Reed Bailey writes, "Our family was saying our goodbye’s as we prepared to leave the Drifters Landing Lodge on the Kenai River in Alaska. The owners, Ken and Elizabeth Smith approached us. Apparently, my daughter Melissa, who had bonded very nicely with Ken during our fishing trip because of her skills with the big kings, was scheming up a little bear hunt on the East Fork of the Salmon River, where Drifters Landing becomes Hunting Idaho during the big game seasons. I had spent many hunting seasons in the woods with my son Andy, but none with my daughter so, of course the answer was yes.

The hunt would take place south of Challis, Idaho on the East Fork of the Salmon River. As luck would have it, the hunt dates put Melissa on the mountain for her birthday. I had called ahead and informed Elizabeth that May 27th was her birthday. She informed me that it was also Ken’s birthday and she would take care of it.

Our first night in camp was the 27th; we celebrated the two birthday’s in grand fashion with cake, ice cream, and candles. There was an exchange of gifts and Melissa received a stuffed teddy bear with a target placed in the appropriate spot. Ken got a t-shirt that read, ‘There is a fine line between fishing and just setting there looking stupid!’ How appropriate is that?

We were tickled to death to find out that one of my long time favorite outdoor writers would be sharing camp with us for the week, Jim Zumbo, along with his camera man Lynn, and the corporate manager of communications for Cabela’s, Joe Arterburn.

On the first morning of the hunt we woke at around 7A.M to hot coffee and breakfast. Melissa and I would be hunting with long time guide Bill and a gentleman in camp from Houston, Texas, Neal Miller. After Breakfast, the guides saddled the horses and we were off.

The area was beautiful with streams cascading down from their snow covered beginnings to the lush green valley below. Pockets of Aspens dotted the path of the streams and the north slopes were blanketed with pine stands. It seemed unusual to have huge fields of sage at such high altitude, in stark contrast to the surrounding foliage, it complimented the setting.

We rode horse back for about an hour, at which point we tied up the horses in a small stand of pines and finished our ascent on foot. Bill put Melissa and I atop a small outcropping of rocks on the top of a ridge where he pointed out a bait sight that had been established sometime earlier. We spent the remainder of the day watching the bait sight and glassing the basins around us. The wind howled all day and snow squalls would come and go. It was bitter cold but Melissa was a trooper and never complained. We ended the day with sightings of elk and deer. The bear we would hope for tomorrow.

The following day, Bill took Melissa and I to a new area. It was close to camp so we went on foot. Bill took Neal with him and left us to do our thing. We spent seven hours in the same spot watching, and waiting, anxious because sign of bear in the area looked very promising. At about 7 p.m, Bill and Neal showed up. Bill asked if a shot that he heard had come from us. I told him that we heard a shot but it came from way down the canyon. Bill asked if he could finish the evening with us and set up his camera just in case, we accepted.
Bill fussed for a few minutes setting up the camera on a tripod. We were whispering back and forth about what we had seen earlier when Bill said, “Here comes a bear Melissa, get ready.” We all watched intently as the bear made its way toward us. As we watched, Melissa said, “I can’t see it,” my heart was doing flip flops when she whispered, “ok, I got it.” The bear came to within 150 yds and stopped, staring directly at us. “Don’t shoot yet, wait until it turns broadside,” I told her. Still aiming at the bear, Melissa barks out, “Don’t tell me when to shoot. Your not my guide, Bill is!” I got a kick out of that but I did shut my mouth. After a couple of minutes, the bear turned and gave her a perfect shot. Melissa was a bundle of nerves as she whispered, “I’m gonna miss.” To which I quickly and calmly reassured her, “No you're not.”

About 30 seconds passed after our little exchange when the crack from the Ruger .264 mag, shattered the silence. The bear dropped in its tracks and a brief silence fell as we watched for any movement from the bear, there was none. My heart was full of pride as she looked back at us and I told her, “You did it, you got your bear!”

We joked around in a playful mood as we skinned and butchered the bear. As I walked back to camp carrying the four quarters in a meat bag, I thought to myself, “How cool is this, I’m carrying my daughters bear back to camp, pinch me I think I’m dreaming.”

Back at camp, all the guys were so tickled because they all wanted to see her get a bear even if they didn’t. They all got their cameras out and surrounded her as if she were a movie star, Jim videoed Melissa and the bear, and interviewed her and I for an upcoming broadcast of his hunting show.

Melissa enjoyed the experience in a very positive way; four hours after we got home she had booked a whitetail hunt for November. I think she’s hooked on hunting and I couldn’t be more excited, I now have another hunting partner.
I want to thank everyone for making this trip so memorable. Thanks to Ken and Elizabeth Smith, Jeremy Pisca, Bill Hawley, J.D. Brock, Zach, Lynn, Joe Arterburn, Jim Zumbo, and Neal Miller. Ken is the current President of the Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association. A special Thanks to Ken and Elizabeth for running a well rounded outfit with great employees."