Going upland hunting in California Mountains

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SteveRick

New member
Well, it is that time of year again to take a few birds and make a mad stew. One thing that has been bugging me of late is that of running into a bear. I hunt with a Benelli SBE 2 and it is a very reliable long gun. However, I am very undecided about what sort of bear ammunition I should carry while I am bird hunting.

I will not be carrying a handgun for fear of the other bears with badges.

Rifles are out of the question since I can truly only properly carry one long gun, so the Benelli it is.

The real question is Slug or Buckshot? I have read many articles yet still haven't found my definitive answer.

Can you guys help me out?
 
Either slug or buckshot would work, I know fans of each for bears, but slugs are the traditional choice.

Some states have odd laws where if you are caught with slugs or buck while hunting birds or bunnies or whatnot, you are presumed to be a poacher of deer or other out of season large animals. So you may want to look into that. I don't know if CA is one of those goofball states, but it wouldn't surprise me.:)
 
When was the last reported bear attack on a human in CA? You'll be more likely to be attacked by one of the Nancy Pelosi look-alikes.
 
Having hunted birds in the sierras - at THIS time of year, bears are most likely hibernating under all that snow, besides - how are you going to change the ammo out fast enough for a bird or a bear?
 
The last confrontation I had with a bear was Duck hunting. I was back in the brush looking for a green head one of the young hunters downed and was standing straddling the opening to a den w/bear. I was 30 ft away backstepping when the bear came out and faced me. I pumped 3 shots into the air and then realized that I shouldn't have emptied my gun. The bear then ran off then her cub came out and followed her. I went back a couple times that fall to check the den and it was empty.
Then a couple 3 years ago we found a den during deer season. This bear was visited many time throughout that winter.
 

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oneounceload, I have no idea how, but I'd rather carry and not need than need and not carry some slug or buckshot. It seems like I will need practice reloading because I am not quick, very methodical, and prefer sneaky rather than Rambo.
Gbro, I can't believe that bear did not come out of that den, I sure hope you had a big bear something, especially with your kids there. They are really beautiful creatures, but momma is deadly as all hell with cubs.
 
Wildlife researchers enter dens when they are big enough (the opening)to do study's.
Its hard to believe an animal that size can enter that small a hole. The one I found myself straddling duck hunting wasn't any bigger(the opening) and the sow and cub were in there.
And yes I was prepared.
In the area you are planning on hunting I would be more alert to big kitty's;)
 

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I hunted up and down CA for over a decade and never had a negative encounter with a bear (although one had a negative encounter with me, but that's another story). Go hunting and don't even give it a second thought. Besides, bears average only around 200 lbs, and a shot to the head at close range will definitely put an end to any problems if you ever do get chased by a bear. In the mountains of CA, I would worry about other things first.
 
Scorch, I agree. Game Wardens ride you hard up there. If I take slugs JIC, what kind should I invest in? I don't have a rifled barrel unfortunately. Remington and Winchester make pretty good rifled slugs I am told...

EDIT: My first rifle may be a 45-70 Marlin or 300 Win Mag. I am unsure now and prices are steep, but would these suffice for good hunting. They sure are comfortable rifles. For those that don't know, the 45-70 by marlin is a lever action and the 300 Win Mag is a bolt action.
 
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In the area you are planning on hunting I would be more alert to big kitty's
Click to expand...

There were always reports near the Tahoe cross country ski resorts of folks getting ambushed by cats - I'd be more concerned about them than a bear
 
If I take slugs JIC, what kind should I invest in?
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Cats die pretty easy, they aren't built tough like elk or bear. Again, just about anything can kill one, folks regularly shoot them out of trees with 38 Specials. For a charging cat, a shot charge to the head at close range will do them in. Problem is, cats are ambush hunters, and attack from behind so they can bite their prey at the base of the skull. So wear a daypack to protect your back. And if you gotta carry slugs, buy whatever Foster-type slug is on sale today.
 
re:SteveRick

I was born in and spent most of my life in California. Much of that time was spent hunting. I never ran into a scarry creature in the all the years afield there. Once your gun is fired, most forest animals will give you wide berth as you walk around. If there is an animals that might give you trouble in them there hills it would be the Mountain Lion.

They have become quite bold and fearless. A good friend of mine was cutting wood with his chain saw. He put the machine down for a moment and looked to see a big cat starring at him from less then fifty yards away. He fired up the saw and gunned it several times, the cougar did not move. He then grabbed his 870 and fired a round in the air. At that, the cat casually turned around and walked away. He said that this cat at little or no fear of him.

Animals are smarter then we think, ain't they?
 
Have you ever thought about bear spray. I've never used it but i have heard it works better than a rifle and it should be legal to carry.
 
"When was the last reported bear attack on a human in CA? You'll be more likely to be attacked by one of the Nancy Pelosi look-alikes."



Just to answer the above quote, I know of a pretty nasty black bear attack on a bowhunter/writer in Northern California. He was stalking early season bucks in velvet and surprised a sow with cubs and she put the hurt on him. Every time he attempted to move (he was starting to slide downhill) the bear would jump on him and tear him up again. I believe his name is South Cox, so check into it.
 
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