Bearpaw Season - Fall 2012

[Ripper]

Sounds like you're having an amazing season Dale!   

[bearpaw]

Sounds like you're having an amazing season Dale!   

It's been pretty good, best of all some great experiences and stories for most everyone, but I have to admit, I had one guy who did not see a bear. No matter where we hunted him, that was the wrong place that day. Some of the bear taken have come from where we hunted him after he left. 

[grizzlyadams]

Seems like quite a few bear are being hit but not dropping. Are these guys using light calibers or is it just poor shot placement. Just wondering what to expect with my rifle. I'll be using my 300 wm with 180's. If I get one this year, it will be the first with this rifle. I've dropped bear before with my 30-06 but maybe they were just smaller bear than the ones you're encountering. Just looking for some info.

Thanks Dale   

[h2ofowlr]

I am a little worried, I heard about a farmer who has found numerous dead deer on his place, deer in the field at night have gone from 42 to about 10. I mentioned it to the game warden and we are going to try and get a tissue sample for the biologist to check out. Hope it's not blue tongue. 

Any wolf traffic in your area?

[bearpaw]

Seems like quite a few bear are being hit but not dropping. Are these guys using light calibers or is it just poor shot placement. Just wondering what to expect with my rifle. I'll be using my 300 wm with 180's. If I get one this year, it will be the first with this rifle. I've dropped bear before with my 30-06 but maybe they were just smaller bear than the ones you're encountering. Just looking for some info.

Thanks Dale   

Over the years I have noted numerous problems, here are the most common:

Bear Fever...............(too excited when shooting at a bear)
Lack of Practice........(practice makes you a better shot)
Poor Rest.................(use a bipod, shooting sticks, or a good rest so you make a good shot)
Shooting Too Far......(bear are tough, bullets must have good energy and hit vitals, just hitting the bear is not enough)
Improper Bullets.......(I have seen too many bullets that blow up and don't penetrate, use premium grade bullets)
Inadequate Power....(too small of catridge in addition to a poorly placed shot and a bear is certain to walk)

This is My Opinion
I have seen bear killed with the .243 caliber, but too many are wounded. I consider a 25/06 the minimum. The 7mag, 300 mags, and 338's are excellent. A .308 or 7mm/08 Win is adequate at close range but does not have the velocity to be a good choice at longer ranges.

[bearpaw]

I am a little worried, I heard about a farmer who has found numerous dead deer on his place, deer in the field at night have gone from 42 to about 10. I mentioned it to the game warden and we are going to try and get a tissue sample for the biologist to check out. Hope it's not blue tongue. 

Any wolf traffic in your area?

We live right in the middle of the majority of Washington's wolves. But these deer are on a place close to town where no wolf sightings have been reported, I'm fairly certain that's not the problem.

[bearpaw]

Eric whacked a couple turkeys with us this spring, he is a nice guy, a good hunter, and it was great to have him come back for an unguided bear hunt. He arrived in the mid morning, we got him settled into his cabin, I went over some hunting areas with him, then he was on his way. Eric went to where I had suggested, he hiked in, and he certainly didn't waste any time in dropping this big blackie only 2 hours into his hunt. One well placed shot at 60 yards and this bear only bolted a few yards and dropped. Eric called with his cell phone and I sent a couple guys to help drag out and load the bear. We got it all cleaned up and in the freezer to chill overnight then Eric headed home the next morning.

Great shooting and congratulations. 

[h20hunter]

Great looking bear and a happy hunter indeed. Man....I'm really thinking that next year the brother in law and I are going to have to put some thought into an unguided visit. It really sounds like a great chance to hunt, have support, yet not break the bank.

[Killmore]

Dale, How much did Eric's bear weigh,Looks like a very nice bear.

[sirmissalot]

Jeez that looks like a dandy

[Ripper]

That is a hog!

[elkhunter1977]

Thanks for the kind words Dale!.. Once again I'd like to thank you and everyone at Bearpaw for a hunt I'll never forget. the bear weighed in at 250!

[Gringo31]

By the looks of that pic, if it weighed 250#s, you must weigh just over 75? 

[bearpaw]

250 pounds on a scale is about the same as the 450 pounders you here about at the quick stop or sport shop from everyone that saw a good sized bear run across the road or on a distant sidehill.


Another 251 pounder (on the scale) was as big as he would probably ever get. His canines were very discolored and his front incissors were nearly smooth with his gums. I figured he probably was 10 to 15 years old.

[fvh40]

Interesting stuff.

What happens with the bear's meat, isb it useable?
Pardon the silly question