Just got back from a Black Bear hunt in Ontario, Canada. The first day I had this little B.B. walk up to me about 5 yds. and cheak me out. Then walk back to the bait bucket.
then left. He was to small. Wed. they took me to a ground stand. About 80 yds to bait bucket.
Then this 300 lb B.B. walks out. So I aim and fired but missed there was another B.B. walking behind me I think he wanted to have lunch with me, but when I fired he left.
So the last day they put me in another stand with the bait about 20 yds off. I was standing
there when out walks this big 400 to 450 lb Black Bear. He was watching me whem he put his head in the bait bucket. So I raised my rifle to shoot him when he raised his head out of the bucket looking at me so I froze but he saw I had changed position. Then he decided to leave
when he stoped but with only half his body showing so I fired hoping to hit part of his lung. It was getting late so we waited til the next day to look for him and never found him.
But I had a good hunt with the Bears.

Sorry I just couldn't stay out of this one.....I see a lot of people have taken a look at your post and they didn't reply. I'm glad you had a good time. So you "missed" one bear at 80 yards and likely wounded another.

You had a ball????
Learn to shoot--then come back.

the chef

--Honestly I'm sorry to wade into this one but I just couldn't let it slde.

I too was hesitant to reply,but I am not overly pleased to hear about someone missing one bear and wounding another and losing it on the same hunt.It does sound like the hunter either made very poor shot choices or needs a lot of shooting practise.

That is not what I consider a good hunt with the bears AT ALL.

Please reflect on what you wrote...words like sportsmanship, ethics, honor, respect for the animal etc. should be top of mind...then come back and tell us what you learnt from this experience.

I've been shooting for over 41 years. I am a excellent shot, but its hard to hold the rifle steady with your heart pumping 110 MPH. I know where I hit the big bear. And I know he will brobably die but we 4 men could not find him.

holy guys,
way to jump on someone when there down. Black bears are tough animals, this year I seen a average sized black bear take a good hit in the lungs with a .375 h&h 260 grain accubond and run for around a hundred yards into this thick crap. There was lots of blood and it still took us over an hour to get to him.

quote:

holy guys,
way to jump on someone when there down.

Read the posters topic line

quote:

Black Bear hunting, Had a Ball

Read the last statement in his post

quote:

But I had a good hunt with the Bears.

Does that sound like someone that is down?
Those statements are the biggest reason for my reply.I do not ever call losing an animal a good hunt or "had a ball".Here is the other reason for my reply.

quote:

when he stoped but with only half his body showing so I fired hoping to hit part of his lung.

Taking an iffy shot "hoping to hit part of his lung" is very poor judgement in my opinion.Any experienced hunter should know that the odds of recovering a bear with only part of one lung damaged,are not good.It shows a lack of respect for the bear and for the guides that must try to locate the wounded bear.

You fired "hoping to hit part of his lung" that's a low percentage- no a stupid shot. I'm not going to second guess how you might have shot- spine, big toe, whatever. The point is you shouldn't have shot if you weren't damned sure of a good hit. Missing is one thing but trying for a low percentage shot is unacceptable. I know because I've done stupid things too believe me. Coming on a public forum and bragging about it is only more fodder for the antis-something we should all be aware of before we hit the send button.

Honestly I'm not trying to jump on you or hurt your feelings

the chef

This is not a judgement on JR45 but more of an observation that I've made from a feqw years of guiding for hunters from Montana down to Sonora.

When you have people put down $ for a hunt it will make them take shots that they may or not normally take. I was always amazed at the shot selection (that people would want to take or would take) of those that had paid some cash. It is really quite amazing what happens to the hunter thought process when they have money and their ego(don't want to go home empty) on the line.

Once again to reiterate I am not dog piling JR here just an observation.

MD

Hello;
Where was the guide, while all this was going on????
Grizz

quote:

Originally posted by Grizzly Adams:
Hello;
Where was the guide, while all this was going on????

Grizz

The guide was one of the 4 that helped look for the bear. He figured that the wolfs and coyotes would eat the dead bear.

quote:

Originally posted by jro45:
I've been shooting for over 41 years. I am a excellent shot, but its hard to hold the rifle steady with your heart pumping 110 MPH. I know where I hit the big bear. And I know he will brobably die but we 4 men could not find him.

Nearly all hunters are, or should be excited when in that situation. Those who have killed any amount of game are able to overcome the feeling and focus, an ability that will keep them alive when the chips are down with dangerous game.
There is a really large difference between "hunters" and "shooters".
In my outfitting/guiding years i dealt with many of both categories. Some were good "paper punchers", some (thank god) good ethical hunters. Some just needed advice and others i wish i could have afforded (PR wise) to immediatly take back to the airport!
Black bear hunting does not usually qualify as dangerous game in most PH's books. The possibility is always there but seldom an issue unless you have a bad situation and a "green" hunter.
The biggest problem is the hunters lack of knowledge regarding them, many have seen too many TV and movie shows. Blackies are actually quite susceptable to hydrostatic shock and will most often drop with most decently placed shots as long as they are not already excited or angry, and often even then. Thus i am curious about the statement " I know where I hit the big bear. and i know he will probably die" Probably? Not enough info
I totally agree with stubblejumper.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark Dobrenski:
This is not a judgement on JR45 but more of an observation that I've made from a feqw years of guiding for hunters from Montana down to Sonora.

When you have people put down $ for a hunt it will make them take shots that they may or not normally take. I was always amazed at the shot selection (that people would want to take or would take) of those that had paid some cash. It is really quite amazing what happens to the hunter thought process when they have money and their ego(don't want to go home empty) on the line.

Once again to reiterate I am not dog piling JR here just an observation.

MD

I second that!