Big calibers for hunting in grizzly country...

[harv3589]

I have read alot on here about guys who say they will only carry "xxx" caliber rifle where they may have an encounter with a grizzly. I am taking that as they would need it to put the bear down in self defense situation. I am curious just how many have actually been put in this situation, where they had to shoot a bear or is this just people over reacting?

We can what if this to death, but I am not wearing a hard hat out hunting either in case a piece of the sky falls on me...

[elkhunter11]

I have been charged by a grizzly while grizzly hunting,but I have also encountered many other bears while hunting other game with no problems at all.I hunt sheep,elk and moose in grizzly country,and I intend to carry my 280AI.

[oldgutpile]

you always hope that the rifle/self defense scenario is the last option. Where I hunt elk in 400, I see grizzlies ever year. Often enough that even when I dont see them, I know they aren't far away, and I act accordingly.
Before becoming addicted to 400, I used to hunt on the north ram and for the first seven years there I never even saw a track of griz. Then we had one charge a buddy while cow calling, and he vowed to never go back to the area. (Incidently the guy was packing a 45-70 and the bear lost)
A different hunter that we used to camp near every year in that area, called us the following year, and told us the story of how he stumbled into a sow and cub and it cost him a stint in the hospital and 300 plus stitches. (The bear lost this fight too. They only found out about the cub when they did the investigation later and found a small set of tracks)
I may be reading too much into it, but I see the moral of the story as the guy with the bigger gun didnt get stitches!
Hope for the best; prepare for the worst.
At the end of the day, its knowing that the big bears are out there and part of the whole hunting scene that makes me feel more alive while Im doing what I love!

[harv3589]

Interesting...who else has some bear encounter stories while hunting?

[Jester]

Originally Posted by harv3589

Interesting...who else has some bear encounter stories while hunting?

I was walking this way ----> bear was walking this way <---- then we seen each other.

I ran this way <---- and the bear ran that way ---->

[Albertadiver]

I've seen them hiking before, and never been armed.

Nothing too close thankfully. We make lots of noise, so I think that helps. Don't use bear bells. To bears they mean dinner bells.

I carry a 12"ga. 14" shotgun now.

If I did have an encounter go bad, the trial in Cochrane recently just reinforces the "shoot, shovel, and shut-up" approach. I wouldn't be saying anything on the board that's for sure!

[Jester]

Originally Posted by Albertadiver

I wouldn't be saying anything on the board that's for sure!

10-4 on that cause I think (know) big brother has eyes here...

[dale7637]

I have never dealt with a grizzly, but have had many run ins with blacks. I was out deer hunting with my wife last fall and stumbled on a sow with three cubs. It was thick brush and didnt know she was even there until we saw the cubs go up a tree ten feet from us. I never had to shoot her, but i did give her a warning shot. It scared the hell out of both of us. In the same area last year we were camping and had a young boar come into camp in the middle of the day. He didnt care that we were there in plain sight. Never had to shoot him, but he did mock charge four or five times before i turned my dog on him. He didnt stick around after he realized he was dealing with 150 pounds of dog. We shot one a few years back in the front yard that was bugging our cows, middle of summer. Again, this one wasnt scared of anything. 3 warning shots didnt get the point across. Im not sure what grizzlies are like, but i dont go far from home here without a gun of some sort. The bears just seem to getting thicker and thicker around here, and it doesnt take much to stumble on one without knowing it.

[BrownBear416]

I use this as I care more about Accuracy by volume..then a large bullet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qwXO-KTVxk

[elkfriend]

when I am bowhunting in bear area and know there is a likelihood that I will be dressing game and bears are around, I carry a light 12 ga mossberg pump gun with pistolgrip in a shabbard on my backback, loaded with slug-buckshot-slug-buckshot-slug etc.

Never had to use it. But its light and makes me feel much better.

[BrownBear416]

Originally Posted by elkfriend

when I am bowhunting in bear area and know there is a likelihood that I will be dressing game and bears are around, I carry a light 12 ga mossberg pump gun with pistolgrip in a shabbard on my backback, loaded with slug-buckshot-slug-buckshot-slug etc.

Never had to use it. But its light and makes me feel much better.

Hey Elk,

Did you build that back scabbard or did you buy it?

[Big Bull]

I carry a large caliber bear spray with me from April 1 through the end of November. Since I live in a national park, firearms are frowned upon. However, I carry my bear spray with me when hunting, as I'm not too sure how effective my 30-06 pump would be on a charging grizzly, but I was about a millisecond away from finding out in the 2007. Thankfully, it was just a bluff charge.
http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...zzly+encounter

[elkfriend]

I bought the smallest /cheapest "soft" rifle case with zipper that I could find, paid about 25 bucks for a camo one @ wholesale. Its still to big for the short pump though. So what I do is just fold the stock-end over to the length I need. Then I strap/attach it to my backpack (with the folded over lenght fasteded to the backpack too, on the underside of scabbard), so it does not unfold), zip it up, but just leave the pistol grip exposed. That way, I can draw the gun in one quick move and just pull it out. After a little practice to pull it without snagging, it will only take you a second to pull it and have it in a ready-to-shoot position. And the gun is secure and somewhat protected.

Hope this description was somewhat understandable, let me know if not clear!

Cheers

[Albertadiver]

I always carry bear spray as well. Test fired some last summer, just so I knew what to expect if the real deal ever happened.

[Okotokian]

Simple answer... what was the guy who just beat charges using? That worked.

[whitetailsheds]

Originally Posted by Jester

I was walking this way ----> bear was walking this way <---- then we seen each other.

I ran this way <---- and the bear ran that way ---->

THANK YOU JESTER!!! That one made my day!! LOL!! This is how 99.9% of my bear encounters have gone. The other 0.1% turned out to be a bluff by a blackie.
I've pretty much resigned myself to the fact that when my time comes, it comes. I've realized that I've spent more time out in the bush WITHOUT a gun (shed hunting, photography, hikes) than been armed.
I've felt comfortable out and about without a firearm, and I've felt comfortable with the rifle.
It has dawned on me while I've layed in a tent, all comfy in my sleeping bag, that any bear that was serious about doing some damage while I'm all bundled up, that the rifle laying beside me will be of little use.
By the way, I carry a 30.06 and use 180g.

[bearbuster]

I met a grizz on the trail on my way out just before dark. I was in 328 and hunting over a lick. I ignored the warning signs (bear poop all over the trail) and we met at 20yds. We stared at each other for 20 secs (i was looking through the scope of my 300wsm) and hoping he was a black as I had a tag. He made a wide circle around and I bee lined for the quad. Both went home with out a scratch. I personally prefer a larger calibre bet not necesarily for bears as much as for the elk I am looking for

Originally Posted by Jester

I was walking this way ----> bear was walking this way <---- then we seen each other.

I ran this way <---- and the bear ran that way ---->

Man that;s 2 funny how you put it.....but same happened to me, more than once.