The following is not a recommended method.
My father, uncle and grandfather killed a medium-sized Virgina black bear with birdshot in 1955. They didn't want to, but they were going up narrow logging path (as wide as a horse) next to the little creek and the bear was coming down the hollow. They were only out for a walk for a little peace and quiet after a big Saturday lunch with all of the relatives.
My grandfather's little dog Sparky got into it and the bear went into the creek and started batting at them up over the knee-high bank. To jump ahead, three men from W.Va. had been after him for a couple of days.
Anyway, my grandfather had his old hammered 12ga., my father his Winchester Model 12 20ga. and my uncle a 12ga. Wingmaster. I think all they ever bought for small game was number 6, but I was 5 then so what do I know? I don't know how many shots it took either(I'll ask), but the story they tell is that it took most of what they had.
So they went for one of the plow horses and pulled the bear down the hollow, through the apple orchard and back to the barn. Of course, the entire family had heard the racket and gathered round.
A bit later the 3 bear hunters showed up and they were angry about "their bear." Fair's fair, but my grandfather owned the land to the top of the mountain and what are you going to do with an angry bear anyway.
So these 3 armed hunters are ranting and raving in front of women and children and my dad called time out.
The hunters looked at him as if he were nuts, but they finally shut-up while he went into the house. When he came out he was wearing his hat and sidearm. He was a Virginia State Trooper.
They gave the hunters the bear. They really didn't want to shoot it and had no use fot it. Yeah, sure, I know, bear tastes good. Another uncle shot the largest bear west of the Blue Ridge in 1963 - I know what that one tasted like.
Fried squirrel? Yum. Quail? Delicious. Turkey? My dad shot two with two shots one day with that 20ga. Of course, my uncle still claims he got one of them. We were small game hunters.
Is this talk of food making anyone else hungry?
John