Son and I will be doing a Spring hunt in NB this year. Could use any info or advice you folks can offer. Will be a over bait so I'm sure bug control will be a problem. Thanks in advance, Phil

Keep your mag full as soon as you are in the woods. Friend of mine was out scouting with his guide in NB and almost did not take firearm, since they were not actually hunting just scouting. However, the guide said bring your rifle just in case so he did with two 7mm rem rounds only.

Long and short, they ended up being charged by a sow with a cub and the rounds were spent at 10 feet and our hunters are lucky to be both alive to tell the tale.

quote:

Originally posted by Smoker1:
Son and I will be doing a Spring hunt in NB this year. Could use any info or advice you folks can offer. Will be a over bait so I'm sure bug control will be a problem. Thanks in advance, Phil

Who are you hunting with? Ask outfitter to spray bug spray on ground and barrel every time they bait, and/or nearby trees, etc., so the bears are used to smell. Then you can dowse yourself with same repellent and no worries. That is what I do.

Thanks folks...good advice/info. We'll be hunting with the Upper Oxbow outfitters in Red Bank, NB. Doc, the insect spray is a great idea...absolutly makes sense...like common sense. Exit31, I don't live in Bear country but if I did I would always have some kind of protection...that makes a lot of sense also. I'm waiting for a e-mail from them and I will ask that question. I thought of using the Thermacell...heard good things about it. We thought we would fly but then 1,500.00+ makes driving a nessesity. Keep the good stuff coming. I would suppose the weather is as changeable as here in western NYS. Phil

hey Phil--happy new year--the best bear protection that I know of is a .340 weatherby loaded with 250 grain noslers. Don Hertz

Hmmmm, how about an older..( Like me ), Marlin .444 w/300gr. JHC?

When I go hunting Black Bear I us my 338 RUM. If I hunted a brown Bear I would use my 416 Rem.

You hunting with Deb Norton?

I hunted with them twice. Would love to go back. They are offering a buy one bear hunt, get one half price right now. Must book by end of Jan if I recall.

I'll be hunting with debbie. Seems like a very nice person. My Son and I are excited about this hunt. Did they use your insect repellent idea? Phil

Gerald, my guide, said he did. I didn't have a problem with the bears smelling me and I sprayed a liberal dose all over myself every hunt. Thermacells work well, but if there is so much as a breeze, which, there almost always is, it only repels whatever is downwind of it. You are going to LOVE their new facility and you should gain a minimum of 20 pounds on the fantastic food.

How did you learn of their place?

I was going to ask about your success up there. I really would appreciate all the 'Upper Oxbow' info you can offer. I learned about this place last year on a Maine hunting forum...not sure if that was the one, but a person who recommended it said he was a writer....man, I'm 69 years old and you just can't do this to my memory strength You are the only person who has offered to write, and with a hunt like this I'm more than thankful. Phil

PM Sent

Smoker 1;

I'm from New Brunswick, grew up there and spent the first 27 yrs of my life there. Owned a property in central N.B. with my brother until about 10 years ago. It was on a lake in a remote area with lots of bears. We lived in Quebec for a number of years and since '75 in Ontario.

Know bear huntin' over bait also. Have done a lot of it, both spring and fall. Good luck on your hunt.

I use big bores mostly. 45-70s in particular. The 444 should do an excellent job with a 300gr.

Black flies could be a challenge:use rubber boots that pull over the outside of pants; long sleeves tight aroung wrists AND A HEAD NET!!!
Button shirt at neck. I've used Muskol for years and it works well.

Have a great time with your son! Bear over bait can be a spine-tingling adventure... believe me!

Thank you for your post .458 Only. Good info and pleasant to read. I've heard of Muskol but never tried it but you say it works then it must....nothing like first hand experience. I have tried Thermacell and like Doc says if the wind ain't blowin.....Just picked up the Son's gun at the FFL today. Pretty wood...now lets see if it shoots as good as it looks.. Phil

Phil,

If you should use Muskol, apply sparingly! To wrists, forehead, cheeks and neck. It's tough on finishes, so wipe hands off on paper towel after, then use light hunting gloves so as not to get it onto your rifle stock. NEVER dose it on. A little bit will do ya! It uses a lot of deet and has a woodsey smell. Also, Deep Woods Off is good, but not as good.

What rifle did you get for your son?

Thanks for the Muskol advice. Damn bugs sure canbe a pain. Son bought a new Marlin .444. Very nice wood but I don't like the Marlin checkering....My old girl has plain stocks. We'll have to get busy and get a load worked up for his. Be asking too much to have my load work. Phil

I hunted NB a few years ago, and the bugs were really pretty bad. We didn't use any bug spray, but I learned the 1st night out to tape my bug suit to my wrists and boots. My sleeve went up on my wrist and must've exposed about an inch of my flesh to the little monsters, left an inch wide welt the whole way around my wrist! I couldn't believe it, didn't even feel them biting me. Even if you are using the spray, thermacel, whatever, tape the sleeves and legs so you don't leave a chance! Have fun, my dad and I had a great time on that hunt.

Sound advice Justin. Need to do that when I bush hog, only just my pants to my boots. Now them little %&%%^& really hurt when they bite and they seem to make thier way into areas that are a might sensitve

I use to send out requests for info on these hunts back when I was 16 yrs old.That was in the late seventies.I remember names like Fred Web and sons in NB.Maine was starting to get into the spring bear scene then it was followed by Ontario.Lately it's Quebec.My brothers Godfather killed a big black bear in the 50's and has the hide on his wall.In that same room he has a beautifull gunrack displaying all his firearms and a bunch of seashells he has collected while salt water fishing in Maine,Capecod,etc...That has left an impression on me and a desire to do the same.

Smoker: Most bug spray is also known as finish remover. We use camo bow tape on our guns to protect the finish. I have had good luck with the Avon skin so soft spray with insect repellent. It worked in Alaska and Canada as well as Africa.

Thanks for the heads-up LJS. I've heard of Avon before but never tried it. Must be those Canadian Bears don't mind it. I've used Thermacell with some good results, but always nice to have another option. shootaway There is something within that drives guy's like us to hunt. I'll be 70 soon and the drive is as strong as ever, it's getting it into gear thats, well you get the point

There is a lot of game in New Brunswick. I hunted in 2005 and shot a nice bear with a white chest patch on the first day. I filmed bears the rest of the week, and saw multiple ones each day.
Don't leave without fishing. It is fantastic! I never got tired of catching smallmouths.
The bugs are truly awful. They bit me through the elbows and knees of my bug out suit until the blood ran into my boots. I would suggest wearing two bug jackets and pants. I'll go back again someday though. That says a lot!

Bugs can sure make a hunt a little uncomfortable, course there are many things that make us uncomfortable, like our present Gov. .

quote:

Originally posted by jro45:
When I go hunting Black Bear I us my 338 RUM. If I hunted a brown Bear I would use my 416 Rem.

To each his own, but a .338RUM for black bear over bait is EPIC OVER-KILL...

.338??? who is shootin that? Course, what ever trips your trigger. smoker1

My bears have all been spot-n'-stalk, so I'm not much help on how to sit quietly while black flies eat you alive. I will say that unless you want to buy one or that's what you have on hand the cannons being suggested will be more than enough gun for any black bear I've seen. My choice would run closer to .277 - 308 with a well constructed heavy for caliber bullet. 338 RUM - WOW!

hunted nb once ditto on using tape on sleeves,no bear got there when the fiddle heads were out. did see moose deer and had a good time fishing

tr 405, what part of NY?

just saw this long island,how about you?

~50 miles south of Rochester.

Hi
I was born in NB and now live in NS. I still have land in NB and hunt there sometimes. I too, if things work out and taking my little double rifle in 8x57IRS on a bear hunt in NB this week or next. I have taken bears in NB using a 45 cal black powder muzzle loader and I must say that is a very exciting thing to do. I hope you have a great time and a wonderful hunt. Lots of bears in NB with one of my friends shooting 36 bear out of one stand over the years. I have had from no bears to upswards of 8 animals come in in a single evening. Blackflies are very bad in June and sometime we start to get mosquitoes aswell so you will need head nets and clothing thatt will keep all skin covered.The evening seems to be the best time to sit over bait and you should be very quiet while on stand. Average bears will run 200-400 pounds and even small one will get the old heart up & running. Have a ball! What are you using for fire power?
Phil

Phil,

If Smoker 1 and son have not left for N.B., I'm sure they're getting ready and will be on their way shortly.

He mentioned they were using 444 Marlins with handloaded 300-grainers. Excellent for black bear.

I've just started to bait for bear here in Ontario, and already have some coming to my traditional baits, but since Premier Harris, when he was in office, closed the spring hunt in his very limited wisdom, I have to wait until Sept.1st to legally hunt. I'd hoped to go to Quebec this month or June but it hasn't worked out for a buddy of mine, so I have to be content with baiting, waiting and watching!

Best to you on your hunt in N.B.

Bob

www.bigbores.ca

Son was lucky, I didn't see a thing. Beautiful country and great folks. Became acquainted with some of the gun laes of Canada and was not impressed. Hope like hell we never get that kind of controal here in the US. Wish you luck with your fall hunt and thanks for remembering us. smoker1