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First off, welcome to this site, it's a good one. It may be wrong but on that last bear, I'd have put a round into him. It may kill him, it may not, but it sure would discourage him. He's acting aggresive and approaching you, I'd have shot him. I think I could make a good case for self defense. My first thought though is why would he have given his rifle away to his partners to carry down for him and allow himself to be left with only a .45 ACP when he's already seen 2 previous bears? I'd also notify park rangers of aggresive bears in this area.

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Should of had a bear tag !! I think that is an unusual occurrence here in SW Colorado. The drought we had this year being the culprit. There are no berries, no acorns, no food for the bears. They were in town all summer & fall. I've hunted here in SW Colorado for 25 years & have never had a bear problem at my campsite or killsite. However, this summer they were in my household trash.

Kind of a gray area ain't it?

I'm thinking give up the elk, report the situation and get issued a new tag (possibly).

Of course If a bear is threat displaying at me at close range well.....I'd kind of have to be there but I'm thinking shoot the bear.

Having seen a bear shot with a .45acp however I'd have to say be very very carefull. Big black bears are not impressed with a .45acp. One of the few bears we've ever had get away from us was shot 3 times in the body with a .45 acp using 230gr soft points. I don't think they ever made it to the vitals.

I'm sure a head shot would be a different story.

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Kind of a gray area ain't it?

I'm thinking give up the elk, report the situation and get issued a new tag (possibly).

Of course If a bear is threat displaying at me at close range well.....I'd kind of have to be there but I'm thinking shoot the bear.

Having seen a bear shot with a .45acp however I'd have to say be very very carefull. Big black bears are not impressed with a .45acp. One of the few bears we've ever had get away from us was shot 3 times in the body with a .45 acp using 230gr soft points. I don't think they ever made it to the vitals.

I'm sure a head shot would be a different story.

I'll tell you one thing though even with the prospect of packing an elk out with the extra weight of a rifle. It'd be darn tough to get it away from me in that situation.
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Wow, tough choice. If the bear didnt leave i would have shought about shooting it too, that kind of gester is scary.
I was in south central Co the last week. After i blew off a real shyster of an outfitter i went on my own. The first night i heard crows calling above me, i went up one bench to see what it was and 20 yrds away as i topped the bench was a bull with 2 large bears feeding on it. I quickly knocked up an arrow just in case, and made a little noise so i didnt surprise them. One saw me right away(big one) and lumbered off fast. The other one was pretty stuipid, i made more noise, and finnaly waved my hands before he saw me. He left without a fight either. I took a few photos of the bull and went to get a bear tag the next day. I didnt want to sit on the carcass all day because i really wanted to elk hunt so i just passed by it 2 times a day. I saw the bears the next 3 days but never on the carcass, just as they were either leaving or going to it, and the shot never presented itself, but pretty close a couple times.
I got to admit that i wasnt scared when i first came on them that first night, more fascinated than anything but still leary. I can post the pics of the carcass if anyone wanted to see it. The snow one day revealed 3 different sets of tracks and they ate the whole thing in 2 1/2 days. Dammit, how do you get the pics to open automatic<img src='home.wi.rr.com/schmalts/index.html/carcass.jpg
' border=0>

http://home.wi.rr.com/schmalts/index.html/carcass.jpg
Edited by - schmalts on 10/24/2002 19:40:21

Edited by - schmalts on 10/24/2002 19:42:30 <img src=' lt img src http://
home.wi.rr.com/schmalts/index.html/carcass.jpg gt ' border=0>

Edited by - schmalts on 10/24/2002 19:48:59

Edited by - schmalts on 10/24/2002 19:52:27

This could happen to anyone. Here is what might have helped.
1. Dont give up your gun for a 45. Keep the pack .
2. If a tree is near, take rope and hang the quarters.
3. The hunters should look into getting a GPS.

Hornet Man


Hornet Man

I do not agree with just shooting a bear because you feel afraid. Give the bear ample opportunity to move off, make every reasonable effort to scare it away( yell, throw rocks, pepper spray him, whatever). Last Resort...shoot him but not with that 45acp. Don't give up your high power for a 45ACP. High power for a 454 Casull or a 12ga with slugs, yes. Hang the quarters up in a tree, those black bears will climb to get them, so rig up a make shift meat pole between two trees. Carry marking tape and flag your way out, just make sure you take those tags down on your way out of the woods with your meat. Go prepared for an overnighter. People think I am crazy but I carry a small daypack with a survival kit, first aid kit, some extra food and water, and a tarp for a make shift shelter. I carry it no matter what. 1 mile from the road or 10, it is on my back. If you can't afford a GPS( which don't work real well in downfall timber) get yourself some maps and some compass training. Pull out your compass, take a heading and add 180 to find your back azimuth.
Just remember you are in the wild and intruding into the bears home, not the other way around.

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