Bearpaw Fall Season 2011

[Michelle_Nelson]

Thats one BA Bear!

[bearpaw]

Thanks for comments everyone, they are appreciated. 

Idaho Archery Elk
I am having a blast, currently I am in Idaho and we are archery elk hunting. Nick is guiding Bob on an 8-Day Archery hunt. Bob has never killed an elk but so far Nick has called in a 330ish bull to 30 yards but Bob was afraid to draw with the bull that close, one spike that Bob missed, and today a huge bull to 15 yards that Bob said dwarfed the 330 bull. They had the bull close for 20 minutes, they could hear his lips flapping, Bob drew 12 times, but his only clear shot was a straight on chest shot he was afraid to take. So Nick and Bob are back after one of these bulls this afternoon. Tommorrow is the last day of Bob's hunt, I hope he releases an arrow soon.

Nick was a little stressed out and I told him, "Nick you did your job, Bob is having a hell of a hunt and he is learning a lot about elk, you are doing your job well, don't worry!"

I have a couple unguided hunters who have been in bugling bulls almost every day too, but they haven't connected either. I will keep you posted how this works out, but so far we are just having a blast with the elk hunting this year. Hopefully pictures soon....   

I almost forgot to mention, Brian missed a 5x5... we have been razzing him about that! 

[bobcat]

Are you guys talking about the  Hornady's Superformance SST's?   
 
BTW BearPaw I should still have a box of those under the seat in the truck we used on my Bear Hunt this spring. 

 
No, we were talking about Nosler Ballistic Tips.

[bearpaw]

Washington Muzzleloader Whitetail
My wife Tara is guiding two hunters (actually they are more our family friends than hunters) and this morning they got on two 4x4 whiteys at about 40 yards, needless to say, the cap went off, but powder didn't, he started to lower the gun and off goes the powder..... oooopppppps 

Tara split the guys and put them in different spots to try and get another shot, as luck would have it, the other guy got a standing shot at the same bucks from 50 yards and missed. Well at least they are having a blast and putting smoke in the air.... 

I am anxiously awaiting to hear the results of the afternoon hunt. 

[bearpaw]

Michelle, what caliber were your cartridges, I will have Tara check for them? 

[RadSav]

One thing about missing...you get a lot more stories to tell at the end of the year.  Some of my happiest hunters were ones that couldn't hit the barn door.

[bearpaw]

One thing about missing...you get a lot more stories to tell at the end of the year.  Some of my happiest hunters were ones that couldn't hit the barn door.

You are exactly correct, the friends I just mentioned hunt every year with us and even come and help with building projects, they usually miss 5 to 10 bucks and a few turkeys each season, they just are not good shots, but they have a blast anyway and usually at least one of them ends up getting a buck and at least one gets a turkey. Life wouldn't be as good if we didn't see them at least once or twice a year.

Next spring they told Tara they are coming up to help me put in my new "man-patio" that I want to build.

[BOWHUNTER45]

Good story Bearpaw. I wish you'd write up a story on every hunt you do, that was an enjoyable read.
 
Bowhunter45, Ballistic Tips are made by Nosler. The Hornady's may be similar, or look similar, but they're not Ballistic Tips. I use them but would never use them for elk or bears. I shot an antelope with my 270 and 150 grain Nosler ballistic tips a few years back. The distance was 315 yards, so it's not like the bullet's velocity was excessively high, the antelope was broadside and the bullet went in right behind the shoulder. It dropped him in his tracks, so that was good, but I was surprised to see that not even one bullet fragment made it to the rib cage on the far side. The bullet hit one rib going in and apparently disintegrated. I never did find the bullet or even a piece of it. It made a mess of the lungs but I surely would not trust that same bullet for anything bigger than a deer.

Yeah your right bobcat.. there is a big difference ...what I ment was people see a polytip and assume it is a ballistic tip which it is but nosler bullets with the ballistic tip are hollow points to where hornaday SST is not ...SST just has a polytip in it ..animals i have shot with the SST  done real well on bear ..I never explain myself good enough I guess 

[BOWHUNTER45]

This is the water we are sitting on right now...hopefully my phone will attach the photo.

Dang that looks really sweet....

[bobcat]

Yeah your right bobcat.. there is a big difference ...what I ment was people see a polytip and assume it is a ballistic tip which it is but nosler bullets with the ballistic tip are hollow points to where hornaday SST is not ...SST just has a polytip in it ..animals i have shot with the SST  done real well on bear ..I never explain myself good enough I guess

No you explained yourself just fine. I just wanted to be clear as to which bullet I was talking about. As you know, a bullet with a plastic tip is not necessarily a Ballistic Tip. "Ballistic Tip" is just the name of a bullet Nosler makes. They also make the Accubond which is an entirely different bullet but has the same plastic tip. And as you said Hornady makes bullets with plastic tips and they are not Ballistic Tips either.

[bearpaw]

Barnes is now making a tipped Triple Shock that we are converting to. Better ballistics with the tip.... 

[bobcat]

Barnes is now making a tipped Triple Shock that we are converting to. Better ballistics with the tip.... 

Those are an awesome bullet, but man they are spendy! Seems like they're a couple dollars per bullet, no?

[RadSav]

Barnes is now making a tipped Triple Shock that we are converting to. Better ballistics with the tip.... 

Saw a sheep taken with one of those up in NWT this year.  350 yards went in at the hip and stopped under the hide just behind the opposite shoulder.  One leaf was broken, but penetration was good.  Not as much tissue damage as I've seen with the Accubond or Interbond though.  If it were me I'd go Hornady.  That bonded bullet seems to have the best tissue damage while maintaining weight and penetration.  Been very impressed with what I've seen taken with those.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Are you guys talking about the  Hornady's Superformance SST's?   
 
BTW BearPaw I should still have a box of those under the seat in the truck we used on my Bear Hunt this spring. 

 
No, we were talking about Nosler Ballistic Tips.

Bobcat I saw where Hornaday SST was mentioned and I asumed you were talking aout the new SUPERFORMANCE SST's that have a red plastic tip on them?
 
I was wondering because I have been shooting 165gr 30-06 Hornaday SUPERFORMANCE SST's this past yer and used them on my Spring Bear hunt this year.
 
 

[Michelle_Nelson]

Michelle, what caliber were your cartridges, I will have Tara check for them? 

I was shooting 165 gr 30-06.  We put them under the seat.