Rich Lucibella
Staff
I had occasion to do my first Black Bear hunt a couple of weeks back. I was invited up to Saskatoon, CAN by SOF Publisher, Bob Brown and TV Hunting Show Host, Bob Walker. I was informed that the hunt would be over feeders, at short distance, from tree stands. The camera's would be rolling for an upcoming show.
I headed up there with my trusty DRC Custom in 50 Alaskan and a pocket full of Buffalo Bore 450 grain JFN's. We arrived Saskatoon on a Monday and drove the 5 hours to the hunting lodge. Next day, at 2:30 we headed out to the stands. 20 minutes later we glimpsed the first bear and within 90 minutes a good sized female showed up. Given that we'd booked in for 5 days, I was in no rush and spent some time shooting photos and just observing. She made off with a goodly sized piece of meat and Paul, the camera man, reminded me that this might be the largest one I'd see.
Large? Well, these beasties are just coming off hibernation and "large" is defined as 180-200 lbs. Slight yawn.
This particular bear made the mistake of returning about 30 minutes later and that pretty much sealed her fate. One of the 450's entered high on the right shoulder at a quartering angle, exited the left lower ribs and plowed a 14 inch furrow in the earth behind her. She fell over, got up, ran about 30 yards and died within about 15 seconds.
Too Much Gun:
I've never believed in this concept of "too much gun" unless you're out for pelts. I like large entry holes and large exits in all cases. However, if I had it to do over again, the .50 AK would not be the weapon of choice. It got the job done neatly enough, but I'd suspect a good expanding 180 grain from a .308 or even 117 grains +P from my .257 Roberts would have finished her more quickly. The 50 sent an ounce of lead thru that bear like a knitting needle.
Hunting over feeders:
I've never much liked this practice. I understand that this is one of the most common ways to hunt bear and I have no problem with thinning the population, given the strict oversight of the Canadian govt. However, at least in this case, it was more of a cull than a hunt. In the ensuing two hours while waiting for pickup, we got down on the ground and filmed no less than three more bears at ranges as close as twenty yards.
Hunting from stands:
Most of my hunting is on foot...for hog in Texas and various subjects in Africa. I've concluded that, except for bird, I really am not partial to waiting in a stand for hours to get off one shot. Just too fidgety....I need to be doing something. At least with birds there's repeat shooting.
Turns out Colonel Brown killed his at about the same instant and we were back in the US on Wednesday night.
Rich
PS: No, the muzzle in the second photo is not covering anything I'd be unwilling to destroy. It's pointed behind my right shoulder.
I headed up there with my trusty DRC Custom in 50 Alaskan and a pocket full of Buffalo Bore 450 grain JFN's. We arrived Saskatoon on a Monday and drove the 5 hours to the hunting lodge. Next day, at 2:30 we headed out to the stands. 20 minutes later we glimpsed the first bear and within 90 minutes a good sized female showed up. Given that we'd booked in for 5 days, I was in no rush and spent some time shooting photos and just observing. She made off with a goodly sized piece of meat and Paul, the camera man, reminded me that this might be the largest one I'd see.
Large? Well, these beasties are just coming off hibernation and "large" is defined as 180-200 lbs. Slight yawn.
This particular bear made the mistake of returning about 30 minutes later and that pretty much sealed her fate. One of the 450's entered high on the right shoulder at a quartering angle, exited the left lower ribs and plowed a 14 inch furrow in the earth behind her. She fell over, got up, ran about 30 yards and died within about 15 seconds.
Too Much Gun:
I've never believed in this concept of "too much gun" unless you're out for pelts. I like large entry holes and large exits in all cases. However, if I had it to do over again, the .50 AK would not be the weapon of choice. It got the job done neatly enough, but I'd suspect a good expanding 180 grain from a .308 or even 117 grains +P from my .257 Roberts would have finished her more quickly. The 50 sent an ounce of lead thru that bear like a knitting needle.
Hunting over feeders:
I've never much liked this practice. I understand that this is one of the most common ways to hunt bear and I have no problem with thinning the population, given the strict oversight of the Canadian govt. However, at least in this case, it was more of a cull than a hunt. In the ensuing two hours while waiting for pickup, we got down on the ground and filmed no less than three more bears at ranges as close as twenty yards.
Hunting from stands:
Most of my hunting is on foot...for hog in Texas and various subjects in Africa. I've concluded that, except for bird, I really am not partial to waiting in a stand for hours to get off one shot. Just too fidgety....I need to be doing something. At least with birds there's repeat shooting.
Turns out Colonel Brown killed his at about the same instant and we were back in the US on Wednesday night.
Rich
PS: No, the muzzle in the second photo is not covering anything I'd be unwilling to destroy. It's pointed behind my right shoulder.
Pretty animal though. 
