Target Communications, owned by POMA member Glenn Helgeland, has released a new book, The Bear Hunting Obsession of a Driven Man, with Bill Wiesner – a self-professed “Bear Crazy” hunter. The book is the combination of Bill’s many years of experience and facts on successfully hunting bear. In conjunction with “how-to” chapters, there is also a section of memoir chapters – comprised of stories just too good not to include.
Call it passion. Call it obsession. Call it some of each. It is what it is … a life-long observation, study and pursuit of the black bear by Bill Wiesner, a man often called “Bear Crazy” by his friends, family and, quite often, by himself. For forty years he has eaten, slept, thought, dreamed – and acted upon – hunting black bear. He has taken 57 bears and acquired a wealth of bear hunting knowledge.
This book is Bill’s story, memoir and in-depth, fact-filled “how to hunt black bears successfully and love every minute of it” effort to inform and entertain you through 10 how-to chapters and 10 memoir chapters.
Bill and his family (wife Sandy and sons Brad and Bryan) have hunted black bear in their home state of Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, Wyoming, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario. They have a combined total of 147 years of black bear hunting experience.
They have taken more than 100 bears, more than 30 of which qualify for the Pope & Young Club record book, and seven of which qualify for the Boone & Crockett Club record book. They have taken these bears over baits, by spot-and-stalk, and behind hounds. They have hunted with outfitters, and they have hunted on their own.
They have taken bears with rifle, shotgun with slugs, crossbow, selfbow, recurve bow, longbow, compound bow and muzzleloader.
The book has 10 ‘how-to- chapters’ detailing with all aspects of hunting black bears:
• On your own as a D-I-Y hunter;
• Guided with an outfitter;
• By spot-and-stalk;
• With hounds.
How-To chapters describe the bear from nose to tail, bear distribution and populations, where to find trophy hunting (and state-by-state, province-by-province record-book totals), hunting gear, scouting, baiting, the shot (before, during, after), tracking and trailing, meat and hide care, and ‘bear on the table’ meat processing, storage and cooking instructions, plus several recipes for bear meat.
As a bonus, there also are adventures you wouldn’t expect to hear about or read — 10 memoir chapters of highlights, odd events, memorable personalities, and unusual (good, bad, hilarious) events in the author’s development as a bear hunter. These chapters and the hunting chapters alternate through the book, creating highly informative reading and entertaining reading.
Paperback, 8-1/2” x 5-1/2”, 172 pages. Published by Target Communications as part of its “On Target” series of outdoor books. For a review copy, call Glenn Helgeland (262-402-7668) or email him (glenn.helgeland@gmail.com).
How-To Chapters Memoir Chapters
• What Is The Black Bear? • Lady With Mouth And Attitude
• Distribution, Population & Record Books • Spilled Rotten Fish
• Hunting Gear • Most Satisfying Bear & Biggest Bear
• Hunting Styles • Living In The Boondocks
• Scouting & Habitat • One-Up, and One Down
• Baiting • Amber’s Dream Bear
• New Twists & Trials • Toughest Man In The Woods
• The Shot (Before, During, After) • Memories of Michigan
• Care Of Meat & Hide • North To Canada
• Bear On The Table • A Humbling Hounding Experience