Heading to Quebec........

[ebonitekid767]

Next spring that is. Going on a black bear hunt with my fiances stepfather. I will be taking my 30-06 but would just like some input on bullet choice. Have never shot a bear, hell iv never even seen one in the wild so this is all new to me. I do plenty of deer hunting and generally just shoot core-lokts but if I am driving 11hrs north I would like to have the proper bullet to put it down as quick as possible without a huge hole so I can have a nice rug made. Any suggestions? also any tips or FYI's about going to Quebec I should know?






thanks guys!

[gomerdog]

I am assuming you are using factory ammo for this hunt. Ammo loaded with 180 Corelokts should be at least adequate. My brother shot a smallish black bear in the 70's with those, and it  performed very well. If finances allow, shooting a variety of factory ammo to find the most accurate in your rifle might be worth it. Asssuming ranges will be short, I'd stick with 180 grains. Others may have different opinions.
 
Good luck on your hunt!

[BBF]

What are you using for your deer hunts now??
Unless you use light for caliber and fragile the deer load should be just fine for the bear.

If this is a guided hunt and I presume it is, the hunt is over bait from a treestand. Range is close to closer.
If you prefer something heavier then 150 gr I would think that 180 gr Rem RN would be great.
Black bears are not armor plated.
 
BTW, get the paperwork done for bringing a firearm into Canada as soon as practical.

[SHOOTALL]

I go to Manatoba to hunt ducks and geese . I looked into bear hunting and was told most use a slug gun over bait. I would rather use a rifle also. Your outfitter should tell you. I would suggest getting the paper work from Canada on getting your rifle in to the country. Also I suggest taking your rifle to a US customs office and declare it. They fill out a paper ( and give it to you after stamping) that shows you own the gun(s) and have a right to bring them bach duty free. Same for high dollar items . The paper work from Canada will tell you how much ammo you can bring in. For all reading and not suggesting it of anyone , a DUI in the states is one thing in Canada its a felony . If you have one you most likely won't be allowed to bring in a gun.
 good luck.

[KAYR1]

A 30-06 is plenty for any bear that walks, especially at shorter ranges, Like the guys said above, I readily agree that cup and cor bullets like tot Remington Core-Lokt 180 is good. I prefer premium bullets, especially on bears, and more especially if I were going on a trip. See how your rifle likes the Nosler Partition, Barnes TSX, Swift A-Frames, etc. Most guides like to either break a bear down (smash the shoulders), and or two holes (entrance and exit). Bears can "plug up" and not leave a lot of blood sign, so shot placement and bullet performance matter. I dug a bear our of the thickest brush I ever saw a few years ago. I found blood, but he was runnning when he disappeared. I found him dead, thankfully, but the taxidermist found 8 holes (4 entrance, 4 exits), all in the heart-lung area, all with a .450 Marlin handload. This was a chance encounter, and not a "set-up shot" like would be the case over bait. Point is, just about any factory load will shoot well enough at bait ranges, so choose your shot, and bullet wisely. Great luck on your hunt.

[Empty Quiver]

For my money the easy answer to any, what bullet question, is a Nosler Partition. A Coreloct will do you a good job too. I have used both a 180 grain Partition in a 300 WM and a 326grain Leverevolution in 45/70Gov't. Both bears were graveyard dead in about 45 seconds, lung shot for both.


You say you have never seen a bear in the wild. It can be pretty exciting. Be aware though that bears can suffer from ENORMOUS ground shinkage. If it looks long legged and "athletic" or "fit" it ain't very big. The bigger ones are fat and lazy looking, not a nervous action to them.


As I have previously posted big females make small mounts. All ass and belly, no shoulders or head size to match. My three year old male took the same size form as an 8yr old female. The first was a rug, second was 1/2 body mount. Rugs take a bunch of space, figure on a 7'X7' area. The half body is very cool looking, walking out of the wall on a stone slab. 

[dukkillr]

Bears are by far the most over rated game animal in terms of toughness.  In fact, they aren't very tough at all.  Small lungs and respiration built for short bursts means they don't go far when hit, and they don't last long.  Any gun/bullet that will get a pass-through on a smallish whitetail will be just fine.
 
Good advice on the sizing, and on the taxidermy.  I enjoy bear hunting but i've got 4 of them, 2 of which I'm having a hard time finding a place for.  They take up a ton of room.  It may be a few springs before I chase them again.
 
Check the bear hunting section here.  I've posted some pictures, as have others, of live bears.  You need to be studying something to get a feel for size. 
 
Also, don't let the quebecers get under your skin.  They can be rude, even to other Canadians.  I've been twice to chase caribou, will be going again in September.  Pretty country, but the people make it difficult...  I go to Manitoba every year, and I've been to about half the other provinces as well... all nice people... just not in Quebec.

[ebonitekid767]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I will probably go with a nosler bullet factory load, probably a 180 partition. Anyone see this as a bad idea?

[BBF]

................
............................
 
Also, don't let the quebecers get under your skin.  They can be rude, even to other Canadians.  I've been twice to chase caribou, will be going again in September.  Pretty country, but the people make it difficult...  I go to Manitoba every year, and I've been to about half the other provinces as well... all nice people... just not in Quebec.

I'm hoping for a bridge over that Province
 
Be prepared to get shocked over our fuel prices here which now have reached  over 5 bucks a US gal.I shudder to think what they may be in 2013.

[Rick Teal]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I will probably go with a nosler bullet factory load, probably a 180 partition. Anyone see this as a bad idea?

I may  the only one to disagree with this, but I've seen them generate exit wounds on moose followed by long trailing jobs.  If a bear has a lot of fat at the entry point something as "solid" as a  Core Lokt or silvertip might be necessary, but none of  the 5 bear I've shot went anywhere.  Two were shot with 180 grain sabre tips ( similar to ballistic silvertips), one with a 180 grain ballistic tip (all in a 30-06), and two with a 30/30 shooting 170 grain KKSPs (round nose).

[supertodd]

This is just my personal opinion  but I prefer a shoulder shot on bear vs the heart lung shot for deer. I find a bears fur holds blood and a bear will take off when hit in the lungs. between my friend and I we have taken about 5 bears in the last 7 years.  4 of the 5 went down where they stood with shoulder shots, the 5th was chest shot w an 06 and took 2 more rounds while it took off running only got 25 yards. My friend uses his 30-06 with what ever store bought ammo he gets, I use my 35 whelen with 225 or 250 partitions.

[vipersbite]

Next spring that is. Going on a black bear hunt with my fiances stepfather. I will be taking my 30-06 but would just like some input on bullet choice. Have never shot a bear, hell iv never even seen one in the wild so this is all new to me. I do plenty of deer hunting and generally just shoot core-lokts but if I am driving 11hrs north I would like to have the proper bullet to put it down as quick as possible without a huge hole so I can have a nice rug made. Any suggestions? also any tips or FYI's about going to Quebec I should know?

The only firearm we use here in bear country ... Is a shotgun with a slug. It's very effective and cheap to fire. By the way I live in north eastern Ontario Canada (bordering quebec) If its your first time hunting bear I strongly suggest you hunt high off the ground in a tree stand ... Hunting from a ground blind WILL be nerve racking for a novice bear hunter especially if the big boar comes circling behind you. As well if you hunt from a ground blind you MUST wear hunter orange and a bear is one of the FEW animals that see in colour. Hope this info. Helps you.




thanks guys!

[Empty Quiver]

Shoulder shot vs lung shot? Both work just fine, imnsho. I'm thinking many "lung" shots are only that in theory. That is where the gun was aimed not where the bullet hit. Bears have a little different anatomy than do deer. What would be a solid lung hit on that buck might just prove to be to far back on mister bear.
 
A good lung shot though may let brer bear run for 20 seconds though, which at wounded bear speed is a pretty long ways. I have two experiences with lung shots both resulted in very dead bears. A 180 gr Nosler Partition, sent the bear into a tumbling death spin, that seemed to last a minute though was likely 10 seconds. That bear was the Tasmanian Devil for those ten seconds though.   I feel if his efforts were in a straight line he could have covered 75 to 100 yards.
 
Second experience involved a Hornady 325 gr LeveRevolution from a 45-70. That bear made a run of only 25 yards same lung shot, different results. Everyone wants to expound on the old cartridge. Who knows, maybe it is the Shizzle. I'm not so sure the bear and his attitude have more to do with it than anything.
 
I will continue to shoot into that crease in the armpit, angling forward ideally. If a sharp broadhead works best there so shoud a bullet. Break all the bone you want, it will likely work too.

[drdougrx]

I agree with everyone here.  I've killed 3 bears.  2 over 6 feet.  I used a 270 with 160gr partitions, an 06 with 180gr partitions and a 300win with 200gr accubonds (didn't really need this much power but the rifle was getting dusty in my safe).  Duckkiller is correct, they are NOT that hard to kill...especially over bait.  They do take up allot of room as mounts which is why I hunt them about once every 10 years or so....sit...wait...sit....wait....sit.....bang.... 

Anyway, I do think any good 180gr bullet for your 06 will work.  I don't think you'll need a super premium....I find I'm gravitating back to partitions again because they just work.

GL!