Hunting in Grizzly Country
02-10-2012, 02:50 PM
#12
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: IL
Posts: 6,575
kodiak,
what's your carry caliber?
what would you carry for sitka blacktail? I see guys suggesting 243's and I think wouldn't something bigger be more appropriate for that chance encounter? your thoughts?
same for sheep in grizz country etc...
a 300? 375? 416?
what's your carry caliber?
what would you carry for sitka blacktail? I see guys suggesting 243's and I think wouldn't something bigger be more appropriate for that chance encounter? your thoughts?
same for sheep in grizz country etc...
a 300? 375? 416?
02-10-2012, 06:51 PM
#13
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Kodiak, Alaska
Posts: 18
I used to carry a .243 years ago, but now I hunt with a .350 Rem Mag in a Model 7 carbine. The .350 is probably overkill on a deer or caribou, but it's sure comforting to have with you in bear country. It's got a Burris 1x5 on a detachable mount, and iron sights for back up.
02-11-2012, 11:27 AM
#15
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Florida
Posts: 72
I wish that I shared the same interest in hunting bears as alot of my fellow hunters but I don't eat them and it would strickly be in self defense only. I have not witnessed bear attacks other than on dogs and maybe I'd have more interest in Grizzly hunting but only being around black bear country all my life.
02-12-2012, 10:14 AM
#18
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Kodiak, Alaska
Posts: 18
A 30.06 is suitable for any hunting in Alaska.
To my way of thinking, it's more about the optics than the caliber. A .375 with a 3x9 scope is next to useless in a bear encounter since such events happen so suddenly and at such close range that a mid-powered variable leaves you blind when you most need it.
I like my .350 because it gives me some extra penetration, but really it's more about the compact size and the optics. It's quick to get on target at close range, but still has the range to whack a deer or caribou out to 250 or 300 yards.
A shot to the center of the face will stop a bear every time, assuming your choice of bullet is appropriate. A shoulder/chest/torso shot might stop a bear or it might not.
I pulled the frame below from a video of a bear attack (not taken by me). This is what it looks like, though in this case the water is slowing the animal down to 15 or 20 miles per hour instead of 35 to 40 miles per hour. You have one to two seconds to swing your rifle up and put the bead on the bears nose. God help you if you're sighted in 3" high...
To my way of thinking, it's more about the optics than the caliber. A .375 with a 3x9 scope is next to useless in a bear encounter since such events happen so suddenly and at such close range that a mid-powered variable leaves you blind when you most need it.
I like my .350 because it gives me some extra penetration, but really it's more about the compact size and the optics. It's quick to get on target at close range, but still has the range to whack a deer or caribou out to 250 or 300 yards.
A shot to the center of the face will stop a bear every time, assuming your choice of bullet is appropriate. A shoulder/chest/torso shot might stop a bear or it might not.
I pulled the frame below from a video of a bear attack (not taken by me). This is what it looks like, though in this case the water is slowing the animal down to 15 or 20 miles per hour instead of 35 to 40 miles per hour. You have one to two seconds to swing your rifle up and put the bead on the bears nose. God help you if you're sighted in 3" high...
02-12-2012, 01:12 PM
#19
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Idaho Falls, ID
Posts: 81
We have quite a few of them in the area I hunt, and a hunter was mauled just down the road from my cabin last fall. He was headed home from an elk hunt and surprised a bear on its kill. The bear bit him and took off, which resulted in him losing a finger. He and his partner had spray, but they said the entire attack from beginning to end probably lasted 15 seconds. The partner did try to spray the bear, but only hit it as it was leaving.