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Bear Hunting?

NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
edited May 2006 in General Discussion
I would like to get some info and began Black Bear Hunting because they are plentiful around here now. I never considered hunting them until this yr because I dont know what I would have done with one if I killed it? Most folk dont eat the things do they? But I found a guy that said he loved it and would have his wife can it. So after some good tips about Bear hunting without baiting them I would like to began hunting them this Fall from a tree stand with my .480 Ruger. First off would a jacketed soft point bullet be best for Black Bear?
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Comments

  • DaBowMan18DaBowMan18 Member Posts: 2,962
    edited November -1
    not sure about the bullets, but i had some stew that had venison, bear, cow, and maybe some more meat....and it was goood[:p]
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  • spanielsellsspanielsells Member Posts: 12,498
    edited November -1
    Dunno, but if you only "wing" the bear, I'd be darned sure that it was good and dead before I went to touch it.
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  • Bill CostikBill Costik Member Posts: 1,845 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Nighthawk, make sure you can hunt bears from a tree-stand. In PA< its illegal to hunt them from a stand. I'm not sure what kind of JSP you are talking about, but I know poeple who have used Partitions and XTP bullets with great success.
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  • anderskandersk Member Posts: 3,627 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I think bear meat tastes a lot like pork chops ... happy hunting and happy eating![^][^][^][^]
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  • FEENIXFEENIX Member Posts: 10,559 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    A friend uses Hornady's 325g XTP/Mag.

    Slow cook bear meat in a crock pot with lots of garlic, onions, bay leaves, and your favorite BBQ sauce - shred it - makes for an awesome sandwich.

    Bear makes a nice rug. A friend have his hanging on their ceiling.

    Happy safe hunting.
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  • n/an/a Member Posts: 168,427 ✭
    edited November -1
    My cousin has killed a couple with a bow. Several of them will tell you that bear is some of the best meat you can eat.
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  • MVPMVP Member Posts: 23,453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I don't know about where you live but in the Cascade Mountains here in Washington state the best method is sit up high over wild blueberries with a good pair of binos. I would recommend 30 cal for the minimum and larger is better for bear.
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  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I would give it a taste trial, the guy who's wife cans it tells me its stringy like beef. I was refering to a Federal Jacketed soft point or should I use a Hollow Point in the .480 Ruger? I'll check the game laws and make sure you can hunt them from a tree. The County where my cabin and land is has a new Game Warden that wrote a State Trooper friend of mine a ticket for baiting white tail deer with apples last season. He thought it was horrible that he wrote a LEO a Summons, I told him were no different than any other hunters in the woods. How can you enforce laws when you dont obey them yourself. He didnt loose his job because it was only a Class 3 Misdemeanor. But it did cost him.
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  • gap1916gap1916 Member Posts: 4,977
    edited November -1
    For bear do not use a hollow point bullet. You will have to penetrate massive bone and mussel to get to a vital spot. My 2 cents. [8D]
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  • NighthawkNighthawk Member Posts: 12,022 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    gap1916, thats what I was thinking. Im just not sure of the best bullet to use. Im going to have to read up on hunting the species I have no clue as to how you hunt bear?
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  • bartobarto Member Posts: 4,734 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    The flavor's fine BUT the texture is cross between a boot sole & a barn owl.
    [;)]barto
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  • agloreaglore Member Posts: 6,012
    edited November -1
    If I had a way of shipping them I would send you some of my 480 Ruger 390 grain hard cast bullet reloads. These are right at 1400 FPS from my revolver. Berry patches are the key to hunting bears in the fall. Another method is spot and stalk from hillsides. You can also go to http://www.allpredatorcalls.com/ and order a bear call.
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  • jabronij3jabronij3 Member Posts: 4,686
    edited November -1
    nosler partition then have some of the hams cubed as you do venison then grind some [have it double or triple ground depending on the age and size of the bear] also grind some smoked bacon with it adds a nice flavor to the chili have never found a use for a bone-in roast from a bear. also trim as much fat as possible when processing and do not let it age too long the fat is too acidic will spoil faster than venison
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  • gearheaddadgearheaddad Member Posts: 15,091 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Black Bear? a 30-06 and a 170 grain bullet whistled mine right down. As far as eating it, It's excellent. DON'T EAT THE FAT!!
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  • scottm21166scottm21166 Member Posts: 20,723
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by gearheaddad
    Black Bear? a 30-06 and a 170 grain bullet whistled mine right down. As far as eating it, It's excellent. DON'T EAT THE FAT!!

    this is all true...do not eat the fat. trim it very tight,. the texture is really gross ...and it taints the meat. also hair gets everywhere clean thoroughly. Black bears are not hard to kill with a rifle. I have killed them with a 7mm mag on several occaisions one shot thru the heart
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  • almanacalmanac Member Posts: 180 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    hard cast bullets for penetration. you do not want a bullet that will blow up. my experience.
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