Black Bear

[BDinPutnam]

...so obviously I got a lot going on, lol.

Father in Law/hunting partner and I are entering the black bear tag lotto for Michigan for September. Thought is 300 Win mag and 30-06. Anyone been out with thoughts/tips/do' and donts? I couldnt find any relevant threads. I am leaning toward heavy copper partions for the '06, hoping to get my hands on a box or two soon to see how the Mark V likes them.

 

[Jaywmustang]

My understanding is black bears are not any harder to kill than whitetail deer. Just make sure on your shot placement. The kill zone is different and the front leg can cover the kill zone more. That is just what I have read over the years on black bear hunting. I have no experience

 

[stokes]

I shot a black bear in New Brunswick back in the late 80's.30-30,shot behind the left shoulder exited in front of the right shoulder,went right thru the bottom of the heart.Bear still lived almost an hour before I found him in the dark,stood up as I approached and dropped dead.Shot from about 50-60 yds,the bullet didnt even expand,both holes the same size.My buddy shot one with his 35 rem,it went down a little quicker,bullet didnt exit,expanded and did more damage.They arent as tough skinned as the bigger browns and grizzlies,We had 14 guys at the camp,11 of them used archery,every bear shot with arrow dropped right there,took a while to die,but none of them ran off.

 

[Acer-m14]

in DEC's reports .. arrested a guy for getting a black bear with a .22LR .. bear went 100 yrds and died .. out of season or no tags .. guy shot at it to scare it away from the garbage cans ..

Shot placement

 

[zzrguy]

What type of hunting is. Over bait, stalking and shot.
If your over bait the 300 maybe way to much gun. My cousin took two bears in Maine and Canada with a 35 Remington 336 so the 30-06 should be good to go I would go with the heaviest bullet I could find or if your reloading.

 

[BDinPutnam]

Interesting. Yeah this is supposed to be over bait. What about 30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag?

Appreciate all the feedback guys, thanks!

 

[1911guy]

30-06 is more than adequate for black bear. Don't over-think it into a problem.

 

[Jaywmustang]

Well you could just buy a new “black bear” rifle if u need a reason. Lol

 

[BDinPutnam]

Haha, I'll throw the new .308 MVP I bought a few weeks ago over my shoulder.

And I'm sure I am over thinking it- I just never hunted anything with the potential to hunt me back before!

 

[Robin]

Whether you hunted them or not, they were still out there.
Robin

 

[zzrguy]

Remember the range your hunt over bait the 300 magnum may pencil straight threw the bear.
30-06
BULLET WEIGHT 180 GR. SIE SPBT
Manufacturer IMR
Powder IMR 4350
Bullet Diameter .308"
C.O.L. 3.300"
Starting Load
Grains 53.0
Velocity (ft/s) 2,586
Pressure 48,300 PSI
Maximum Load
Grains 56.5C
Velocity (ft/s) 2,752
Pressure 57,200 PSI

300 Win Mag.
BULLET WEIGHT 180 GR. SPR MT-SP
Manufacturer IMR
Powder IMR 4350
Bullet Diameter .308"
C.O.L. 3.285"
Starting Load
Grains 66.0
Velocity (ft/s) 2,746
Pressure 50,100 PSI
Maximum Load
Grains 71.0
Velocity (ft/s) 2,974
Pressure 61,200 PSI

 

[whauburger]

As said learn and remember the anatomy. Slightly different compared to deer. Either caliber is fine imho. Put a hole through the lungs and you'll be fine. Soft point would be my choice for bullet.

 

[stokes]

If you're shooting over bait,your stand will likely be within 50 yds or so.What we were told by the guides was that the ideal shot would be broadside,thru the shoulder.Breaking the shoulder will slow,if not stop them and is likely to hit the vitals.Any of the calibers you mentioned would be more than enough.

 

[whauburger]

I disagree with shoulder shot, I always was told middle of the middle. You have the most margin for error while still being on vitals.

 

[stokes]

Well,not looking to argue the point,just repeating what we were told by the guides in Canada.But that picture side by side with the deer shows the heart further back than the drawing below it.The drawing below it looks to be closer to what my experience was.I shot from a tree above him as he was quartered away,shot was behind the left shoulder,went thru the bottom of the heart and exited in front of and a bit below the right shoulder.I am sure the guides were interested in breaking the shoulder so they didnt have to track the bear too far.They were adamant about avoiding head shots.They said the arrows seemed to be more effective because once the arrow penetrates,any movement by the bear caused much pain as the arrow head would cut internally as it moved.All those bears laid down right there and died.Anyways,I wouldnt recommend "middle of the middle",if you miss a bit far back,you have a gut shot bear,not good.Just remember,if you do wound the bear and he charges,you dont have to outrun the bear,just your hunting buddy.

 

[thegatman]

45-70 bowls them right over.

 

[stokes]

45-70 bowls them right over.

That'd do it,for sure.I wouldnt have thought the soft point 30-30 woulda went straight thru at 50 yds.If I ever went for bear again I would use a .44 mag or some such.

 

[whauburger]

I agree there is more of a risk for hitting gut but would personally rather aim lung and have some left or right, not to mention blowing through a shoulder would probably cause a decent amount of meat damage....I have only personally taken 1 black bear and it was with a bow. I remember seeing the heart and thinking it is very small and well protected while gutting....side note, I never want to deal with dragging a bear ever again.

 

[stokes]

Dragging a bear,yeah,I dont even want to drag a deer anymore,lol.We hunted up in New Brunswick,its mandatory to use a guide for non -residents.They dragged it out for us.Great camp,great hunt.It was like $700 for an entire week,if you wanted a second bear,a new tag was around $200.At that time,bear were like cockroaches in NYC,they were everywhere and considered a nuisance.I got mine the first night,spent the next week trout fishing.We had 14 guys from an archery club I belonged to,17 bears were taken.

 

[Twogunwilly]

Buy a crossbow from the chicken, it'll kill em plenty dead.

 

[Reno]

30-06 dropped one in it's tracks for me. 180 grain Winchester silvertips.