It was true that Xing Zhuyong and Li Hu knew how to shoot and hunt.
But what did they usually hunt?
In the spring, they'd take the dogs out to chase roe deer. During the farming off-season, they'd hunt wild ducks and sand partridges.
Compared to Li Erchen, Xing Zhuyong and Li Hu did have one advantage: they had seen a Black Bear on two separate occasions.
The only thing was, they had run away both times while still a good distance from the bear.
This was their first time actually setting out with guns to hunt a Black Bear. They figured it would be just like hunting roe deer or wild boar—get to the right spot, fire one shot, and be done with it.
They didn't even know the first thing about a Black Bear's habits.
A Black Bear, whether in winter or summer, doesn't just lie down when it wants to rest on the trail. It will first circle around before finding a sheltered spot to hide.
The old-timers called this "a Black Bear doubling back on its trail."
