A question for experienced and informed BC hunters......

Corry said:
For you hunters... I'm curious what you'd use for fall a Grizzly? 45/70 or?
Click to expand...

Grizzlies, like women, are not created equal.

In the interior I wouldn't feel undergunned using a 30-06, 300 H&H, 9.3x62 or if forced a 35 Whelen. But when you get down near the coast the bears, although the same species, are considerably bigger thanks to the abundance of food and relatively easy living. In that country I would lean more toward the 375 H&H or Ruger, 416 Rigby (or one of it's imitators) or a 458 WM. Being a true rifle loony I wouldn't hesitate to lean out a bit further and use something slightly outlandish like my 470 Nitro. The difference in terrain between in-country grizzlies and the ones across the arbitrary line used to delineate the difference between "grizzlies" and "brownies" allows for a significant difference in rifle characteristics. Not that you couldn't hunt in the thick coastal bush with a bolt rifle with a scope, but knowing that you could more likely come across a bear at 10 paces than 100 yards places some different factors in the decision making process.
 
Boomer said:
Sounds like you're going to be in the market for a boat in the near future. Aggresive, never been hunted before, 10' grizzly in thick cover . . . I might have to switch coasts.
Click to expand...

Got a brand new 12' inflatable and just picked up a really good 20 hp Merc for it...........haven't even had it in the water yet.

It sounds absolutely terrifying doesn't it..........it's all fun and games till the sun goes down, then it's a whole new game with no rules.......I'm thinking of having a tent made from SS wire and Kevlar weave..........

Corry;

I would not hunt these bears with a 45-70, I know many would but for myself, having all the rifles and calibers I do, I would be highly inclined to take my 416 Rigby, scoped, as my primary hunting rifle and my 470 NE as a follow up rifle or if rooting around in the bush became necessary for any reason. Some might say this is unnecessary and serious overkill, but I have had several lengthy conversation with one of the outfitters for these bears out of Haines Alaska. He maintains the 375 is minimum he likes to see clients with, and he and his guides all use 458s for backup. Although Ronnie is a bit of a blowhard, and loves to tell stories, and I wouldn't say I believe EVERYTHING he tells me, I do believe that as far as calibers he's not lying. I have also been told this by other fellows over there as well.
Again it comes down to using a rifle and caliber that will work under the most adverse situations and penetrate 6-7 feet of bear if necessary, at 10 feet. If all was nice and pretty and had a standing broadside shot at 75 mtrs at a bear that was unaware of your presence, a 30-06 or the like, would do the job nicely. Although this may well happen, as we always hope, it is not the norm in that country. More likely closer to 10-30 mtrs and at possibly any angle and with a bear most likely knowing full well you're there. I personally would much prefer to be accused of being over gunned than ending up in this situation being seriously under gunned. JMHO
 
c-fbmi said:
Got a brand new 12' inflatable and just picked up a really good 20 hp Merc for it...........haven't even had it in the water yet.

It sounds absolutely terrifying doesn't it..........it's all fun and games till the sun goes down, then it's a whole new game with no rules.......I'm thinking of having a tent made from SS wire and Kevlar weave..........
Click to expand...

I was thinking more wheel house, cabin, galley that sort of thing, then when the grizzly population is sufficiently depleted, it could make the 11,000 mile journey to your penguin/leopard seal grounds. You've got nothing but time these days.:D
 
Boomer said:
I was thinking more wheel house, cabin, galley that sort of thing, then when the grizzly population is sufficiently depleted, it could make the 11,000 mile journey to your penguin/leopard seal grounds. You've got nothing but time these days.:D
Click to expand...

Grand Banks? Or if time is more important then perhaps Kingfisher. :)
 
Haines is very similar to BCs north coast, of course. A 12 ft zodiac is only good for close to shore stuff, but a good option for hunting the beaches and estuaries. Would be downright terrifying in some of the channels and fjords though! :)
 
Quad/side by side with tracks are the other legal way to access inland MUs before the snow is gone on the passes. Great draw odds in those units too, although maybe smaller bears.
 
Where do you want to hunt griz next year? Fall or spring? My wife and I have has 3 tags each in the past 3 years (two spring, 1 fall) Ate the tag on all of them so I can tell you where not to go! lol Actually where we had the fall tag this year I'd go back, saw a couple of beauties but couldn't close the deal.

RC
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom