Was there a swamp near by?

dark blood tells me it wasn't a good hit, possibly got liver but bears can live a good while with a liver hit.
RR

How far behind the shoulder did you hit it? Based on the bear I've taken and field dressed I'm of the opinion the gut pile on a bear is smaller than on a deer. So if you are a little far back it is easy to miss the lungs and get into less vital organs. Bear need to be shot right at the edge of the leg with an arrow or in the case of a rifle, in the shoulder itself.

If he is bad hit, he will eventually head for water. If you lose the trail check the local water sources and see if you can pick it back up. But after 3 days, that bear is probably quietly rotting away somewhere.

We always hunt near a river. Our favorite stand is 40 yds from the water. I pulled out my sons bear, 206 lbs gutted. We dragged it down the hill, tipped the canoe and rolled the bear in. I did this with a 259 lb too.

i have caught up with many saying that there are really big bears in PA .. but thanks to the facts provided here .. now i am clear

I am not clear. What do you mean?


Do you guys hunt over bait? We don't stand hunt in PA. It's usually miles of shoe leather and where you catch up to the bear is where you shoot the bear.

What type gun did you use to kill a bear a 12ga. slug or a rifle?

The two bears we shot in our camp were taken with a 30-06 and a 300 Mag. A 12ga slug would probably work fine in close range. But a rifle is the usual bear medicine. Most deer rifles will work on smaller to average bears. A really big bear, I would go with a 30-06 or bigger.

Remington has there model 700 bolt action in 30-06 or just about any caliper you want, for less than $300.00. This is at the local Walmart, But I think the 700 is a nock off of the original. If I did buy a high powered rifle, I would want a short chamber bullet cartridge, 308 would more than likely get the nod.

All we have here is big black bear, they weigh from 300lb's. to 800lb's. for the mail's. You have to purchase bear tags, your only allow to gut the bear and you have to bring it in and let them see and record the kill. The bear has to be whole up too 300lb's. then you are allowed to section cut quarter pieces so you and a hunting friend can load the bear.

Like I said I've never been BB hunting but I did read the rules. You have to also hunt with a friend and never alone. I also would holster my smith and Wesson 686+1 revolver, it holds 7 rounds. S&W took a 44 magazine and drilled it for 357 that's where the extra round come's from.

That remington at Wal-Mart for $300 is a 770 not a 700.