Bear hunting and STAINLESS steel guns?

[teddy12b]

I'm curious about what you all think of regarding hunting bears with a stainless steel rifle.  Is the shiney stainless finish something that a bear would notice, or is it not even something to remotely worry about.

I've hunted with guys using stainless rifles and it never seemed to be a problem, but I wanted to know if you all thought it made any difference.  I could see good arguements either way.

[drdougrx]

Teddy...I'd worry about my movement more than a stainless gun...unless...it's brightly polished like a chrome bumper.....

[jk3006]

I think so too.  Most (maybe all) SS guns I've seen had a dullness to them.  In other words, they were not "shiny" bright.  Bears aren't known for their great eye sight, so I wouldn't let the occasional glare off the barrel bother me.

[dukkillr]

Not something to even remotely worry about.

[Redhawk1]

I never give it much thought, I have killed game with both stainless and blued guns.

[teddy12b]

Thanks Guys!!

That's exactly what I was hoping to read.  There is a very slim to none chance that I may get to go on a bear hunt this year after all.  It's still a long shot, but there is a glimmer of hope. 

[mechanic]

Worry more about smell than sight with a bear.  The oil on the weapon is more likely to draw his attention than the finish.  Bears have better smell than dogs.

[Sourdough]

I some times carry a stainless Encore.  To help prevent it scaring animals I went to Sportsman's and bought the Camo Paint they use on Archery Equipment.  I sprayed my Encore, whole gun, stock, scope, rings, everything.  Made it a dull brown and green with black accents.  At the end of the season just wipe it down with the remover that comes in the kit, or mineral spirits and it all comes right off.

Of course my Encore has had the last coat now for about four years.  At first I took it off after hunting season.  Then one year thought why?  Now I just touch it up at the beginning of the season.  This paint will scratch off or rub of easily, so touch up is always needed, and easy.

If you decide to take it off only takes about five to ten minutes.

[Graybeard]

The false assumption by many that stainless is "more shiny" whatever that really means is a common but grossly false idea. Seldom is SS as highly polished as is blued steel and the more highly polished it is the more it will glare and reflect sunlight. Most of mine are actually a dull bead blasted type finish that's far less shiny than any blued metal would be.

You are worrying about nothing.

[Two Bears]

I would't worry either as the stainless is less shiney than a blued rifle.

[Varmint Hunter]

Camo paint or camo tape on the SS barrel will help you sleep better in a bear stand. 

[Empty Quiver]

If you are pretty much keeping it pointed at the game, your scope will have a much greater reflection than the muzzle on a stainless. As many have said stainless is nearly always a bead blasted finish. As much in the woods is grey as is black tones, look at all the newest camo, it's starting to feature much more of the light "open" area.

[dukkillr]

Perhaps other places are different but in my experience the bears know you're there.  You could wear nothing but tin foil and I don't think it would matter.  Their nose is their defense and if they can smell the bait from the direction the wind is blowing they can also smell you...

[mcwoodduck]

As others said.
paint for perm shiny deterant.
for tempory go with tape or a can of sight black.
Sight black is a dark spray that wears or rubs off.
so you shinny bright as a bumber on a 57 chevy cowboy finger flicker can be flat black for the hunt and back to shinny with a rub of a wash cloth.

[Redhawk1]

Don't worry about it, just take your stainless gun and go hunting.