>Losing a bear really sucks, but it does happen. >As long as the tag was punched, and the hunt >over, then no problem.



I'm very short on experience, and mostly agree with the sentiment above, but I was thought for sure the fellah would take a beating for A. stating essentially that a larger caliber is a subsitute for a well-placed shot, and that B. he gave up the chase after only 2 *hours*, especially after he stated he was certain it was a fatal hit.



I'm not going to get much into this, as not much detail was given and we just don't know all the facts, but personally, if I hit a BB well and he went off, even into the thick stuff, I'd sure as hell be giving it more of an effort than a lousy 2 hours in trying to get him out of there--I'd not stop looking until I had him, or the boat was ready to leave me out there at the end of the hunt.



My 2 cents.



Leighton

Some of the facts that went into my decision to pull off were as follows:
1. We were two hours up a severe rain forest incline in the wilderness where man has not likely ever set foot before.
2. We were ill prepared for such,as we had no water, no compass, two rifles, no knife, no pack, nothing to speak of.
3. The guide had a detached retina in one eye and the other wasn't much better. We did most of the "keeping on the trail".
4. Because the guide insisted we set out immediately after I shot the bear, we jumped it twice (found where it had laid down) and we were apparantly still pushing the bear when he went over the waterfall.
5. We had seen fresh brown bear sign.
6. I had had a heart attack two months before the trip and felt like pursuing the bear any farther, quite frankly would have been pushing my luck given the current circumstances we were dealing with.
7.The guide had no interest in going back later and attempting to pick up the trail.

Caliber is NOT a substitute for a well placed shot. A larger caliber is only more foregiving in some instances when the shot is not well placed. One of the bears taken on the trip was dropped in its tracks with a 270. I would say that shot was well placed. My friend who shot that bear is an excellent shot. However, I still think bears require a little larger caliber, can't always depend on busting its spine.

I had a great time, it was an adventure of a life time I will always cherish and next year, I will be much better prepared. Of course next time it is Mr. Brown Bear not Mr. Black Bear. I made some mistakes, we all do. Hopefully next year I will be able to captilaize on my past failures.

Given your lack of gear, support and a guide that sounds like he had no business even being out of bed, much less guiding a client (and especially since you have a heart condition), sounds like you probably made a smart call. Sometimes I suppose it's better to cede defeat and live to fight another day.


The guide you hired sounds like a bum, however. Not willing to even look? No sir, not a good sign.

Good on you for going back and trying again; hope you pop a bruiser.

Leighton

WOW what a mess! It must be true that �God watches out for fools and little children� and the occasional bear hunter.�

I have shot 5 black bears with a .308 Winchester and one grizzly with a .338. Each was plenty of gun.

I did have to go back one morning to find one of the black bears. Took me a few hours, but I knew he was dead because I heard the death moan after I shot him. In that case I had used a standard bullet and the shot went into the front of his chest and took out only one lung.

Bear hunting is fun but I have had my fill for a while. Someday I will hunt brown bears but I have other priorities right now.