I know a person that hunts them over baits with a .50 caliber loaded with a roundball. He claims he waits until they stretch that front leg forward, tucks that ball right through both lungs, they run off, lay down, moan a little and expire. He is kind of a old nut case, but he is a good bear hunter. Whether I would recommend that, I do not know. I am sure it would kill the animal if the ball was placed right, but you are not using a lot of stopping power. What kind of .50 caliber rifle you have? I am sure a good load can be suggested.

I hunted bearwith a .54 caliber loaded with 90 grains of Goex 2f and a roundball for a couple days and then hunted them with a .54 caliber and some 300 grain R.E.A.L. conicals a few days. I also used a .62 caliber smoothbore with a roundball one afternoon. I do want to say, with a muzzleloader I never found the bear I wanted. I had one very large one that was my target bear and I think that big boar was coming in after dark. One afternoon/evening walking out, I could hear some good grunting behind me. That really makes you pucker a little... Knowing the bear was close and waited for you to leave.

One day while ina ground blind, I had a sow and cub come in that got me a little nervous because momma was eating and one of the cubs walked right up to the blind. All I could think of was if he spots me and lets out a howl, it could get real exciting quick. Even though sows are protected, I was ready to rock and roll with the Renegade. I also carried a Ruger Redhawk .44 magnum revolver with me.

A fellow this year took one with a .50 caliber loaded with a250 grain Shockwave and 100 grains of Pyrodex RS. It died on the bait pile and never took a step. He was seven feet up in a tree stand. The bear was 25 yards out on bait. He said he touched the trigger, and when the smoke cleared it lay there. It only went 220 pounds field dressed but was sure a pretty animal.

So now that I beat around the bush like I normally do, yes.. a .50 caliber muzzleloader is more then able to take a black bear over bait.