Hi Forum,
We need some help making an important decision please.
The facts as we know them:
Today we watched a bear chase another bear up a tree after seeing at least 20 different piles of good size bear poo that were BRIGHT (almost flourescent) purple. The bear not pictured was bigger than the one pictured.
The blackberry crop in this area is currently beyond abundant.
The meadow in which this picture was taken however, is only 3 miles up a logging road from a small neighborhood.
We don't want to shoot a bear that will be unpleasant to eat. Last year we took a bear at 6800' in a giant blueberry meadow in a wilderness area and it was very very good eating, so it's been established that we have a taste for bear.
The question to those with experience:
What are the odds a bear from this spot will be as good tasting as the one we got in the blueberry meadow last year? My understanding is that a way a bear tastes depends a lot on its diet. Do I have enough evidence that these bears are primarily eating blackberries right now and haven't been rooting around in garbage cans or anything else foul? Remember, we have no interest in shooting a bear that won't be very good to eat.
Also... what size bullet from a 308?
Thank you very much for your input!