AmericanCaveMan

Hello all

As a new hunter I've found myself obsessed with the idea of bear hunting. I desperately want to go. I've done a lot of reading on what is needed to actually harvest a bear gun-wise, but have found very little actual literature on bear hunts.

If any of you bear hunt, I would LOVE to read how you did it, what you do it with (rifle and gear) and any interesting bear hunting stories, period.

Also, this thread doesn't have to be stuck to just bear hunting stories - I love hunting stories of any type, so if you have any hunting story you would like to share, I'd love to read about it!

Thanks,

-ACM

Ridge Runner

only time I was ever scared while hunting, was a bear hunt back about 1998, was alone following the pack of dogs hot on the trail, had twice saw the bear as it fought the dogs, it finaly treed, I got there assessed the situation, got on the radio and called for a shooter, we had a 200# male bear hanging and normaly we let a youngster shoot.
the gang informed me they were at least an hour away so I settled down for the wait, dogs were baying thebear was sittin high and tight....no big deal'
1/2 hour in to the ordeal all hell broke loose, I looked around we had a dog fight of biblical proportions, I waded in separatin dogs, kicking beating and knocking, finaly got it resolved, then I look up and the bear is coming down!
I immediately throw up my Thompson contendor 375 JDJ, I see the bear hesitate looking down, the crosshairs settle on his head and I touch the trigger, he hits the ground on all fours, dogs everywhere, I see a walker dogs back run with blood as the bear grabs it, I start to panic, what have I done, the dogs corner the bear I have to end this situation, so I ease up behind the bear, as the dogs keep it busy I inch closer, when the time is right I step in, grab the bear by the scruff of the neck, place my knee between his shoulders.
As my knee plants firmly between his shoulders I lay the barrel of the pistol againstmy leg and slide it against the bears hide, as he turns his head to bite I squeeze the trigger and I see smoke fly out his ears and he melts in my hands.
last damn time ZI took a pistol bear hunting!
RR

Gilliland440

Careful what you wish for... I live in Alaska and have shot or been on over two dozen bear kills. Very few of them we were actually hunting bears. I have been within 10 yards of brown bear cubs on too many occasions. I use a Remington 700 300 UM, 200 grain swift A frames when in bear country otherwise I use 145's. My firearm has a 4.5x14 VX3 30mm but have had to aim down the barrel twice. The last time I was charged by a huge griz and had to shot him in the head at 10 yards otherwise I might not have had time for another shot.
Here are a couple of my bear videos.
Enjoy!
-JR

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Emy9J1POE_c

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trF0ZFqYc4Y

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Fzyu9O64Lk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qqiFicvqoNE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6kqG7UGykE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7G5rHLENbZA

AmericanCaveMan

RR, your story had my blood pumping! Thank you for taking time and sharing that with me. I eat this stuff up.

What do you use now when you bear hunt?



Awesome videos, I can't wait to see the rest later (doc app). Are you a guide?? My wife and I want to see Alaska. Myself more so than she. I watch every single Alaskan based reality show I can just to see the state.

Ridge Runner

I now carry an AR-15 chambered 458 socom, wanted to use a spear but am told it wasn't a legal weapon
RR

Bbj270

My cousin that a big bear hunter has had bears fall out of the tree on top of him, the year before last was getting the dogs and one came straight at him and had to punch it in the nose to someone with a gun could get their and shoot it. He already killed a bear and legally could not carrie a gun. About 5 years ago a boy that hunts with them was bite in the head and took 30 staples and almost lost his eye. They were training dogs and again could not have a gun with them. I never been with them but most of the people in their group manly use revolvers in 454 casually, my cousin uses a Taurus raging bull in 480 ruger.

AmericanCaveMan

I recently just read about the 458. What are the specs on that round? Is it like a .45-70, or is that two different animals altogether? Have you taken anything with it yet?

Why could they legally not carry a firearm? Which state is this?

I'm glad that boy wasn't hurt any worse!!

Ridge Runner

once you kill a bear in wv you cannot carry a firearm on a bear hunt.

The 458 socom is a 50 AE magnum handgun case, stretched from 1.3 to 1.7", necked to 45 cal. and the rim turned to 30/06 size, it runs a 300 gr bullet at around 2300 fps from a 20" barrel, basically a mid level 45/70 in an AR.


anything on the receiving end of the 458 is not having a good day
this use to be my preferred bear rifle, till a guy offered me too much money for it, browning reproduction of the Winchester 71 carbine, took a pile of game with it, oh it was chambered 348 win.

RR

Bbj270

It was either va or wv they hunt both as the line goes through were they hunt. They said they couldn't have a firearm with them when they are training their dogs. If he carries a rifle it a his winchester 94 in 375 win, most of the people have 45/70 rifles but mainly leave them in their trucks.

Ridge Runner

this is fact, your leading dogs, carrying extra dog leads, food, drink, a radio for communication, a cell phone for when you lose radio signal, a gps dog tracker, first aid kit to sew your dogs up, who the hell can carry a gun yet, that you may or may not even need.
RR