Author Topic: Going on first bear hunt! (Read 1946 times)

JerryKo · « **on:** November 19, 2009, 02:50:57 AM »

Managed to work some weekends and going to end up with at least one day to hunt the Pa black bear. Never even gave it much thought before but looking forward to it. Probably going to take the H&R 35 Whelen just since its sighted and ready and I might have a med range shot at the farthest. I know Pete would say 45 70 but.... :P

Hope I can post with a success story. My son really wants a real bear in his "outdoors themed" room. ;D

Jerry

Cottonwood · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2009, 02:54:23 AM »

The .35 Whelan is an excillent choice for a black bear hunt. Good luck, and create a blood trail a blind man can follow.

fl.hillbilly · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2009, 03:56:58 AM »

Good luck , and be safe . 35 whelen will do just fine

Sourdough · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2009, 04:32:16 AM »

The Whelen is a good gun for Bear. I have taken Grizzly (up close and personal) and Moose with .35 Whelens. Good choice in the event you find a bear out in a meadow, where the shot may be a little longer. I use the Nosler 250gr Partition bullet.

Dixie Dude · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2009, 05:43:43 AM »

If you reload the Barne's TSX 225 gr is supposed to be good too. It is supposed to be faster and flatter shooting than the Nosler 250 gr partition with good penetration. Both are good bullets.

petemi · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2009, 07:17:33 AM »

Good luck Jerry. I wish I could go with you.......and yeah, I'd take my .45-70. I don't own a Whelen, yet

. A one day hunt sounds like you may be still hunting. That's a tough way to try to get a bear. When I was a kid in college at the University of Maine, Orono, back when kids used to bring thier guns to school, some high school kids were walking home from school on the railroad tracks and shot a 600 lb. blackie right in town..... Veasey not sure of the spelling.

Pete

JerryKo · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2009, 07:48:22 AM »

I think a 600# bear is out of the question here. Besides I would probably be sneaking away from one that big.

Most around here use 3030 and 35rem. I'm told there are a few wondering around a buddies home. So I'll just be setting near some fields they have been seen passing. I'm taking my 45lc Vaquero just in case one comes in real close. Loaded for bear of course. Thanks for the approval guys. I'm sure its up to the task. I like the TSX bullets but haven't gotten around to them yet. They really can be pushed fast.

Jerry

JerryKo · « **Reply #7 on:** November 19, 2009, 07:56:26 AM »

I forgot to add that I will be the only person hunting on the property but a couple of groups will be pushing the outside bounderies of the property so I should see or hear something.

Jerry

c1skout · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2009, 08:38:22 AM »

Good luck Jerry, that Whelen will do nicely. I haven't bothered to get a bear tag in the last couple years, seems I can never take the time off work. Don't get yourself thinking that you'll never get a chance at a 600lb bear here in PA though, seems they drag 500 pounders to the check stations every year. The PA record (#2 worldwide) was shot a couple of years ago around an hour to the southwest of me.
Here's a link
www.outdoorcentral.com/mc/pr/06/03/06a4a3.asp

JerryKo · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2009, 10:21:59 AM »

Nice! Thanks for the link. I live very close to Dunbar...we call it dumbear...now I know why. I will be hunting near High Point Lake.

Jerry

Default · « **Reply #10 on:** November 19, 2009, 11:04:50 AM »

Jerry ,

Wish you much lucky on your bear hunt... I think i heard one this last weekend but never saw it

dont think there is anything quite as exciting .

Be safe brother,

Default

c1skout · « **Reply #11 on:** November 19, 2009, 11:19:06 AM »

I know another area where you could go for bear that might not be far for you, mabye 1/2 hour north of High Point. PM me for details if you're interested.

JerryKo · « **Reply #12 on:** November 19, 2009, 01:27:29 PM »

Quote from: c1skout on November 19, 2009, 11:19:06 AM

I know another area where you could go for bear that might not be far for you, mabye 1/2 hour north of High Point. PM me for details if you're interested.

I really appreciate the offer, but I'm already flying half blind. My buddy has to work so he is just going to give me a general layout and leave me to it. But I know the area enough at least. Thanks again!

Jerry

Here is the big PA bear. I really hope I DO NOT see one this big. Too much work...

McLernon · « **Reply #13 on:** November 19, 2009, 02:58:15 PM »

Both my son and I scored this year just west of Timmins Ont. 30 miles from the highway. If any of you are interested in the name of the outfitter let me know...............................he brings in a lot of bears each year...........80-90% success rate.

Good luck with your hunt this year.

Mc

dpe.ahoy · « **Reply #14 on:** November 20, 2009, 07:57:48 AM »

Good luck Jerry! Want to hear all about it when yer back. DP

Feddog82 · « **Reply #15 on:** November 20, 2009, 12:50:24 PM »

I will also be out in PA for my first Black Bear hunt ever. I have always hunted, just never for bear. I'll be in the Tamaqua area of Schuykill County. Good luck on your hunt. Hope to see some pictures.

JerryKo · « **Reply #16 on:** November 24, 2009, 10:40:01 AM »

Boy, it took about forever to find this post. I didn't realise it got moved. Guess I should have stated H&R 35 Whelen. It didn't get to go bang. I saw some sign but no bears. Maybe next year.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #17 on:** November 24, 2009, 11:05:07 AM »

I think Bill moved it since you didn't mention the H&R, then I forgot about it until I was looking at your posts to see if you had been online and when you were hunting when you didn't get the reamer Saturday. Bear meat isn't my favorite, I ate some once, it was pretty bad, then my son got one a few years ago, glad we had some sausage made, it was the only part of it that was palatable, must make a big difference what they're eating prior to being taken, no matter how it was cooked, it tasted bad. $:-\$ This was a young bear about 125lbs, he was cleaned, skinned and hung right away and kept cool overnight and taken right to the locker, so it wasn't how it was cared for that made it bad eating. $:-\$

Better luck on your next bear hunt!

Tim

Cottonwood · « **Reply #18 on:** November 24, 2009, 11:26:40 AM »

Quote from: JerryKo on November 24, 2009, 10:40:01 AM

Boy, it took about forever to find this post. I didn't realise it got moved. Guess I should have stated H&R 35 Whelen. It didn't get to go bang. I saw some sign but no bears. Maybe next year.

Jerry it goes like that, as I saw the bear I wanted just 2 days before our black bear season opened.... and this guy just did not show up after that.

c1skout · « **Reply #19 on:** November 24, 2009, 11:42:53 AM »

Better luck next year guys. You know bear stays in through part of rifle season up in the northeast. We spent a Saturday in Clinton county last year. We saw some fresh bear tracks in the snow and even saw a few bucks... but nothing we could get a shot at. Made for a fun day.

JerryKo · « **Reply #20 on:** November 24, 2009, 02:01:57 PM »

I have to admit. It is a little different hunting something that could hunt you. Around 4pm I stumbled upon what could have been a den. I sat nearby until almost dark. Quite a few stumps grew ears and I swear was growling at me.

darned near dropped the hammer one one stump I would have sworn was a cinnamon colored bear. I held the binos forever on it but it just wouldn't move. Funny how the mind works. I tkink I'd lose my mind hunting with Pete, Tim, or Sourdough. I'd probably not make a good hunting buddy in those dangerous hunts. LOL

Jerry

Graybeard · « **Reply #21 on:** November 24, 2009, 05:04:00 PM »

I still see no reason for it to be here. If you were using a Remington it wouldn't be on the Remington Forum or Savage forum if a Savage. It's about bear hunting, we have a forum for that. It belongs there where I put it.

JerryKo · « **Reply #22 on:** November 25, 2009, 12:20:15 AM »

I see your point Bill, and it makes perfect sense. I spent most if not 99 % of my time in the H&R forum and just posted on autopilot. This forum is what keeps me here. Best bunch of guys I never did meet! Thanks for this one of a kind, and routine space.

Maybe we handiholics need a handi all inclusive hunting forum added to the "H&R Talk".

Jerry.

Graybeard · « **Reply #23 on:** November 25, 2009, 02:06:22 AM »

I do understand and many seem to want to use just one or two forums here for all their posts for the reasons you mention. They kinda feel like those are their homes here but we do have specific forums for many topics like Bear Hunting where such posts more properly fit.

The Pot Bellied Stove Forum was set up within the NEF section originally as a catch all for general BS that didn't really fit any of the more specific NEF forums. It has for many who aren't even NEF owners become their go to forum here and it gets lots of posts that are far more appropriately placed elsewhere. I generally move them to where they belong. Some times I do it when I first see them and some times after the initial discussion fades which is what I did on your post. I waited until it had no new posts for a day or so then moved it.

I do most of the time kinda wait for the initial flood of posts to slow where folks post them before moving in cases like yours but ultimately I do prefer them where they properly belong to let the folks with an interest in the actual subject matter of them have a chance to see and comment on them as well.