42 replies to this topic

[clampdaddy]

I went out for an evening hunt on saturday. I was creeping up an old overgrown forest service road as quietley as I could when through the trees I see what I think is the rear end of a black cow in some tall brush about fiftey yards out. Then it starts making a low pitched braying sound like an annoyed bull. Now I'm a little worried thinking that it's an ornery old range bull, but figure I can make a wide loop around him and he wont even see me. All of a sudden the black figure spins around, breaking a good sized pine tree sapling like an old dry twig, and now I can see that it is a HUGE FREAKIN' BLACK BEAR!!!!! His nose is in the air, he can smell me, he can't see me, and he's not happy about it. I wanted to make a noise to let him know where I was but in all honestey, I was afraid to do it from that close. I was really wishing I had a sidearm about now. I backed out as quitley as I could and once I put another fiftey yards in between us I kicked it into high gear, watching my back, until I got back to camp.

[sendin]

Glad it turned out you didn't need one.

[Thumper Dunker]

Stand as tall as possible and yell at him offer him tea and crackers . Bet that put your heart a ticking.

[wannakillacoyote]

Man, this seems to be a frequent event these days. I'd like to hear from the "I never carry a sidearm" crowd on this one. Area's I have hunted so far are desert flatlands, so NO BEARS. But, if I go anywhere in the hills, I WILL have a sidearm (soon it will be a compact .45 ACP).

[Mr Del]

Next time you go.... just take a slow friend. No side arm needed. Or.... just take a .22 pistol and when the bear attacks, shoot your buddy in the leg.

[Camoghost]

And you didn't shoot it with your bow why? 50 yard shot on a bear is a money shot! Are bear in season yet? I only hunt them in Idaho so I'm not hip on our regs here. I do hate the "no side arm" law during achery season.

[Jason]

Always remember your Pepper Spray, them bears like their meat Cajun style!

[lilwes278]

And you didn't shoot it with your bow why? 50 yard shot on a bear is a money shot!

I asked him the same question on the phone last night. Reason was he didn't buy a bear tag. But I'll bet he'll get one now!

[ShooterJohn]

You couldn't legally carry a side arm while bow hunting, so your stuck either way. :signbummer8tl:Besides if I was hunting with a rifle why would I put down a perfectly good rifle to bother with a pistol? Rifle goes BOOM! Pistol goes bang.

[CoyoteHuntress]

Oh heck no.... Id be scared s&* less... me and bears do NOT get along.. they scare me and I they know it LOL...SO you gonna try that area during rifle for bear?

[wannakillacoyote]

I didn't even think about it. I just saw the "no sidearm" title. I was thinking maybe he was coyote hunting with an smallish caliber (.223). The .223 would be the first thing to shoot with the sidearm as a second while you are running away. As for Bow hunting, that does suck that you can't have a sidearm.

[Camoghost]

I asked him the same question on the phone last night. Reason was he didn't buy a bear tag. But I'll bet he'll get one now!

He is probably @ DFG right now getting a tag and then back to the same spot

[mac]

LOL...I bet he is...50yds is probably the closest I've been to a bear as well..never had one that was looking for a fight, they seem to go about their business or high-tail it when they smell or hear you...BUT, there's always that one cranky boar or sow that may come along...

[clampdaddy]

The crazy part is that until last year I'd never even seen a blackbear in the wild. Last year one came my calls while I was coyote hunting. He wasn't very big but it definitley made me a bit nervous for a few seconds. This instance scared the bejezus out of me. Waay bigger bear and a weapon with even less dropping power. I never wanted to hunt a bear before but now I do. Screw the arrows, I'm gonna haul a rifle throwing 405 grains slugs and pack my .45 colt loaded with hardcast 330s. But once I'm properly equiped to dance with a big bruin I probably wont see one. Murpheys law can be a b!tch.

[Shoot-it]

Wow thats scary Matt glad you got away. how far up the Sierras were you I am thinking on getting a bear tag we should go up and do some calling one day.You thinking on useing that 45-110 LOL I think your 270wsm will have more energy plus faster second shot.

[lilwes278]

With 405 grain slugs, who the hell needs a second shot???

[clampdaddy]

Wow thats scary Matt glad you got away. how far up the Sierras were you I am thinking on getting a bear tag we should go up and do some calling one day.You thinking on useing that 45-110 LOL I think your 270wsm will have more energy plus faster second shot.

I was in the Long Barn area. On paper my 270wsm has more energy but in real life the 45-110 has more deep penetrating, bone smashing power. Energy figures favor high velocity rounds but big fat slugs have more momentum. I'm not worried about the slower reloading speed of the single shot but I'm not looking forward to carrying that brute aound the hills. I do have an iron sighted 30-06 and a 12ga slug gun I could use too.

[Braz]

Got a buddy up at the cabin who use to run hounds, years ago, and did a lot of lion and bear hunting. The best year they had thay treed 31 bear, and took a good percentage of them. Let some go. He always carried a Ruger Mark I. He liked the extra fire power. Said the 22 had plenty of killing power at the 20 feet that he would shoot them from.

[Desert Fox]

I know the feeling. I spotted one two weeks ago while scouting the day prior to opening day. He got close to 400 yards and that got me worried since I left my 300 at the camp and all I had was my K-Bar skinning knife.

[lilwes278]

Here's a little video for you Matt. I want to make sure you know what to do next time you see that bruiser! http://www.videojug....to-fight-a-bear

[ShooterJohn]

The only black bears that have ever given me trouble were the ones I've dealt with at Yosemite. Every other one we could get close to while filming turned and ran. They aren't real brave it seems. Except for one particular female we ran into at Yosemite and to get her to leave our stuff alone I hit her in the head with a coconut. That made her think twice about trying to go through our stuff. The next thing was going to be a big rock. But she decided to leave before that became necessary.

[45Colt]

With 405 grain slugs, who the hell needs a second shot???

Yep. Bigger holes too.Clampdaddy,that was one fine post ! We might have to do something for next year.

[mac]

or you can try some jsu jitsu --

[45Colt]

[clampdaddy]

Damn, Wes and Mac those were some funny videos! What sucks it that the dog runners will all be in the hills for the rifle season opener so I pretty much only have one shot at going after that bear on opening morning. After that all the ones that aren't killed will probably be pretty scarce.

[45Colt]

Nah,just go fishin and kick em in the juevos !You'll walk away with your fish.

[peeker seeker]

or you can try some jsu jitsu --

[CoyoteHuntress]

Damn, Wes and Mac those were some funny videos! What sucks it that the dog runners will all be in the hills for the rifle season opener so I pretty much only have one shot at going after that bear on opening morning. After that all the ones that aren't killed will probably be pretty scarce.

You do realize that even though they tree them they dont always shoot right? ASk if you can tag along!! Some guys let hunters come along because they just want an excuse to run their dogs.. AND if the dogs are running they are pushing bears all over so you may find more than just that one.. Last year when we were bear hunting we heard dogs and started driving towards the mountain they were on... we started seeing a lot of bear unfortunately none were closer than 1500 yards.. The dogs aparently were headed over the mountain darn it LOL.. A neighbor of mine runs hounds, and also a guy up town here runs his dogs for people.. I dont know if he is a guide or just does it for fun.. either way he gets ALOT treed and doesnt take them...

[BowhunterGonzo]

well we bowhunters can't have a side arm during some seasons. aways buy the big can of bear mace. i've crossed a few black bear before and i've noticed the females dont put up with much. the males however most of the time when they start doing their standing up and stomping the front feet are just bluffing. stand up to them and move closer while sounding more aggressive. 95% of the time they run. the other %5 is why i said bring the can of mace! if all else fails just shoot the thing and quickly find a ranger and fill out a DSP form.

[Beretta]

Stand as tall as possible and yell at him offer him tea and crackers . Bet that put your heart a ticking.

Good one Thumper,,, I am still Crackin up!!!!