Category Archives: Rifle

Rifle hunting for bear. Rifle hunting for black bear. Rifle hunting for grizzly bear. Rifle hunting for brown bear.

Bear Hunting in Alaska: Which Rifle to Bring?

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"Bear Hunting in Alaska: Which Rifle to Bring?" [file photo]

“Bear Hunting in Alaska: Which Rifle to Bring?” [Bear Hunting Blog file photo]

The question is not so much what you’ll be hunting as, will you be in bear country? I have hunted caribou in Alaska with a .270, .270 WSM, and 7mm Weatherby Magnum, and all three did fine. Except that, on the hunt where I had the 7mm, I was checked out by a young boar grizzly, who seemed to find the guide, my friend, and me mildly disappointing and wandered away. If he had been a mature boar grizzly, I might have wished for a much bigger rifle.

I’ve known, personally, two guides who had to kill bears (one a brown, the other a grizzly) who were trying to do the same to them. One guide did the job himself with a .416 wildcat. The other guide had a .44 Magnum revolver, and the attack took place very suddenly over the disputed carcass of a caribou. The guide told me that if his client had not stood his ground and shot very quickly and very accurately with a .338, he might not be there to tell me the story.

So, my solution to Alaska rifle question (unless you’re way up in sheep and goat country where the chances of a bear encounter are fairly small) is to take something like a .338 loaded with 200- or 210-grain bullets for whatever you’re after, and stick a half-dozen 250-grain loads where you can get at them very quickly if you have to. This is if you’re hunting the non-dangerous stuff.

To read the rest of the article go here:

Story by:  David E. Petzal
Source: Field & Stream
For more information on Alaska Bear Hunting, click the active link.
Bear Hunting Blog

Potential Virginia Bear Hunting record at 9’ & 674 lbs.

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LUNENBURG COUNTY, Va. (WTVR)—There are plenty of small black bears spotted in the greater Richmond area, but a bear recently killed by a hunter could take the state record for its size.

A young hunter killed a big black bear in Lunenberg County on Tuesday. CBS 6 traveled to south west to the county to find out how common large bears like this are and why closer to the city bears are becoming a more common sight.

The massive black bear bagged by local DJ Lacks sits in the back of a pickup truck. The 25-year-old brought down the bear with his rifle, shooting it from 75 yards away in the woods of Lunenberg County.

It took all day to remove the bear from the woods.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Story by:  Alix Bryan and Greg McQuade
Source: CBS Channel 6 WTVR.com
For more information on Virginia Bear Hunting, click the active link!
Bear Hunting Blog

Scent Free Bear Hunting in Maine

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Bear Sents

Scent Free Bear Hunting in Maine

According to Dick Scorzafava in this bi-monthly Bear Hunting magazine, scent control is the most important factor in hunting black bear from a stand (along with sitting still).  The bear’s ability to smell is fantastic and one of their best defenses.  Our first black bear taken last year is a testament to Dick’s observation.

It was hot the first week of bear hunting last year in northern Aroostook County, Maine.  Steve, from South Carolina, was somewhat quite but the few comments he made in his southern drawal indicated he was a hunter.  He sighted in his rifle in on Monday morning with precision.  I was very confident he could hit what he was aiming at.

At our meeting on Sunday evening I told all the hunters that we would have lunch about noon on Monday and head out to the bear stands about 2.  After sighting in their rifles, we had lunch.  Steve jumped in the shower with his scent free soap.  I later found out he also brushed his teeth with scent free tooth paste. Coming out of the shower he asked me if it was ok if he changed his clothes at the truck when we reached his stand.

Scent-Lok Clothing

Scent Free Bear Hunting in Maine

In a Scent-lok bag he had his Scent-lok hunting clothes to include his gloves, neck-up and head gear.  As hot as it was he was going to wear it all.  Only after undressing and redressing in his hunting clothes was he ready to walk into his stand.  He told me when he pays to go on a hunt he wants to ensure he does everything in his power to ensure he has a good time and sees game.

I walked him to his bear stand and helped him get settled.  I sprayed the area with Wildlife Management scent free, put more bear bait out, sprayed bacon scent from Bear Scents, LLC, cut a few branches that he wanted out of his way and I was gone.  He shot his bear earlier than any of the other hunters in 2010.

He explained that 2 cubs and a sow came up from behind him, nose into the wind.  The 2 cubs actually climbed through the bottom 2 rungs on the ladder stand.  The fourth black bear came in from the same area as well and chased the sow and 2 cubs away.  The fifth bear came in from the same direction, behind him and was taken with one shot.

There was a breeze that day and all the bear came into the breeze right under Steve’s stand to reach the barrel of food.  None of them scented him.

I personally wear scent free clothing.  I don’t think it is magic and I don’t think it is 100% effective but I do believe it gives me an edge.  I strongly agree with Dick.  Steve has helped promote the whole issue of Scent-lok clothing does help.

Source: #9 Lake Outfitters and Don Burnett offers Bear Hunting in Maine.
For more information on Maine Bear Hunting, click the active link - Bear Hunting Blog 

An Outfitters Wife by Cacilia Wardale

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Bear Hunting in Alberta Canada

An Outfitters Wife – Cacilia Wardale

I’d not grown up around hunting, but in the last year it has become a sport I have lived vicariously through my partner and best friend Al. Although I’d grown up spending much of my time outdoors, the dream of a chance at a beautiful blonde bear has been born recently of hearing hunting tales and experiences from Al. I decided to borrow this sport as I wanted to try this new sport and exciting test of nerves for myself!

Following my Hunter Education course this past winter, and much time at the range in early spring, I got my first hunting license, and obtained two bear tags. We were going Bear Hunting! Our first day out showed 6 bears, including a sow with three cubs but the evening ended without a shot fired. An day later that week though turned out much more interesting. The kind of evening I’d always heard about over roaring campfires…

Our first stalk on a feeding bear ended with the bear losing patience and slipping back into the woods and with us beside a borrow-pit encircled with aspen. While hoping for the black to return, we listened to beavers slapping tails feverishly in the water 50 yards away, and figured that there was either a bear or wolves at the pond. While walking in, a grey wolf flashed passed in the dense tangle of willow about 10 yards away followed by another! We caught glimpses through the trees, and since I hadn’t yet the courage to make a shot on a running wolf, Al worked his way to the borrow-pit while I went back to the trail. After a few minutes of waiting I finally watched as the wolves made their way back across the trail and off into the brush on the other side, glancing curiously at me as they did. A first encounter for me!

Alberta Black bear Hunting

Cacilia Wardale with an Alberta Bear Limit!

Not long after that through, we spotted another black at 400 yards and feeding towards us. With the wind in our face, we snuck closer and moved single-file when the bears head was down. At 200 yards we decided that was as good as it was going to get, but the bear was still feeding closer. We watched and waited and the bear closed to 150 yards. From a crouched position, I steadied my rifle on Al’s forearm as he held the shooting stick low and braced for the shot. Coached to “break its shoulder”, I fired when the bear turned broadside, sending the bear into the air and running for the woods, jumping a 6’ wide creek in the process. I had been terrified of the kick of the rifle as well as the blast, but with the blood rushing through my ears and my heart pounding it all happened so swiftly I couldn’t believe it was over. We found the bear just inside the woods, dead and with one broken shoulder, “shot perfectly” as Al would say. Although slightly rubbed, the bear squared 5 ½ feet and a fine first animal. One of the best things for me was hearing the love of my life and long time hunter giggle gleefully with pride and amazement as we packed the bear out of the woods. Already a perfect evening and yet we elected to load the bear up whole and keep going as there was plenty of hunting left in the evening. And we were right….

10 minutes passed after we got moving again, and we spotted another black bear at 350 yards. We got out and moved to a better vantage point to deliberate, and as we watched, a blonde colored black bear surfaced from a depression, feeding towards us at 75 yards! I was so excited and couldn’t help jumping out of my skin at having found my blonde on only my second day! We deduced that it wasn’t a grizzly, although the color could have been, and Al told me it was just the color I’d hoped for. He was sure right about that! Using my forked shooting stick again, I fired, hitting the bear on the near shoulder, and exiting on the neck as the bear held its head low, facing away. It dropped in an instant and never moved. A beautiful bear, taken again with one shot from my .270. The exceptional colored bear was right on 5’, no rubbing and will make a beautiful mount.

We loaded the second bear and drove to a quiet spot to swat mosquitoes and skin them out. I couldn’t help giggling to myself “first time hunter, one-shot kills…” Al said he wished all his clients shot this well.

I really enjoyed my first experience with hunting, and feel good about the way I went about it. Al was there throughout the experience and coaching towards success, but the choices and end results were ultimately my own. This sport that I “borrowed” is full of rewards for those that participate and I feel lucky to have taken part. I think this is one borrowed item that shouldn’t be returned, but is best when shared.

Al & Cacilia Wardale run Moose Country Outfitting in Alberta Canada and offer Black Bear Hunting in the Peace River area. You can get more information on Alberta Black Bear Hunting by following this link.

For more information on Alberta Bear Hunting, click the active link - Bear Hunting Blog

Michigan Bear Hunters Association

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Michigan Black Hunters Association

Michigan Black Hunters Association [bear Hunting Blog file photo]

If you would like information or would like to become a member of the Michigan Bear Hunters Association, please click the link.

Today, our work is more important than ever. The bear, though its numbers are healthy, is facing several threats, including loss of habitat, particularly in the Lower Peninsula. Bear hunters have also been put on notice by organized animal rightists that they have targeted Michigan to outlaw our sport. But fighting for the bear and for bear hunting is something we’ve done hard and successfully for years.

MBHA’s roots were men and women who loved the sound of hounds on trail. Typically, hound men and hound women are equally at home chasing fox, raccoon, coyote, bobcat or bear. MBHA became a conservation organization that was an advocate for all these sports, with the primary emphasis on the black bear. Since the ’50s, through its association with MUCC, members of the state Legislature, the state Department of Conservation and its offspring, the Department of Natural Resources, MBHA has been in the forefront of Michigan conservation.

Early on, MBHA leaders fought to protect the bear by making the state change its status from vermin to game animal. Thus protected by seasons and bag limits and methods of take, the black bear has thrived. Successful MBHA initiatives have included the protection of the bear and bobcat by limiting their take to regular hunting seasons, the removal of the coyote bounty, the registration of all harvested bobcats and bears for scientific purposes, the removal of the bear from the small-game license and then the deer license, the law limiting dogs on a bear chase to six and baits per hunter to three, the ban on shooting cubs, the special archery bear season and many bear research and habitat improvement programs.

MBHA has always encouraged its members to learn wildlife conservation practices and to embrace the sportsman’s ethic. Most regulations MBHA has backed were designed to meet that end and to demonstrate to the general public that bear hunters are indeed concerned about the quality of the hunt as they practice it. Through the years, however, MBHA and the bear hunters it now supports-baiters, hound men and still hunters-have had to endure attacks on their sports. Yet despite stable and increasing bear populations, these attacks have been mounting, not only elsewhere, but here in Michigan too.

MBHA is committed to repel these assaults by educating the public and our legislators. MBHA is also pledged to conserve the black bear by pushing for increased research and enlightened management and is resolved to ensure MBHA is committed to repel these assaults by educating the public and our legislators. MBHA is also pledged to conserve the black bear by pushing for increased research and enlightened management and is resolved to ensure hunters have equitable regulations by pressing for them with the DNR.

We, the members of MBHA, invite all bear hunters, and others who agree with our cause, to join our association so we can better protect the bear and the sport of bear hunting.

Source: Michigan Bear Hunters Association
For more information on Bear Hunting in Michigan, click the active link – Bear Hunting Blog

North Carolina Bear Hunters Association

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Bear Hunting in North Carolina

North Carolina Bear Hunters Association [Bear Hunting Blog file photo]

If you would like information or would like to become a member of the North Carolina Bear Hunters Association, please click the link.

We invite you to join the only statewide association dedicated to bear hunting and hunting with dogs. We’ve lost Washington, Oregon, most of California, Quebec, and now Ontario, so don’t wait until it’s too late.

North Carolina, long recognized as the bear hunting stronghold of the nation is at serious risk. Legislative experts agree that the southeast and especially North Carolina will soon be the next wildlife battleground between hunter and anti-hunting extremists.

Protect your rights; join the one organization that doesn’t quit, the NCBHA. Considered by many, as the most determined and energetic sport-hunting organization in North Carolina. So be counted, where and when it counts most. Join the NCBHA!!!

Source: North Carolina Bear Hunters Association
For more information on Bear Hunting in North Carolina, click the active link – Bear Hunting Blog

Virginia Bear Hunters Association

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Hunting Black Bear in Virginia

Virginia Bear Hunters Association [Bear Hunting Blog file photo]

If you would like information or would like to become a member of the Virginia Bear Hunters Association, please click the link.

The Virginia Bear Hunters Association is dedicated to the preservation of hunting bears with sporting dogs and to sound wildlife management principles. In order to preserve hunting bears with sporting dogs we have several goals that we achieve.

We must continue clean, ethical hunting standards and practice fair chase and sportsman-like hunting. We must improve our relationship with the private landowner and eliminate trespassing issues. We must continue to build on our working relationship with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, the National Forest Service and the Virginia legislature.

We must project a positive image of the bear-hound hunter in Virginia by working with state and local charitable organizations. We must maintain and build on our alliances with other hunting groups and organizations. We must continue to involve young hunters in bear hunting with sporting dogs to insure the future of our sport.

Source: Virginia Bear Hunters’ Association
or more information on Virginia Bear Hunting, click the active link – Bear Hunting Blog

New Mexico Produces B&C Record Book Black Bears

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The State of New Mexico has produced 11 in the Top 10 (some ties) Boone and Crockett Black Bear Hunting records between 1970 and 2007.   New Mexico should definitely be on your destination list should you be looking for a record book Black Bear.

B&C Score Location Hunter Year
1.   21 15/16 Rio Arriba County Robert J. Seeds 2007
2.   21 14/16 Grant County Mark J. Miller 1983
3.   21 9/16 Catron County Sam Ray 1983
4.   21 8/16 Grant County Mark J. Miller 1996
4.   21 8/16 Sandoval County Thomas D. Stromei 2003
6.   21 7/16 Catron County Donald E. Wenner 2005
7.   21 6/16 Catron County C.J. McElroy 1970
7.   21 6/16 Catron County Ernest R. Gutierrez 2002
8.   21 4/16 Catron County Gary L. Raney 1988
9.   21 3/16 Catron County John M. Burton, Jr. 1991
9.   21 3/16 Socorro County William F. Gorman 1994

Source:  Boone & Crockett Club
The Bear Hunting Blog

Nova Scotia Bear Hunters Association

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Nova Scotia Bear Hunting

Nova Scotia Bear Hunters Association [Bear Hunting Blog file photo]

If you would like information or would like to become a member of the Nova Scotia Bear Hunters Association, please click the link.

The Nova Scotia Bear Hunting Association is a non-profit association dedicated to the conservation and management of Nova Scotia’s black bear population, promoting public education and the protection of our bear hunting heritage.

Our Goals:

  • Wildlife Conservation by promoting the use of sound wildlife management principals to ensure a healthy bear population as a viable and sustainable renewable resource.
  • Ethical hunting by continually encouraging and educating bear hunters to respect the environment in which we hunt as well as maintaining the highest standards for our sports.
  • Working Together to maintain and build alliances with other hunting groups and organizations, encourage liaisons with private landowners and pursue a healthy working relationship with government departments.

Source: Nova Scotia Bear Hunters Association
The Bear Hunting Blog

Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association

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Black Bear Hunting in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association [Bear Hunting Blog file photo]

If you would like information or would like to become a member of the Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association, please click the link. For over 40 years the WBHA has been at the forefront of protecting the rights of sportsmen and sportswomen in Wisconsin as well promoting youth hunting, conservation, and sound wildlife management.

Wisconsin Black Bear hunting is the ultimate family sport and the WBHA is nearly 3,000 members strong and itself is family based. We would like to invite you and your family to join us as we work together to protect Wisconsin’s great outdoor heritage.

Source:  Wisconsin Bear Hunters’ Association
For more information on Wisconsin Bear Hunting, Click the active link – Bear Hunting Blog