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Lucky the Bear
While riding the backcountry of the Bob Marshall Wilderness hunting for elk, Harvey and Bob were enjoying the hunt far from the cattle ranch back home. As they crossed the slide are and followed the trail down to the creek bottom. There was a very small and frightened bear cub and hiding in a small pine tree.
The mother bear was a short distant from the tree and had met with her demise. It was not possible to tell exactly how the mother bear died, perhaps of old age, however it was evident that the cub probably would not survive for long at his tender age.
With elk and camp gear tied securely to the pack string, Harvey and his pal were finally able to catch the small cub and secure him in a game bag to take to town. It seemed only fitting to name this bear cub Lucky. He was indeed a lucky bear cub to find such good-hearted hunters.
They contacted the local fish and game and turned the cub in. Prior to leaving Lucky the bear cub, they did take time to watch him eat a long needed meal. They were told he would go someplace safe until he was able to fend for himself and be turned back in the wild.
Harvey and his pals left feeling a great deal of accomplishment in saving the cubs life. They talked for years about how the bear might remember them if ever they were to run across him again.
For several years both Harvey and Bob would tell of the success of their hunts. One or the other would always tell how they captured and saved the young bear cub Lucky,
from starvation or being eaten by a larger bear. This story was always a favorite heartwarming story to all who heard the other side of two hunters and their wonderful love of nature.
Year after year they continued to hunt together in the same region for elk. They saw many types of wild game including other bear. The bear they seen were always at a long distant from them and then quickly disappeared into the cover. Always wondering if they would ever see Lucky again. And maybe see if he remembered them?
As the years went by and on one such hunt a very, very large bear wandered into their campsite. Harvey said to Bob, "I'll bet that is Lucky the bear we rescued." "Look how he is not frightened by us." Bob agreed and so they both called to the bear by name. The bear kept coming closer and closer to the men who welcomed their long lost friend. "Hi Lucky old pal how are you?" Harvey asked. When the bear got closer, the bear stood up and with one swat apiece swatted Harvey and then Bob and ate them both! Must have been the wrong bear!