I posted this on another site and they said I should post it here. I am planing a trip to Alaska for Grizzly Bears next fall around the Wasilla area and my brother in law is going to be guiding me. I am thinking about using a 300 win Mag with either 200 grain Barnes TSX's or 220 Nosler Partitions. I am wondering if this setup will work well for a Grizzly or if I need to look at a different cartridge.

Shoot whatever you shoot well and are comfortable with. Shot placement is everything.

Russ

I don't recall but does a brother-in-law qualify as the proper degree of kinship to take an out-of-state relative hunting?

Page 10 of the hunting regs, in-laws fall withing the second degree of kinship.

300 mag should be fine, grizzlies around Wasilla aren't the big coastal monsters, but still deserve respect.

Paul is there a good population of bears in that area? Because it will probably be more like me guiding my brother In Law he isnt a big hunter and they just moved there but he wants to go and I have always wanted to shoot a Grizzly. Also what would be a good time to Hunt I know that they have a river around Wasilla so I could try spot them on the river eating Salmon in the fall. I was thinking about early September to mid September.

I honestly don't know what the population of bears is in that area. Go the ADF&G website, and find the phone # of the biologist for that area. They are the best resource for finding out what a population is doing, and for providing information on hunting an area. I've also found that they are hard to get ahold of, because they spend the majority of their time in the field and not the office.

I have seen king Salmon in the little Susitna River in the fall, but I'm not sure what would be in the rivers in September. Don't expect it to be like the rivers you see in videos with salmon running by the thousands, and countless bears criss crossing the rivers.

I imagine you're going to have to hunt pretty hard, and likely won't be seeing monster bears. If you want monster bears, you need a river with massive salmon runs.

Paul any areas you might recommend? that you can still buy the tag over the counter?

Most of the state is over the counter. The real question is, what type of transportation does your brother in law have available, 4-wheelers, boat, airplane? Are you loooking for a real trophy bear, or just a representative bear.

There aren't many areas that you can just drive to and hike in a ways that are productive for hunting, and certainly not containing monster bears. A few folks have mentioned seeing quite a few bears around Petersville, and I've also heard about bears around Lake Louise. In the spring time you have to contend with bogs, flooding and lakes that are still frozen. In the fall you have to worry about rain swollen streams or freezup.

Paul, We would be Hunting with an ATV or hiking in. I really dont need a 1200 lbs bear but a nice 700lbs or larger would be fine for my first Grizzly. My brother in law just moved there yes but I will not be hunting until the fall of 2005 and you only have to live there for 6 months to be a resident. I am trying to plan ahead and be prepared the best I can cause I feel a hunt like this takes time to be prepared.

The time limit is 1 year to be a resident. You will still make it by next fall though.

Heres some info for you. I have hunted near wassila for years. There are some brown bears, in a few select spots there are many. However those are my spots and I aint tellin. If your hunting via 4-wheeler you will have many more options than just on foot. I have only seen 2 really nice brown bears in the Wassila area in all my adventures near there.
Some more info: You must be an Alaska resident for "12 consecutive months immediately preceding this application" please refer to PG 8 in the Alaska Hunting Regulation Book.

Heres the truth: You better know all the laws or you will get in trouble. You better find someone willing to tell you their spot, or start doing some extensive research prior to coming up. And last but not least you better respect Alaska Mother Nature, because she sure doesnt bow to anyone.

Please dont waste your time and money coming here ill prepared. The weather is unpredictable, you are not at the top of the food chain, and any injury could be your last. I would rather see you take your time and plan out a good and safe hunt, rather than rushing into something with a non-hunting relative who "just moved here". I hope I dont sound harsh, I just try to let others learn from my REALLY bad mistakes. I did something similiar when I first moved here, and people almost died! Myself included!

dakor .....a 700lb grizzly is a very large grizzly and I think you will find that most grizzly will square out closer to 7' rather than 8'. Don't confuse grizzly with coastal brown bear.

I can respect your concern Alaskan that is why I am preparing a year and a half ahead of time. I have hunted black bears before(I know they are not the same as Grizzly) so this isnt my first bear hunt and if the inland bears have trouble getting to 700 lbs we have black bear close to that running around where I hunt. In fact 3 years ago a guy shot a 659lbs black not more then 5 miles from where I was hunting that is a big black bear. I really am not going to get caught up in the size game I will know if it is a shooter when I see it if it ends up being 500lbs instead of 700 I will still be just as happy. I am doing my home work he is also talking to a friend of his that has been up there for the last 15 years and hunts on Kodiak Island for the big boys this might be an option as well but I want to know the in and out of things before I get up there cause I feel the only one you really can count on sometimes is yourself. I also have been talking to some people from the Game and Fish up there and they have been really friendly and have helped alot. Thanks for the information everyone!!!!!!

There are three things you shouldn't underestimate when it comes to hunting Alaska:

1) Weather, I'm sure you've heard all sorts of horror stories, they are true. You will get wet, and need to have clothing that will keep you warm while wet. I think goretex is one of the most highly over-rated products for serious outdoor use. The last few years have been very mild and warm in the fall/early winter. That doesn't mean it'll hold for the future.

2) The cost of transportation and related hunting expenses. Even if you aren't paying for a guide, factor in several thousand dollars for transportation up here, non-res license and tags, and transportation costs in state. There is a difference between being economical and going cheap.

3) The relative scarcity of game in the state at large. While there are some great areas to hunt, the majority of the state has small populations of game over the majority of the land mass. You can cover alot of ground, and not see much if any game. Don't have unrealistic expectations of finding game where others aren't hunting. If folks aren't hunting there, it is because the area doesn't hold much game.

One of the best options would be knowing where someone had taken a moose or caribou, and hunting the gut pile. Many grizzlies are taken incidently by this method.

Kodiak is draw permit. You'd be looking at additional airfair from Anchorage to Kodiak, and then either fly out from the city of Kodiak, or boat out. You'll be looking at the potential of serious weather, such that fly outs or return voyage on the boat can be delayed several days if not a week.

Thanks for the heads up Paul. The guy that my brother In Law knows takes is own boat out to the Island but I think I am going to stick to the main land my first trip up there and I am going to try make it up there in the fall every year for some hunting and Fishing. I have most of the clothing I need cause it does get very cold here I am from North Dakota and the last deer I shot with my bow in January it was -32 talk about cold sitting in a dam tree stand for 3 hours. So I am a firm believer in gortex and heavy gear. When does the snow start to fall there? I am plaining on hunting early to mid september. Is there any Tent or sleeping bag you would recommend or Maps? I am planing on bringing my GPS and a good compass. As for a pack I am planing on buying the Cabela's Alaskan Guide. Any Suggestion I am open to. Again thanks everyone!!!!

Sounds like a good plan for the first time up. You might also want to consider a fly out caribou hunt. For the money, they aren't a bad deal, and you might just get your grizz on the same hunt. You could get a griz tag, and a caribou tag, and should you choose to bag the two caribou you are allowed, could use the griz tag for the second bou.

Actually, the extreme cold isn't that hard to deal with. Most cases of hypothermia are when the temps are in the 40's, a wet cold is downright nasty! Trying to dress so that you don't soak your cloths during hiking, are still warm when standing still, and you don't have the water getting through your shell when it falls horizontally is a challenge to say the least. In the Brooks range North, snow will start falling in September. South of the Brooks, at lower elevations typically won't see snow until October. Believe it or not, if you take the average temperature for any given day, and go +/- 40 degrees from the average, those are the temperatures to be expected. Changes of 50 degrees in 24 hours isn't uncommon.

I've never found goretex to breathe well enough for me, even with the pit vents wide open. Also, as soon as it gets a bit dirty, the water soaks through from the outside, and wet goretex is heavy. I greatly prefer real rain gear with a layer or two of wicking clothing underneath, ie polypro and fleece. I'll still get wet from prespiration, but the synthetics are relatively warm when wet, and can be dried out.

As far as tents and bags, the mountaineering equipment is much higher quality and lighter then the "hunting" gear. Unless you charter a beaver, you won't have the weight allowance for wall tents and that ilk. The Kiafaru (sp?) tipi with the lightweight stove looks like a great setup, the folks that I know who have them swear by them, though I haven't gotten one yet. I did pick up a Black Diamond megamid, though we only used it as a food tent last year. We plan on using it for backpack trips this year, nice and light, though the inability to keep the bugs out may make it's light weight not seem so great.

USGS topos are about as good as it gets, unless you invest in the software to allow you to print your own maps. Considering the cost of maps, the software isn't a bad deal. Even going to Topo-zone to print your own maps off the net works.

Unless you are in the mountains, you should have a pair of ankle fit hip waders, or some of the newer high end chest waders. Your best investment will be a good pair of boots, and most importantly the time to break them in by getting yoruself in shape.

Thanks again Paul. I work out on a regular basis but I am really going to step it up a notch for the next year climbing with all my gear on that fun stuff :-) I was wondering about waders my father in law was up there a few years ago hunting and said where he was hunting he wished he had them. Well it looks like I will be going shopping for some stuff over the next few months.

Headnets are very small, inexpensive and easy to pack in and will be worth their weight in gold in the bush - take a spare because someone will forget their headnet - take good bug dope of several brands, some work better than others - All the planning can be overshadowed by getting your a## munched by whitesox or mosquitos - I have slept in my headnet, well, that is I tried to sleep while listening to those ravenous creatures buzzing outside the tent trying so desperately to get to me and my flesh and blood - also, dakor, you might peek at www.outdoorsdirectory.com or www.sportingalaska.com to gather more information - plan well in advance, allow for weather delays, learn first aid and navigation skills - have fun and take photos - KMule

a .300 w.m. will serve u well, stainless steel and a synthetic stock are the law of the land. try a 200 gr. n.p. federal h.e. in factory ammo. scope, 1.75-6x, 2.5-8x, 3-10x, with covers.

good luck.

cold zero

For Hunting residence requiremnets you must live in Alaska for 1 full year to hunt as a resident Alaskan.

I load my own I feel it is the only way to go. As for the residency I will not be going until September of 2005 so he will be a resident before I get there. I see barnes makes a 250 grain bullet for the 30 cal it is the Original Barnes not an X Bullet I wonder how those would work? I am also looking at a single man tent that cabelas sells it only weighs 3lbs and folds down to 14 inches any thoughts on this tent? Also I have an Update my father is buying a 375 H&H and he said I could borrow it if I wanted to. I will shoot it side by side with my 300 and see how I shoot with it. If I can shoot it as good as the 300 win I will take it if not I will be using the 300. I think I am going trying a 235 grain Barnes XLC in the 375 H&H any thoughts on this bullet? I do want to add this I have been looking at the prices of guides for Brown Bear and how these people can look someone if the face and charge anywhere from 7 to 10 thousand dollars is beyond me. I mean all the travel and licenses are extra so my question is what is their reason for that high of price? I mean you sleep in a tent eat 5 days worth of food granted, so what 700 dollars out of the ten grand you are paying covers that. I mean my god if that isnt Highway robbery I dont know what is.

dakor,

I would load up a high quality 200gr bullet personally. Not sure what weights Barnes offers in their new Triple Shock in .308, but I'd check it out. Myself, I'd call Mike Brady at North Fork bullets and discuss bullet choices with him. Those North Forks are bear killing machines.

A single man tent has been too small in my experience. A lightweight (5-8lb) two man tent provides a much better sleeping arrangment for one man. You can move around and get dressed inside. Plus it provides room to store all you gear in a dry enviroment. Went Sheep hunting with a buddy a few years back. He was so excited over his new 'bivy tent' which weighed next too nothing. It wasn't until we reached spike camp, set up, and was getting ready for bed, that he realized he couldn't get undressed inside his bivy. That wouldn't have been so bad, except it was raining! Again, his geared stayed outside in the rain, except what I put in my tent, and under my rainfly.

Brown bear prices are high for a number of reasons which have been discussed here before. Boats and airplanes are hugely expensive. They have to be maintained in top-notch condition in remote areas. Aircraft insurance has also increased in recent years. Add in short seasons with relatively few clients each year, trying to make enough money to live in Alaska for the rest of the year, still send the kids of to college in the lower-48, and I wonder how some of them survive.

Good luck on your hunt.

As Brian mentioned, the costs of guided hunts have been covered ad naseum in previous threads, and on other hunting boards as well. Suffice to say, operating in a remote area, where everything has to be flown in via small plane is very expensive. You are not only paying for the time of the hunt, but the transportation of everything at the camp and pre-season work as well. If they were truly ripping people off, then they would be out of business. Top guides can be booked for years in advance. People are paying $2-3,000 to shoot a fenced a deer in the lower 48, if you ask me, a guided bear hunt in wild Alaska is a bargain in comparison to those hunts.

Anyhow, I also agree on tents, and will add that a vestibule is essential. You don�t want to be bringing all your gear into the tent, but you do want a dry place to store it. If you are hunting in a area that has trees, a lightweight tarp to make a lean-to for cooking is very nice to have. A piece of Tyvek ~12�x9� makes a great light waterproof tarp, but pre-crinkle it, as it is very loud in the wind and rain unless crinkled up first.

I also agree on 200 gr �premium� bullets for the 300 win mag, either Barnes X, Swift A-frame, Nosler partition or others. Just find what bullet shoots most accurately in your gun. If you do take a 375, then load it with a premium 270 gr. The 235 gr in the 375 is a deer bullet, not a bear bullet.

Thanks BW I was wondering about the tent being small I think I will get a two man. Also Barnes Makes a 200 grain TSX that is what I am shooting right now. I think I will stick to the 200 grain cause I am going to try get my shot 200 yards away. That way I can try keep hidden if possible. Paul you dont like the 235 Barnes XLC idea? A 270 grain dam I bet that really kicks but I suppose I could try some out.

Make that distance 75-100 yards, and I'm in agreement. At 200 yards, if the bear takes off in the opposite direction your next shot is going to be a 250 yard shot, and it only get worse from there.

Paul

Tyvek? I've never heard that one. Do you bother to tape the ends or anything? Is it a one trip solution or more than one. Does it get very brittle when cold?

BW there are two sides to this coin yes if I get closer and he runs away from me I will have a closer shot but what if he runs at me? My second shot would be about 50 yards and my 3rd about 30 feet So I think I will try take my chances around the 175 to 200 yard mark if I can. I would rather have to shoot him running away from me then running at me I know that.I hope to god if I get a chance to shoot one I dont have to due either praying for a one shot kill on this one. But if I have to take a few shots I will be ready I always carry about 30 rounds on me no matter what I am hunting just because you never know what can happen out there in the field.

Closer is always better. Your odds of wounding a Bear are in direct proportion to the distance away from it you are. It is extrememly difficult to hit a running animal at 200 yards.

It's won't be like the plains of North Dakota. It will be thick and hilly. No place to look for a wounded animal, particularly one that will kill you if given the chance.

I have another question lets say I only get one shot and it is in the lungs and he runs off. How long would you guys give him? Two hours enough for him to bleed out? More than likely with a lung hit he wouldnt last more than a few minutes but it is better to wait to long then not long enough.

Not to be a A$$ but a 200 yard shot is not a far shot around here. Most shots on whitetails around here are 250. So I dont see If I took a shot at 200 yards why it would be a problem for me ,but I also shoot over 1000 rounds a year and pratice from different shooting positions and distances. I will get close to my comfort zone is about all I can tell you and I am not that scared of bears I hunt blacks with a bow and they can kill you just as easy as a Brown. I was just asking if someone would recommend a time to wait and let them bleed out. On black bears we wait on hour on a good hit because some of the stuff we hunt are swamps and are very thick some places you have to crawl through and that is the last place you want to tangle with a wounded bear. A friend of mine his dad hit one with a 243 and it ran off and they went after it and sure enough they found it and one of the guys ran and jumped down a cliff into the river because they didnt wait long enough and the bear came at them and the other guy froze up when the bear turned around and charged at them thank god my friends dad kept his cool and finished it with slugs before it got to them or somebody would have been really hurt or killed and that bear weighed 496 lbs. I know I have stuff I need to learn when I go up there that is why I am on here trying to learn as much as I can. But if everyone stayed home becuase they were affraid to try a new place to hunt Capstic would not have hunted africa. I dont agree with the guide law for out of state hunters one bit I will tell you why. My friend went up there 2 years ago on a fly in Moose hunt with a bow. Over the week they were there they encounterd 15 Brown Bears some at less then 20 yards and they had one charge but it was a bluff charge by a smaller one. My point is no matter what you are hunting you could run into one at least when you are hunting one you are prepared a little more then when you are expecting to be hunting Moose or Caribou and walking through some brush and a Brown Stands up 20 yards from you to see what you are. Like I said I am not trying to be on a$$ I am just trying to learn as much as I can before I go up there and you guys hunt and live up there so yes you have more experiance then me that is why I keep acting like a little kid and asking you alot of questions.

As I prefaced my previous post, I did not mean to offend you. The point is, a grizzly bear is not a whitetail deer, any most folks from the lower 48 have a hard time grasping that. While you did not directly say it in your previous post, it certainly sounded like you want to shoot at 200 yards because you are afraid to get closer to one. I think that is a very bad idea, and perhaps you should re-consider hunting such animals. This isn�t a personal attack on you. Many of us don�t hunt particular creatures for particular reasons. I personally have no desire to hunt the grizzly, because I only hunt what I eat. That doesn�t mean I begrudge those who do.

If you�d been at this forum sometime back you�d have read a post about a guy who was guided on a bear hunt, and completely missed the bear at 200 yds. That is not to say that you would do the same under the same situation, but it is to say that long range shots on dangerous game animals are ill advised. You�ll get the same advise for hunting in Africa. A poorly hit whitetail is little to no threat to you or others, the same does not hold true for a grizzly bear.

A buddy lost his first big game animal last fall, after 20 years of hunting up here. It was a grizzly bear. There are a combination of things that can be learned from that incident. As I wasn�t there, I may have some of the details wrong, but he may post to clear them up. The range was ~35 yds, and he was shooting a 45-70 contender pistol, pushing a 400 gr A-frame at 1750 fps. He placed the shot into the lungs, and the bear ran off into the thick alders. He and his partner could see the bear rearing up above the alders a few times, and thrashing around in them. They elected to wait about � hour before going in after the bear. The spent over 2 days looking for the bear and never found it.

Now, since the bear was never recovered, some speculation is required. While the a-frame is an outstanding bullet, given the mild velocity the pistol launched it at, the lung shot was a poor choice for that load. The shoulder would have been a much better target, or a softer bullet should have been used for a lung shot. Even a 45 caliber entrance and exit didn�t provide a good blood trail. Thick vegetation makes for extremely difficult travel and extremely limited visability, they may have walked by the bear and never seen it, or it may have high-tailed it out of there so that they never found it.

If you shoot a bear at 200 yds, even if you want to go in after it immediately, it�ll take you some time to cover that distance, depending on terrain, maybe a long time. If you are hunting open tundra, then perhaps a longer shot is justified, as you will be able to keep an eye on the animal, but then again, it can easily duck behind a rise, or find a small patch of alders or willows to hole up in. Most important is to keep shooting until the bear stops moving, and not to let it get to thick cover. The farther you are from an animal, the more things can go wrong in your shot placement, also the harder it will be to accurately place follow up shots.

One other story, an aquantance who lived up here before I moved up told me about a bear hunting trip he took with some buddies. He took his 7 mag because it was the only gun he had, and this isn�t to knock the 7 mag. Well, he found his bear, and before he could here his buddy yelling that it was a sow with a cub, as he couldn�t see the cub from his angle, he took the shot. The bear headed for cover, and suddenly the 7 mag didn�t instill the confidence in him to persue the wounded bear. Had I been living in the state when that occurred, I certainly would have turned him in to F&G. As it was, it was related many years later when he was no longer a resident, and I didn�t have enough details to make it worthwhile. This is all a long way of saying, if you don�t have enough courage to get inside 200 yds with your deer rifle, where are you going to find the courage to go in after the bear should it make cover?

These are things you will have to answer for yourself. If you want to call me a jerk for bringing this up, so be it. I have a great love and respect for the animals of Alaska. I feel that hunters have a special duty to consider all possibilities when in the field, and to show the animals the respect that they deserve. All I ask is that you do the same.

200 yards is too far , unless you are hunting the tundra with no brush, 150 would be a long shot in the bush. They are not whitetails, and you really can't base your scenerio on those experiences. Personal experience tells me that a .300 Win mag with stout 200gr bullets works great on grizzly. Invest the time to study the anatomy of grizzly, the 700 pound black bear you may come across back home, won't be half as tough as an interior grizzly, they have to be. Long winters means a short feeding season, they will eat anything, including gas cans and motor oil.

dakor,

I think your dads experience summed it up quite well.

The only time your father and his buddies were in control of that hunt, was when they were actively shooting at the bear. Those being the first shot, and the shots during the charge. When they were tracking it, the bear was in control of the situation.

I agree that 200 yards is not a feat of shooting skill. In all honesty, I shot my black bear up here at 170 yards (lasered.) But I was launching .416 370gr premium bullets at 2300fps.

My next two encounters were at 80yds and 40yds. I felt MUCH better shooting at those ranges.

I think you'll find, that when you finally find your bear, and start your stalk, you won't be worried about a charge at all. Very excited though, and you'll get well within 200 yards (if terrain permits) and much closer to 100 yards before you'll even start worrying about the bears behavior after the shot.

All of the experienced bear hunters I know have one thing in common, they aim for bone first. You take out a 'wheel', or two if lucky, and that bear is probably going to thrash around in the area it got hit. In the meantime you keep shooting till he's down for good. I think the actual lack of charged bear shooters may be due to the fact the bullet hits the bear before it hears the shot. The bear is hurt, maybe crippled, and very confused about the same time the sound waves reach him. Just a theory, could be wrong.

But I don't know any around here who purposefully shoots them in the lungs with the intent of tracking them down later. Of course that doesn't apply to bow hunters, but their crazy anyhow...

Do what feels right, while staying legal and moral. I'd say the advice on distance has been fairly one sided though.

Well it wasnt my dad it was my best friends dad who was hunting the bear. Second if I get the chance and my bear runs off I am going after it no matter where he goes. I am not going to let animal suffer because I am scared. I dont think it would matter what anyone had in their hands at the time even a 50cal you are going to have fear going after a bear in the brush. If it wasnt exciting people wouldnt hunt them. Someone Higher then me knows when I am suppose to leave this earth and if it is out hunting a creature I have always wanted to hunt then so be it. Better off out there then in a hospital bed. Another thing I want to cover is I dont take shots that I do not feel I cannot make doesnt matter if it is 50 yards or 200 if I dont think I can make a good killing shot I dont take it plain and simple. You are not harvesting anything out there you are killing and it really gets to me when people say we harvested this animal. No you didnt you killed it dont try change the words to make it sound exceptable. The guy that left the Bear cause he was scared should be gut shot and left out there himself. Nothing Pi$$es me off more when people wound and dont make every effort to try put them down or they mistreat animals. I love to hunt but it is the guy that sights his rifle in the day before season that should not even be allowed to hunt. Because he is the one that gives us a bad name. If I get a shot on a Brown I am going for the shoulder the first shot and try get the neck or lung or the other shoulder what ever is presented if there is a need for a second shot. I kinda get the feeling that some people dont think people from the lower 48 as it has been said should be comming up to Alaska to hunt. Well I will say this yes I havent hunted up there and need to learn the ins and outs but Hunting is Hunting no matter if it is in the Mountains of Montana or Wyoming pretty much common sense applys where ever you go. As for your crazy Bow Hunters after I have made a few trips up there for bear and Moose a Brown Bear with my bow is going to be on the list.

dakor - I agree with the others. Get as close as you can to that bear! Also once you have made that first shoot shut the f&&*k up and do not move except to reload but with minimal movement & noise!! The bear will want to get away if he doesn't know what just happened. He has 4 directions to go but if he knows you are there then guess which on he will probably go. Bear hunters make this mistake all of the time as do their guides!!

Okay, now you've shot him, he takes off into a heavy thicket. You, because you can't stand to see an animal suffer (neither can I! So I'm not attacking you there), are going after him! Very noble but it can be very very stupid!! Did I say stupid?? Unless you and your hunting partner (but you said he doesn't hunt! Right??) have worked out a search method. If you are going into heavy cover with your partner following he had better be able to shoot quick, fast and accurately as you drop to the ground to let him shoot at a the ticked off bear that decides to charge. Otherwise you is dead! I'll tell you that a hurt griz just by his voice can scare the crap out of you. You will think that god is speaking as it is so loud and all incompassing (man I still have nightmares!) No these aren't deer we are talking about. A griz is one heck of a billegerant critter (like man) These are animals have no problem taking a person out. A wounded one is even worse. Tain't like black bears who usually run. These critters stand and fight!! Just food for thought!

With all that said. Good luck!! And have fun!! But be sure your hunting partner can shoot under a bit of stress!! Otherwise do not go!

Brian - The thinking is hit bone on your first shot in self defense situations (under 20 feet anything more is hunting) to spin the bear. A charging bear is moving way too fast. Yes you will kill it with a chest shot but it probably will have done you in by then. When hunting go for the kill (chest, heart, etc) as hopefully the bear don't even know you exist and will be confused! Chance for a finishing sot or two.

dakor - Now with all of this said.. wish me luck in my fall hunt where I'm supposed to arrow a griz with my "trad" bow while being video taped!! I hopefully will have one heck of a backup gunner!! Were doing interviews as I speak!!!

John I am going to try get to the 100 yard mark on the bear unless I am on some open ground and cannot get closer. My brother in law has shot lots he was in the Army infact but he really hasnt hunted much besides deer. He said he is going to start hunting hardcore up there and I really cant blame him for that. I agree with you after watching hours of bear hunting videos it seems like everyone starts screaming and running around after the first shot I dont get that but I guess some people react different once the gun fire starts. Like I said I am going to try get well hidden and take the shot. After watching a bunch of hunts I think there is a good chance the bear is going down on the first shot if I do my part most of the bears I saw on the tapes went down on a good first shot. On the other hand there were a few that took 3 to 4 shots even when hit good the first time. Then there was a crazy man that shot a Brown with his bow and pulled the first shot and then went into the brush after him and finished him with his bow on the follow up shot. I believe that is the current world record for Archery right now. I would have went after him but it wouldnt have been with a bow it would have been with his guides gun I might be crazy but I am not stupid