Grizzly Hunt
 

This past weekend me and a few friends went out grizzly hunting, while we were in black bear country we saw one of the biggest grizzlies i have ever seen. My friend shot at it with a 7mm 08 as we were hunting black bears at the time. It ran into some pretty thick bush. We went looking for it an hour later and we found one very small drop of blood on a leaf. We looked for about 2 hrs, when my buddy kicked a rock into the bush and the 9ft. bear barrelled out of the bush full speed across the road up a hill and it was gone, before any of us had a chance to get another shot off. We knew we hit the bear and somewhat injured it or it wouldn't have waited around in the bush but we also know we didnt hit any vitals because it was still alive and able to run 2 hrs after beeing hit.

My question is: if we go back this weekend do you think we can expect to see the bear in the same general area?

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

I'm Sorry, But that is absolutely pathetic. Everything about your statement makes me ill. Your friend should never have shot at that bear. I don't think anyone can condone shooting a grizz with a 7mm-08. There is no way you can expect to make an ethical kill with that weapon. You should've went home and got more gun, then hunted him.
The grizzly is an absolute majestic beast. Your friend should have had more respect for him than that. You have bigger cahones than me to even post that. I would have went home an never mentioned it to anyone.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

a 7mm-08 are you serious. i wouldn't even dream of shooting a griz with that. wouldn't that just piss it off? if ya'll had the slightest idea that you would run into grizzlies why wouldn't ya'll take something bigger just in case? i don't get it....

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

that all being said, and getting back to your original question, where ya didnt find a lot of blood, and it laid up quick, it could be a paunch shot. if you bump an animal that has been gut shot, it will run for quite a while before it goes down. i wasnt there, i have no idea where that bear was hit. if it was a shoulder shot, from what im reading i dont think your buddy got through, and that bear is probably gone.

i personally think that after that kind of shot selectiona and weapon selection you guys owe it to the bear to get your asses back in there and look. i would not consider you hunters if you didnt.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

I think they should have their a$$e$ out there right now. Not wait until this weekend. A wounded griz is dangerous, not to mention that its just wrong! [:'(]

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

I have to agree... what if someone else stumbles onto that grizzly? like say.. a fisherman or something... they dont even stand a chance if the bear charges.



As to the shot... I'm guessing it's a gut shot from what he's saying. It happened to me once before with a deer. I hit it right under the diaphragm, I even pierced part of the diaphragm. The deer ran away maibe 400-500 yards, maibe farther, and it just laid there, facing where it came from. When I tracked it, I found very little blood but when I got to it, it got up and bolted away, I was lucky enough to get off a shot, got it in the spine that time but i'm guessing it would have made another 400-500 yards to lay down again. I would have kept tracking that deer for days if I would have had to. I cant believe you gave up after only 2 hours...
Did you try tracking the bear after it bolted the second time? My guess it you'll find a stinky, bloated, dead grizzly not very far from where you saw it last if you wait till this week-end to go search.

$hit happens, it's your responsibility to make it right.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

Where were you "hunting" this grizzly?

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

It's probably no biggie, they are more than likely in Idaho or Montana. lol

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

OK, i see you're from B.C., not Montana. A 7mm will get the job done, if your shot is on. And if your shot isn't on, you have got to use good judgement in what you do after the shot. Apparently you guys are far from sure on where your hit was. Just because the bear ran off after two hours really doesn't mean much to me other than you didn't get a heart shot. With a 7mm, I think a griz with one lung will easily go for two hours after the shot. And a gut shot bear even more. The reason you are not finding much blood is more than likely due to the fact that you dont' have an exit hole, and even if you did, the fat on a bear plugs those holes fairly quickly. You should still be out there trackin.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

Gheez guys, he wasent shooting a .22. A propertly loaded 7-08 will take down the biggest bear. Now having said that, Im not about to take one grizzly hunting. But if I was hunting something else, had a grizzly tag, and came upon a grizzly, you can bet your bottom dollar that Id shoot him and he'd be dead.

Im with Fury and James, sounds like a gut shot to me. I also agree that that animal needs to be tracked down and killed ASAP. And please dont take your 7-08 along. Shooting a wounded bear and shooting one thats not alarmed are 2 different things.

grizzley hunt and tracking
 

I'm sorry for you who feel that we are idiots and "not real hunters" but when u are thinking u are shooting a black bear until u get up close u dont have alot of time to react. we did have 300 win mags however like i said before we were in black bear country and we had shot a black bear with the 7mm 08 and it killed it dead 1st shot. Thanks for the advice and i do understand that we need to get out there asap to find this bear. the bear was running towards him when he shot he said he aimed directly at the chest plate, but flinching and excitment can effect the shot. would a 7mm 08 pierce a grizzlies chest plate? and please keep the negative comments to yourself u wernt there and u dont know the situation we were in!

RE: grizzley hunt and tracking
 

i didn't realize it was coming at you. that's one thing. i could understand that. i still don't know that i myself would feel good about being in griz country with a 7mm-08. i'm sure it would work for it but that wouldn't be my choice. especially if it were pissed off and charging.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

would a 7mm 08 pierce a grizzlies chest plate?
Depends on how old it was and how big the animal was and how much fat it had on it, since they r coming out of hibernation they should be kinda "thin" so you might have a slight chance that the bullet pirced the chest plate. But how big was it like was it kinda small for a grizz or was it big?????????? n another ? is was you buddy the only one that had a gun on him? if not y didn't u or your other buddies pump led into the bear as well? Just think if he was the only 1 with a gun and even tho your buddy hit the bear n the bear kept charging, and the gun/bullets got jammed what would you have done then??(if your thinkng running your wrong cause the can out run you up hill and down hill) I dont know but when i plan on going bear hunting in the future i plan on haven the people that r with me to have a gun with them in case it decides to charge n something happens. n back to your very first question asking if he will be back in the same area, if all animals acted like mule deer i would hav to say yes because every deer that i have shot have been 20yrds away from eachother n so far i have only shot 2 being cause i am 15 yrs old.(an if i am correct i would have to say they where in the same herd b/c i have seen the sam buck running with them but unfortunally i have a doe liscencse) but if they are like deer sure the grizzley might be back WHEN HE FEELS THE AREA IS SAFE FOR HIM/HER TO BE IN AGAIN

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

ROTHFLMAO, it keeps getting better and better. I must have forgotten somewhere along the line that Daisy makes the 7-08s. Get real, Ive shot whitetails end to end and bull elk through both shoulders with a 7-08, of course it will penetrate the chest of a grizzly. After reading your post on the bear running toward you, I maybe inclinded to think that it was a low, grazing hit, but then again who knows.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

BUT ELK N DEER ARE MOSTLY MUSCLE SO WHENU FIRE AT FAT IT IS GOING TO SLOW THE VELOCITY DOWN N THE NRG IS GOING TO BE EXERTDEN INTO THE FAT NOT THE BONE

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

Muscle is more dense than fat so muscle slows the bullet down more.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

\o thats true
But it also depends what kinda bullets where used, how close, n your shot placement, n a grizzley is a totaly differnent that is a lot bigger

RE: grizzley hunt and tracking
 

I don't think you guys are idiots,I think you made some bad choices.
Now I have never hunted grizz,but have hunted in grizz country,and had always carried enough gun to get the job done if I was ever forced to shoot a agresive bear.I won't say the 7-08 won't kill a grizz,but it probaly wasn't the best choce for your intended job.

With that being said,you had 300 win mag's with you,how come you guys were not backing up your buddy and the 7-08 when tracking this bear,why did you quit,if the bear was coming at you guys how come only one fired?

I would have to say it was a low shot and either grazed the bear,or hit some part legs or minimal flesh wound.If the bear is seriously wounded,guts,live,or one lunger he will be close to water and mud,bears get a fever and try to cool them selves down by wallowing.Now this normaly reqiuers thick cover and close quarters,so if I were guys I would have a few 12 ga's loaded to the hilt and one guy backing up with the biggest rifle you guys own.Don't quit shooting till he's on the ground.
BBJ

P.S. Best of luck

RE: grizzley hunt and tracking
 

hehe I had a good laugh on this, dont get me wrong, it's a very good idea, but when I was reading it I could imagine Tim The Toolman (Tim Allen in Tooltime) saying it... haha more power!!!!

grizzley hunt and tracking
 

the reason we were not backing up the first shot was because he was stalking it and i was in the truck about 600yds away, watching through binoculars, as soon as i heard the shot i was driving over there, and all 4 of us were looking for the bear in the bush staying together in a group.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

jjenson,


I don't think a lot of guys here have ever really seen a true 9-foot bear, and don't realize how big it is. If you shot him head on, I don't think a 7mm-08 is going to pierce that chest on what is likely a big old boar. I also think if he was hurt really bad, instead of running, he would have stood his ground and you guys would have had a real problem.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

Hey all,
I am the imfamous hunter whom shot at the grizzly with my 7mm-08.
Here are some facts to calm you all down.

-Initially, I thought the bear was a phase colored black.
-I stalked, in my socks, from where my two friends and our .300 mags were approx 600metres
-At about 100m from the bear, he caught wind of me and started a gallop towards me
-My only shot was head on. I aimed for his chest and pulled.
-He spun, half backflip, then went into the bush.

I would not have shot at him with a 7mm-08 if I had known he was a grizzly before stalking him.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

I still dont' see a problem with you shooting this bear with a 7mm. I also dont' think it makes much of a difference as to whether you were shooting soft or solid bullets. My only beef is that I think you guys should have definitely put more effort into coming to a conclusion as to what kind of a hit was made. By now, if he was/is dead you ought to be able to sniff 'em out.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

Im not sure about a grizz BUT I shot a WT Deer that weighed 337 lbs on the hoof with a 7mm08 at 165 yards ...shot it through the right rear hip (only shot I had) and it died of massive enternal injurys but bled very little ... I was shooting 139 grain Ballistic tip ... 7mm08 is a great cal. but I doubt I would ever want to hunt a grizz with one ....

Doc

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

It wouldn't be my first choice, but it will work. I'd prefer a .338 or even a .375. If I was tracking a wounded bear in heavy cover I'd feel pretty comfortable with a .416.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

It wouldn't be my first choice but a bullet in the vitals with a 7mm08 would kill any bear. Obviously he did not hit the vitals if the bear was still running 2 hours later. Sounds like the bear was running at him when he fired and I would guess either a glancing shoulder shot or one in the chest that did not make it to the lungs. Either way they should get after it with heavier rifles and finish it off before it eats some innocent victim.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

Doctordeath if the deer you posted pic's of is the one you hip shot, you got lucky!!! If I was your guide i would not have been a happy one. 165 yards and you only had that to shoot at?? Sorry As you can tell I'm NOT a texas heart shot type of hunter . Not a very high percentage shot, not to mention you could have lost the buck as the hinds have the most fat on them in the rut.

and now the GRIZZ

HMMMMMMMMMm my 2 cents

You boys now are going to have one real Pissed off grizz on your hands!!!!! Having said that I hope he's dead so as he didn't suffer to long or injure anyone. I'm not going to pound or scold you I know you all feel bad.

Look for sign along a creek or river bed, most injured game seek water or thick cover for refuge. Track back to were it went in the brush and do circles to find tracks or blood (dry now) Heavely armed I might add!!!

By time you read this you will be back from this weekends hunt/search good luck.
AL

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

Nichols I am not a proponent for the Texas heart shot eithr but I did have the angel on him as he was quartering away from me as he entered the bush ...I was in a shooting lane that was only about 20 yards wide ...I had mentioned my concern to my guide after my first day in the bush and told him it would be a very tuff shot ... here is a picture looking from my blind towards where I took the deer ..as you can see there is a rise about 160 yards away ..the deer came from left to right..had to jump a fence and once he landed he was already half way across the lane ...BUT with all honesty I did have a little luck ... BUT like the signature quote below says "The definition of luck is when preparation meet opportunity" ..I was prepared to make the shot..it worked.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

The 7mm-08 delivers approx. 2600 ft.lbs of energy at the muzzle, and 2400 ft.lbs at 50 yards. Just not a bear cartridge in my book. My problem isn't as much with the rifle (which I think is wholey inadequate) as leaving a wounded animal after minimal search. Many of you say that it was a low hit, or just a graze. A low hit even a graze wouldn't cause the bear to lay up. He laid down in the thick cover because he was very wounded in my opinion.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

Hmm, three hours of searching and leaving upon impending darkness does not classify as a good look? Should we have set up camp and maybe looked with head lamps?
Sorry, I think we looked quite well.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

I got your back agaucher! You CAN kill a 9 ft. grizz with a 22. You got more B#$@s than most, hats off. Next time aim for the nose, or ear soccket. Oh yea ask the bear to hold still for your desired shot and maybe hell wait while you grab a large calb. Ok to be serious, it never hurts to carry a back up. I love a 12 gage, slug barrel, pistal grip on a back sling. 3-0 buck 3inch mag. followed by a slug. If that don't do it he'll have fun shuv'n it up your %$#@. I doubt you killed the bear. If you shoot a 45 into the arm of a Grizz at close range (6") the bullet will not exit because the mussel is so tight. I'm thinking that Grizz is in the next state tell'n tall tales about the 4 hunters he ate. Tell me if you find it.

RE: Grizzly Hunt
 

We had exactly that, a shotgun with 00 buckshot and one slug for the last shot. Problem was I didnt carry it with me when I went to stalk to damned thing =)

Thanks ugly, will tell you if we find.