That Black Spot
Every part of this hunt was an amazing experience. My first bear, first yacht-based hunt and first trip to Alaska. For several years I wanted to go to Alaska, and each year at the conventions I would visit all of the Alaska booths searching for “the one.” Finally on January 14, 2024, we booked this hunt. I knew at that moment this would be one of the best hunts of my life. You see, my dad passed in December of 2022, and January 14 was his birthday. My dad instilled in me the passion to hunt when I was very young. I lived for the days that I could go hunting with him.
It seemed like a dream when we arrived on the yacht in Alaska. We met the crew and other hunters, enjoyed breathtaking views, and couldn’t have asked for better weather. No hunting in the rain during our entire trip. It was the end of April, and the area had a record snowfall that year with over 200 inches of snow. The area we originally planned to hunt was still snow covered, so we traveled another day further south.
Each afternoon saw the hunting parties go out in the skiffs with their guides in search of a bear. Finally, on day three of hunting, we spotted multiple bears. I’ll always remember the moment my husband told our guide, “That black spot on that log just moved.” As we got closer to the shoreline that black spot became much larger.
Our guide quickly stated, “That’s looks like a shooter.” He guided me up the boulders in the low tide and found a moss-covered rock next to a downed tree that made the perfect shooting chair. I sat patiently waiting for the bear to move up a few steps to give me a shot in a gap between two boulders. At just over 200 yards, I took a deep breath and softly pulled the trigger on exhale. The bear dropped out of sight. My husband was about six feet above us and caught it all on video. I believe both guides were in disbelief that it only took one shot, especially at that distance.
I may have shed a few tears of joy at that moment! April 26, 2026, will be a day I always remember. My bear may be older and a little scared up, compared to what many hunters look for, but to me his scars tell many stories. At just under seven feet, he is going to be a great conversation starter I will always treasure. – By Nancy Hawkins
