Thanks to all of the contestants in this years Buck Bomb Bear Hunting Contest.  We had 43 entries with great pictures and stories.  Our staff voted and chose the following three entries for the combination of the story and the photograph.  Congratulations to all three winners!

FIRST PLACE – Brian Powers – Sutherland, VA

Brian wins an Ameristep Intimidator Ground Blind and a $50 gift certificate to Bear Hunting Magazine’s online store.  His story and picture are below.

I'm convinced!  In the predawn hours of November 5th, the opening day of bear season in Virginia, I began a one-mile walk to my tree stand located off an agricultural field adjacent to a known bear bedding area. 

As I reached my stand I noticed that the morning was foggy with a light swirling breeze. Just before light, I decided to use my hickory smoke bacon Bear Bomb as an attractant and cover scent from these swirling winds. I waited for the winds to shift and pulse sprayed the bomb, for about twenty seconds, in all four directions.

You can imagine my surprise as darkness gave way to light and revealed not one, but three black bears in route to me from three different directions across this large field. One of these was much larger than the rest. I sat with great anticipation and waited. When he reached my comfort zone I carefully aimed and fired my .338 Winchester magnum and ended my bear season with the harvest of this 560 lb bruin; a bear of a lifetime. This is only the second time in my life I've actually seen bear in the wild and my first ever bear harvest.

Thanks a million Buck Bomb, I believe The Bear Bomb was the key ingredient to my success.

SECOND PLACE – Leo Smith, Michigan (Bear taken with Rutting Buck Outfitters in Manitoba).
Leo wins a Delta Elite Walking Brown Bear 3-D Target.

THIRD PLACE – Robert Davidson, Wyoming (Bear taken with Rutting Buck Outfitters).
Robert wins a Buck Bomb prize pack that includes a Buck Bomb sweatshirt,
Buck Bomb hat with integrated LED lights from BigBuckDown, and a 24-pack of assorted Bombs.