Bears scary?

[buckfvr]

I would give some thought as to whether you are prepared for a close shot as in 10 yards +-, as that is not uncommon.  Your rifle caliber and scope combination is important while predator hunting.

[okie john]

First year going out for black bear.. still new to hunting, been walking dnr roads and found a nice bear that I scared off on opening day the adrenaline rush was real.. Was going to go back out here in the next few days and look for the same bear just have a few questions before I head back out.

1. How the heck do you guys stay calm when you are solo bear hunting? Do they usually run away when shot? I'm just scared I won't make a clean shot or drop him on the spot and he will charge towards where I am.

The most dangerous animal in the woods is a man with a rifle IF he is competent with it and confident in his skills. Experience is the best way to build those things. The first major adrenaline rush is always a mind-bender but the next one won’t be nearly as strong and then they get progressively weaker. Pretty soon you just feel a general excitement that leaves your mind free to focus on the mechanics of the problem before you.

Aside from that, training is the next best way to build confidence.
•   Shot placement kills game. Learn the animal’s anatomy so you can hit the vital zone from any angle. Find animals in a zoo (https://www.nwtrek.org/animals/bears/ or https://www.cattales.org/animals/black-bears/) then watch them move, imagine where the vital zone is, and figure out how you’d hit it with a rifle. In an hour, you’ll see them from more angles than you would in years of hunting.
•   Shooting game offhand and handling a rifle under hazard are completely different than shooting from a bench. You need to learn and practice those skills. https://www.amazon.com/Art-Rifle-Jeff-Cooper/dp/1581605927 is an excellent reference. Focus on learning to cycle the action hard and fast while the rifle is still on our shoulder then fire a second shot. You’d be surprised how fast you can get this way, even with a bolt-action rifle. Also practice making fast, precise hits at 5-10 yards and topping off your magazine without looking at your rifle.
•   Keep your scope on the lowest setting. You’ll have time to crank it up if a longer shot comes up.
•   When a wounded animal jumps into the brush, stop and listen as others have described. Always top off your magazine before you go in after it. You’ll want a fully loaded rifle, and sometimes just summoning the presence of mind to do this will calm you down.
•   Practice transitioning from your rifle to your handgun and making solid, fast hits at very close range.
•   Get a good First Aid kit, including a tourniquet, and learn to use it. Then don’t hunt without it. Also know the location and route to the nearest Emergency Room.

Figuring all of this stuff out in advance goes a lot farther to building your confidence than you'd think.


Okie John

[MADMAX]

Negligently discharging a firearm (RCW 77.15.460):
From, across, or along the maintained portion of any public highway, regardless of surface, or from within a moving vehicle or moving off-road vehicle is prohibited. Hunters with disabilities with a vehicle identification placard, in compliance with WAC 220-413-140, may discharge a firearm or other legal hunting device from a non-moving motor vehicle that has the engine turned off.

The way you quoted the the RCW makes it look like it’s considered a negligent discharge if you fire a gun from the roadway. The RCW reads differently.

2) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a loaded firearm if:
(a) The person negligently discharges a firearm from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway; or
(b) The person discharges a firearm from within a moving motor vehicle or from upon a moving off-road vehicle.

Unfortunately negligently isn’t defined for this chapter…

page 89 0f the Big game pamphlet was what I pasted in there

[10thmountainarcher]

Negligently discharging a firearm (RCW 77.15.460):
From, across, or along the maintained portion of any public highway, regardless of surface, or from within a moving vehicle or moving off-road vehicle is prohibited. Hunters with disabilities with a vehicle identification placard, in compliance with WAC 220-413-140, may discharge a firearm or other legal hunting device from a non-moving motor vehicle that has the engine turned off.

The way you quoted the the RCW makes it look like it’s considered a negligent discharge if you fire a gun from the roadway. The RCW reads differently.

2) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a loaded firearm if:
(a) The person negligently discharges a firearm from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway; or
(b) The person discharges a firearm from within a moving motor vehicle or from upon a moving off-road vehicle.

Unfortunately negligently isn’t defined for this chapter…

page 89 0f the Big game pamphlet was what I pasted in there

Ahh I see that now. It says the same as the RCW then. You’re prohibited from negligently discharging a firearm from a roadway.

[hunter399]

Negligently discharging a firearm (RCW 77.15.460):
From, across, or along the maintained portion of any public highway, regardless of surface, or from within a moving vehicle or moving off-road vehicle is prohibited. Hunters with disabilities with a vehicle identification placard, in compliance with WAC 220-413-140, may discharge a firearm or other legal hunting device from a non-moving motor vehicle that has the engine turned off.

The way you quoted the the RCW makes it look like it’s considered a negligent discharge if you fire a gun from the roadway. The RCW reads differently.

2) A person is guilty of unlawful use of a loaded firearm if:
(a) The person negligently discharges a firearm from, across, or along the maintained portion of a public highway; or
(b) The person discharges a firearm from within a moving motor vehicle or from upon a moving off-road vehicle.

Unfortunately negligently isn’t defined for this chapter…

page 89 0f the Big game pamphlet was what I pasted in there

Ahh I see that now. It says the same as the RCW then. You’re prohibited from negligently discharging a firearm from a roadway.

Ya it says this or that in the reg book.
I always just remind myself,that your responsible for that bullet before you pull the trigger.

I remember one time .....
This buck was bedded under this huge bull pine, probably 30 in + tree. With a doe.
Right behind them two was a county road,and a house beyond that.
Last day of the late buck!

Still to this day ,I'm almost 99.9 percent sure I could of shot that buck right in his bed ,maybe 60 yard shot and that bullet was gonna hit that huge pine right behind him.
I'm not gonna lie ,I looked through the scope at him a few times,just thinking about it.
But being able to see that house in my scope, I said no way.

Anyway I waited,doe got up a ran off right towards that house.
And so did the buck. They was rutting hard. She would of ran any other direction,I would of had a backstop and could shoot.
It took a lot of self control for me not to kill that buck.
Later that day I tagged out on a spike,just cause last day.

[NewHunter24]

First year going out for black bear.. still new to hunting, been walking dnr roads and found a nice bear that I scared off on opening day the adrenaline rush was real.. Was going to go back out here in the next few days and look for the same bear just have a few questions before I head back out.

1. How the heck do you guys stay calm when you are solo bear hunting? Do they usually run away when shot? I'm just scared I won't make a clean shot or drop him on the spot and he will charge towards where I am.

The most dangerous animal in the woods is a man with a rifle IF he is competent with it and confident in his skills. Experience is the best way to build those things. The first major adrenaline rush is always a mind-bender but the next one won’t be nearly as strong and then they get progressively weaker. Pretty soon you just feel a general excitement that leaves your mind free to focus on the mechanics of the problem before you.

Aside from that, training is the next best way to build confidence.
•   Shot placement kills game. Learn the animal’s anatomy so you can hit the vital zone from any angle. Find animals in a zoo (https://www.nwtrek.org/animals/bears/ or https://www.cattales.org/animals/black-bears/) then watch them move, imagine where the vital zone is, and figure out how you’d hit it with a rifle. In an hour, you’ll see them from more angles than you would in years of hunting.
•   Shooting game offhand and handling a rifle under hazard are completely different than shooting from a bench. You need to learn and practice those skills. https://www.amazon.com/Art-Rifle-Jeff-Cooper/dp/1581605927 is an excellent reference. Focus on learning to cycle the action hard and fast while the rifle is still on our shoulder then fire a second shot. You’d be surprised how fast you can get this way, even with a bolt-action rifle. Also practice making fast, precise hits at 5-10 yards and topping off your magazine without looking at your rifle.
•   Keep your scope on the lowest setting. You’ll have time to crank it up if a longer shot comes up.
•   When a wounded animal jumps into the brush, stop and listen as others have described. Always top off your magazine before you go in after it. You’ll want a fully loaded rifle, and sometimes just summoning the presence of mind to do this will calm you down.
•   Practice transitioning from your rifle to your handgun and making solid, fast hits at very close range.
•   Get a good First Aid kit, including a tourniquet, and learn to use it. Then don’t hunt without it. Also know the location and route to the nearest Emergency Room.

Figuring all of this stuff out in advance goes a lot farther to building your confidence than you'd think.


Okie John

Have not actually gone to a outdoor range or anything setup for shooting yet, on the west side so chances are I will be 25-50 yds. Been practicing between 25 & 50 yards shooting like I would if I were taking a standing shot. Really don't think I would be able to hit a charging bear with the rifle, got some .40 S&W 200gr hardcast if for some reason it did attack. Mainly got it for following the blood trail & something on me while field dressing. Going to definitely practice taking a follow up shot!

Don't really know the area I'm going to since I only went out there twice so far, I guess my best bet would be getting some elevation. The last place I was going the terrain was pretty uneven so there was a back stop pretty much anywhere. This place is semi flat, I guess it just comes down to getting a good shot opportunity and getting off the road.