Tonight we headed to the stand by boat and re-baited.  Since it is my boat I dropped the partner off on shore and I backed out to keep of the rocks.  Not long after, I spotted a blackie right at the drop off point!  I swung farther down shore to where we enter the woods to flag the partner down.  
He was backing out, early and carefully!!!  I watched for the one bear as partner headed back to the drop off point.  When we met back up and motored out a bit, I found out that partner never made it to the bait station.  A larger blackie had met him on the trail and started circling him and was aggressive.  So he dumped the bait and backed out.
I have the bow already to go, another tree stand so 2 can watch and more steps.  I also cased up the 870 and 10 rounds of 3" Brenneke 1 3/8 oz. slugs.
If the weather is good I am off tomorrow to kill maybe my first bear.
One way or the other!
Hope this isn't my last post. :roll: