My first attempt at bear hunting

[royalmarkw]

Hey guys,

Last year I went out deer hunting for the first time in years.  Due to being limited on funds and lack of vacation time I had to keep my hunt local.  So, I hunted the south end of Mosquito Lake Road.  I got skunked!  I did, however, manage to have a beautiful bear walk out where I was hunting at last light.  Unfortunately I did not have a bear tag so I just watched and enjoyed this marvelous sight until this beast roamed his way out of my sight.

This year I tucked enough money away to get my deer, elk, cougar, AND bear tags so I could legally shoot one if the opportunity arises.  I just recently got laid off of work and find that I now have a lot of time to get out and hunt so I figured I would go try my luck at finding a bear now. 

My question for y'all is in regards to my equipment.  I am primarily equipped for deer hunting and have very little money so I am trying to make due with what I have.  I will be hunting with my 30-06 that is equipped with a Luopold vx1 3-9x40mm scope.  After sighting in my rifle with various ammunitions I have found that at the 100 yard range the Federal Fusion 150grain rounds have performed the best.  Would this equipment and ammo be good enough to harvest a bear in the western Washington/Mt. Baker Area, and is sighting in my scope at 100yards good or should I be sighting in at 200yds?

Any other tips are welcome as well.  Perhaps I can pick someone's brain over a cup of coffee or pint of beer.  Thank you.

[JimmyHoffa]

Your equipment set up is pretty good.  Not much better than that.

[saylean]

All of my shots on bear are well under 100 yards...anywhere from 80 yards at the furthest to about 3 steps, and anywhere in between.

You'll be fine. Read up on shot placement at the top of the bear forum and remember if it is wounded its going to thick stuff, so be prepared to work for it if need be.

Best of luck to you.

[Longbowz]

If you sight your rifle a couple inches high at 100 it will be on at around 200 or so, check the charts with your load on this.  That way you can hold right on anywhere from 0 - 250 yards without having to guess.

[tgomez]

I also shoot a 30-06 but a Remungton 700 sps with a Nikon Buckmasters 4.5-14×40 BDC scope. I like .150 grain bullet as well, but I like the Hornady Superformance. I get right at 3,002 fps average from this round. Pretty much takes the 06 to magnum cartridge foot speeds, and I would trust this set up to hunt any animal that walks. This thing shoots flat as a .270, loving it!