Hello everyone. I'll be in Canada again in 2 provinces for black bear once again. I start in mid May.

I just spoke with one of my guides and he has a marshy set up where I can take a shot over 150 yards, (upwards of 200) at blackies.

I am taking one rifle and my bow. I'm thinking of either my 300 RUM with a 200 grain bullet or my 30.06 with a 180. Last year I took my 30.06 but the longest distance was 50 yards.

It's a no brainer that the .06 will do the job even to 200 but I'm not very experienced tracking bears in the dark, just in case it happens.

Would anyone here take the 300 over the .06 just for simple knock down?

The guide said bring the biggest I have, so long as I can shoot it well.

Hey Doc, wish I was going with you, I'm jealous and happy for you! Knowing you, both of these are real shooters, so I'd probably take the one that was the most 'handy'--lighter, shorter or whatever. Assuming your shooting XXX's I think killing effectiveness is probably a moot point.

I hope you find the brute of the woods,

Best Luck--Don

DOC you can't go wrong with either caliber. I'm useing a .300 mag on black bears in april. I'm hunting on the Quinalt Indian Reservation in Washington.
Got back from scouting trip to the San Carlos Reservation here in Az. saw three bears 1/2 day glassing. Plan on hunting there last week of april. I LOVE SPRING BEAR HUNTS

At that close of range more velocity is moot, I would take the 06. If anything I would lean toward a larger caliber.

Well, in terms of handiness, there's no doubt my 30.06 is more handy. 22" fluted bbl, Rem BDL. The 300 has a 28" bbl. My 180 partition load used a max of Re22 and it patterned very well, 0.4". The 180 TSX with a near max of same powder gouped the same and had same POI.

quote:

Originally posted by Fish30114:
Hey Doc, wish I was going with you, I'm jealous and happy for you! Best Luck--Don

Then I'll tell you this. I am looking at a fall bear hunt in Saskatchewan this Sept. The cost is $1500 but food is not included. Originally, I would have to rent a car from the Saskatoon airport, but after talking with the guide last night, he is now willing to provide (to and from) airport transportation.

You interested? I need a second hunter to go to eliminate the rental car (I think), not that it would be that big of an expense, but it IS money saved.

In fact, this is an open invitation. The guide is reputable and does not advertise, as most of his clients are all repeat. I luckily heard of him from a taxidermist in KY who went annually for 10 or so years. He has 2 nice bears in his showroom that he killed there. One, about a 500 pound black, the other, approx. a 450 pound blonde.

Apparently color phase is upwards of 40% but usually the colored bears are smaller. If 450 pounds is small, I'm afraid I'd just have to live with that.

I hunt black bear every spring in Northwest Alberta. Our hunting is strictly spot and stalk which is really easy as at the time of year we go the bears are feeding on south facing pipelines and trails. I am using a 50 cal muzzleloader which makes your 06 look like a ray gun. Either gun you suggest is more than adequate. Black bear,like anything else, are killed quickly and humanely with good bullet placement. The size and speed of the bullet are secondary.
p.s. your outfitters advice is good."shoot whatever you want"

Doc, PM coming your way.

IMO the 300 magnums don't offer anything over the 30-06 at ranges under 250 yards.

Take what you shoot best.

Twenty-two inch bbl vs. 28", and probably a 7.5 lb gun vs. a 9-10 pounder? No question, take the HUNTING rifle, not the specialized beanfield gun. My only suggestion would be to use a little "softer" bullet than the mono Barnes. Spring bears are skinny, so you don't need much in the way of penetration. Any standard cup-and-core bullet is probably a better choice than the extra tough Barnes. If all of the "premium bullet" PR here on this board has you nervous about regular old bullets, then use a Nosler Partition with its rapidly expanding front section. You're likely to do a lot less "tracking" if you use a more rapidly expanding bullet.

I don't mean to sound demeaning but with your caliber choices it's kind of a silly question. You are talking about bullets with the same diameter and the only difference being the grain weight and velocity. Neither will be a factor at the range you said you will be shooting. I've killed a few bears and I'd venture to guess that when your oufitter advises bringing the biggest you can shoot he means the largest diameter bullet you can shoot. Bears have long hair and it soaks blood up very fast. The problem with many calibers from 30 cal and under is they leave a relatively small exit wound. Small exit wound = poor blood trail. For a good blood trail it's tough to beat a .375 diameter bullet. With that said, I've never lost a bear and most of them were shot with a .30 caliber bullet. Place your shot well, break both shoulders with the first shot and tracking won't be a factor. Have fun and good luck.

.30-06, forget the Mag if you're shooting 250 yards, there's no advantage.

Ok, I'm taking the good old .06. Same thing I took before.

With my luck, I'll probably take any bears with my bow anyway, if I'm fortunate enough for a close shot.

I would pick the 30-06 also Doc. Just for the handiness of the rifle.
Good luck on your hunt.