill them if you’re not in the woods.” So, instead of sitting at camp every day, I had the outfitter take me out around noon and sat until 11pm. I made sure I took a book. I read and watched the wildlife. (With plenty of snacks!)

Those are peaceful moments to me; just simply being in God’s creation. Moments that I value because I’m a deputy and so often dealing with the chaos, evil, and overwhelmingly fast pace the world around us has become.

Then on day four, as I read the very last page in my book, “Tank” walked in. Silently, and with a presence I can’t even put into words. He was cautious, and deliberate with his steps.

Knowing this was likely the only opportunity I would get at this bear, I drew my Mathew’s and waited for him to clear the trees. As he did, he was clearly uncertain. I settled my pin and committed to the shot. But as I mentally committed, Tank began to turn away from me, and took a step to the side into the turn. As a result, the shot was back much further than I intended.

I knew I had full penetration. I knew the shot was not in a hip or shoulder, and that it would be fatal. The only question I had was, how quickly, and how far would he travel.

Ben came and got me, and we gathered up Dan to track. I had the arrow and a solid starting point, but minimal blood. My heart sank at the thought of losing the animal, but thank goodness Ben knows what he’s doing!

About 60 yards into the track, we started seeing much more blood; blood on trees and in larger pools. At one point, it was clear the bear was becoming rapidly disoriented from blood loss, as the track went in numerous different directions before he committed to a path. And approximately 170 yards from where Tank was shot, we found him laying in the brush, deceased. It was clear he was deceased within a couple minutes of the shot, and he did not suffer at all.

The Iron Will broadheads and arrows saved that hunt for me, and I’m so grateful. The whole camp was praying for me to close the deal on that bear. God heard. He answered. The stars aligned, and the storybook was closed on a beautiful Alberta Spring Blackbear.

My first blackbear hunt. My first arrow. And an absolute trophy on the ground; 7’9” long, 7’6” squared, 481lbs, and just under a 20” skull (super wide head, but just a shorter nose).

The memories made, and the friendships established will last forever.

So again, thank you so much for the quality product you created. I do believe it was the difference in finding and not finding that bear. And I can’t wait to go back to Canada and try it all over again!

— Phoebe Lahman