Author Topic: First Bear (Read 1776 times)

Camel 23 · « **on:** September 16, 2009, 03:50:12 PM »

Shot my first bear today. Used a 5 1/2" Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt. 300gr SWC that I cast from wheel wieght over a resonable dose of H-110. Dumped him like a sack of potatos. The bear never even flinched. Not a huge bear but it sure was fun.

Cabin4 · « **Reply #1 on:** September 16, 2009, 03:54:50 PM »

It does not take much to put the small blackies down. Just have to put the bullet in the boiler room.

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #2 on:** September 17, 2009, 01:20:36 AM »

great job Steve. Congradulations!

rawhidekid · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2009, 01:27:47 AM »

Nice pic, good hunting

44 Man · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2009, 03:49:44 AM »

Nice job! Congrats! 44 Man

teddy12b · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:34:12 AM »

Congrats!

Skunk · « **Reply #6 on:** September 17, 2009, 05:41:04 AM »

Hey, WTG Camel 23!!! Congrats! Nice picture too.

AtlLaw · « **Reply #7 on:** September 17, 2009, 07:34:54 AM »

Congrats!

Did you get it in Mich? Are you gonna eat it? I never ate bear but guys here say it's very good! $:-\$

sprest22 · « **Reply #8 on:** September 17, 2009, 11:20:37 AM »

Way to go,a fine bear no matter what size.congrats.

Scibaer · « **Reply #9 on:** September 17, 2009, 11:28:12 AM »

from one Michigander to another, nice job and good shootin.
nothin better then some bear jerky pepper sticks.

spruce · « **Reply #10 on:** September 17, 2009, 12:27:52 PM »

Good job, nice pic!

hawken54 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2009, 12:39:54 PM »

awesome, great picture congratulations

Camel 23 · « **Reply #12 on:** September 17, 2009, 03:53:50 PM »

Thanks all. The picture really doesn't do it justice. It went about 170 lbs which is about average for a black bear around here and it had a beautiful coat. We also took a 190 lb bear earlier that day and a 330 lb the day before.

rawhidekid · « **Reply #13 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:25:58 PM »

Do you eat them, or are you doing population management? I have eaten bear and it was good.

Cabin4 · « **Reply #14 on:** September 17, 2009, 04:39:40 PM »

Bear is one of my favorites. Had bear sausage for dinner 2 days ago.

Camel 23 · « **Reply #15 on:** September 18, 2009, 03:42:52 PM »

Quote from: rawhidekid on September 17, 2009, 04:25:58 PM

Do you eat them, or are you doing population management? I have eaten bear and it was good.

The group picked up a couple more today. 198 and 236. They will all get eaten!

Quote from: AtlLaw on September 17, 2009, 07:34:54 AM

Congrats! Did you get it in Mich? Are you gonna eat it? I never ate bear but guys here say it's very good! $:-\$

Yes they were all taken here in Michigan. Actually just a few miles from Lloyds camp.

bigbore442001 · « **Reply #16 on:** September 21, 2009, 12:06:36 AM »

Quote from: Camel 23 on September 16, 2009, 03:50:12 PM

Shot my first bear today. Used a 5 1/2" Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt. 300gr SWC that I cast from wheel wieght over a resonable dose of H-110. Dumped him like a sack of potatos. The bear never even flinched. Not a huge bear but it sure was fun.

You did better than most. You got a nice bear. Ask yourself," What is the size of the average black bear in the lower 48?" Too many people think that a black bear is the size of an oil drum. I know in Maine the average black bear is 145 lbs. You did well and with a nice revolver to boot.

Camel 23 · « **Reply #17 on:** September 21, 2009, 12:29:26 AM »

Quote from: bigbore442001 on September 21, 2009, 12:06:36 AM

Quote from: Camel 23 on September 16, 2009, 03:50:12 PM
Shot my first bear today. Used a 5 1/2" Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt. 300gr SWC that I cast from wheel wieght over a resonable dose of H-110. Dumped him like a sack of potatos. The bear never even flinched. Not a huge bear but it sure was fun.

You did better than most. You got a nice bear. Ask yourself," What is the size of the average black bear in the lower 48?" Too many people think that a black bear is the size of an oil drum. I know in Maine the average black bear is 145 lbs. You did well and with a nice revolver to boot.

Its funny how close the two states are in size, the average bear taken in Michigan last year was 147 lbs., and you're right people think they are a lot bigger than that. I am real happy with this bear.

Graybeard · « **Reply #18 on:** September 21, 2009, 03:33:13 AM »

I suspect most bears taken like most deer taken are youths with no more than one or at most two hunting seasons behind them and just haven't had time to grow to their real potential. Once either gets a couple of hunting seasons behind them they get a LOT smarter and thus harder to kill. Besides such a high percentage of the young get killed there are a lot fewer to grow old.

Camel 23 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 21, 2009, 07:16:54 AM »

Quote from: Graybeard on September 21, 2009, 03:33:13 AM

I suspect most bears taken like most deer taken are youths with no more than one or at most two hunting seasons behind them and just haven't had time to grow to their real potential. Once either gets a couple of hunting seasons behind them they get a LOT smarter and thus harder to kill. Besides such a high percentage of the young get killed there are a lot fewer to grow old.

I would be willing to say the same thing about ALL game animals taken on public land whether its deer, bear, elk, turkey, or any number of other animals. A very, very small percentage of animals are taken at their full potential.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #20 on:** September 21, 2009, 09:17:32 AM »

Quote from: Camel 23 on September 16, 2009, 03:50:12 PM

Shot my first bear today. Used a 5 1/2" Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt. 300gr SWC that I cast from wheel wieght over a resonable dose of H-110. Dumped him like a sack of potatos. The bear never even flinched. Not a huge bear but it sure was fun.

Congrats, great handgun kill.

bluecow · « **Reply #21 on:** September 22, 2009, 04:34:14 AM »

nice bear. dont forget that they make great sausage

Cayoot · « **Reply #22 on:** September 28, 2009, 09:39:41 AM »

Quote from: Camel 23 on September 16, 2009, 03:50:12 PM

Shot my first bear today. Used a 5 1/2" Ruger Bisley in 45 Colt. 300gr SWC that I cast from wheel wieght over a resonable dose of H-110. Dumped him like a sack of potatos. The bear never even flinched. Not a huge bear but it sure was fun.

So give us a bit more detail; where did you hit him? Did the bullet exit? What was the range?

That sure is a nice looking bear!

rawhidekid · « **Reply #23 on:** September 28, 2009, 11:07:24 AM »

That Ruger looked so good that I went out and bought a 5 1/2 inch mat SS Bisley w/adjustable sights. Thanks for sharing!

Oh yea, in 45 Colt!

Camel 23 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 28, 2009, 01:27:33 PM »

Quote from: rawhidekid on September 28, 2009, 11:07:24 AM

That Ruger looked so good that I went out and bought a 5 1/2 inch mat SS Bisley w/adjustable sights. Thanks for sharing! Oh yea, in 45 Colt!

Good choice, you're gonna love it.

Camel 23 · « **Reply #25 on:** September 28, 2009, 02:09:26 PM »

Quote from: Cayoot on September 28, 2009, 09:39:41 AM

So give us a bit more detail; where did you hit him? Did the bullet exit? What was the range?

That sure is a nice looking bear!

Thanks Cayoot. I recognize your sign-on from the Cast Boolit forum, the bullet I used was actually one from a group buy on that forum. It was the Lee copy of the RCBS 300gr SWC. The shot was not a difficult one. I was hunting with some Treeing Walkers and they did their job. The bear was about 30ft up a white pine and I positioned myself so I could put the bullet behind the front shoulder and it took out the heart on the way through. The bullet went clean through with no problem.

Cayoot · « **Reply #26 on:** September 28, 2009, 03:21:26 PM »

Quote from: Camel 23 on September 28, 2009, 02:09:26 PM

Thanks Cayoot. I recognize your sign-on from the Cast Boolit forum, the bullet I used was actually one from a group buy on that forum.

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I'm a big fan of the Cast Boolit forum and have a small fortune in custom moulds. But they are all great moulds. It makes me feel especially good that the boolit that droped that thar bar was from the cast boolit forum!