30-06 for brown bears

…purchase a 375 H&H….

+1 properly loaded proper shot placement still results may vary no guarantees if/where downing Brown (Grizzly) Bear is legal of course (Mtn Sheep hunting thread, Grizzly protected species in Alberta for example).
 
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Your average Mountain Grizzly ain't that big, 400 Lbs. would be a ball park figure.

Grizz

Well, that makes him twice the size of me, plus he has long teeth and claws. I bumped onto them 6 times in the mountains, without incident, because of the respect I gave them. Hunting them with more than enough gun will gain respect and confidence...........my thought.
 
Looks like this thread got more focused on bear hunting than sheep hunting, which tells me everyone has a little cabin fever lol.
 
The thread entitled 30-06 for brown bears you mean?

. the problem is not the average ...


And the average can still be a problem…


Best advice in the thread was keep a clean camp and make lots of noise in the alders.
 
I'm going sheep hunting this year and am considering buying a 30-06. I've heard guys say that a 300 win mag would be better incase a grizzly shows up. Ive always favoured lighter rifles, especially for hunting where you put on big mileage. Is a 30-06 sufficient?

Any thoughts?

Looks like this thread got more focused on bear hunting than sheep hunting, which tells me everyone has a little cabin fever lol.

You need to reread the OP... this thread IS about bears, but not hunting, rather protection... there is a significant difference between the two.
 
The thread entitled 30-06 for brown bears you mean?




And the average can still be a problem…


Best advice in the thread was keep a clean camp and make lots of noise in the alders.

the average is an adult that will try to avoid any contact with humane, now a young just from her mom can be the problem as well as an older that is not in fear of anybody on his/her territory but on the same token an average can be a problem too ... but again sheep hunting should not be to much of a worrisome with bears most of the time ...
 
You need to reread the OP... this thread IS about bears, but not hunting, rather protection... there is a significant difference between the two.

indeed a 30-06 will be good in the camp with 200 or 220 grains ...that is a given. the 200 grains nosler partition works great on bison and bear and should work on sheep as well a very good option for that case.
 
You’re telling me, I walked right into a silvertip last summer in a rain storm. The only thing I shot him was a mean look.

Most of my grizzly encounters have of course involved the bear turning and running the other way. Including the time a young one and I were walking on the same cedar log

Sows with Cubs can be pretty fearsome too and make up probably half of my “ bad” grizzly encounters

Again, make lots of noise in the alders/willows/salal, if possible travel with a summer student you can throw at the bear to distract them
 
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The grizzlies in this neck of the woods are a good size, 40 miles as the crow flies from the pan handle and no shortage of them either.

I keep an -06 stoked with lots of RL17 and 180 woodleighs in my jet sled, spend quite a few days on the rivers in the summer and haven't fired a shot yet. Should the need come I don't doubt for a second whether or not the rifle/cartridge will do its job.

Use a good bullet.
 
Well, that makes him twice the size of me, plus he has long teeth and claws. I bumped onto them 6 times in the mountains, without incident, because of the respect I gave them. Hunting them with more than enough gun will gain respect and confidence...........my thought.

I knew a guy, shot his Grizz in the open at 200 yds. then sat there for an hour watching him, just to make sure he was dead.:rolleyes: I prefer to take my little 7mm Rem. and go in the deadfall after the buggar, way more fun. :redface:

Grizz
 
One thing I've noticed about bears: They don't like getting shot with anything.

Pick what you want based on the sheep hunt, and forget about the bear factor.

Yep. Take a rifle you’re happy to carry in the mountains and proficient with. We hunt in grizzly country almost exclusively, and mostly pack 308s, 708s and 6.5s.
 
You need to reread the OP... this thread IS about bears, but not hunting, rather protection... there is a significant difference between the two.

I understand the op, alot of answers here are telling him to load up for bear protection. From guys who may never have seen a grizzly in the wild or hunted where the bears walk. Keep in mind he's sheep hunting. I prefer an accurate bullet out of my rifle that's going to reliablely open on a sheep at sheep hunting distances. He doesn't need to sheep hunt with 200 gr woodleigh, 220 A-frames or get so paranoid of bears that you limit your sheep opportunity by choosing a bullet that may not open reliablely on thin skinned game. Bear encounters do happen, just not as much as many people think that it will to them. I wouldn't load up a bunch of SST's or ballistic tips for a sheep rifle in bear country. A good bonded bullet or a 150 gr mono will do just fine. I'm sure there's plenty of hunters here that have packed alot game out of grizzly country, myself included and that we know there isn't a bear behind every tree waiting to get you. A well made 180 or 165gr out of a 30-06 is going to work good on sheep and be able handle a mountain grizzly.
 
^ right how many of us have hunted grouse in grizzly country with just a 22 or worked in grizzly country with just spray and bangers. My guess is more than a few
 
I understand the op, alot of answers here are telling him to load up for bear protection. From guys who may never have seen a grizzly in the wild or hunted where the bears walk. Keep in mind he's sheep hunting. I prefer an accurate bullet out of my rifle that's going to reliablely open on a sheep at sheep hunting distances. He doesn't need to sheep hunt with 200 gr woodleigh, 220 A-frames or get so paranoid of bears that you limit your sheep opportunity by choosing a bullet that may not open reliablely on thin skinned game. Bear encounters do happen, just not as much as many people think that it will to them. I wouldn't load up a bunch of SST's or ballistic tips for a sheep rifle in bear country. A good bonded bullet or a 150 gr mono will do just fine. I'm sure there's plenty of hunters here that have packed alot game out of grizzly country, myself included and that we know there isn't a bear behind every tree waiting to get you. A well made 180 or 165gr out of a 30-06 is going to work good on sheep and be able handle a mountain grizzly.

I do hunt a fair bit in areas with a healthy Grizzly population , I'm usually carrying an 06 loaded with 180 gr Partitions and have never felt under gunned . My late father hunted the same country for many years with either an 06 or a 303 Brit with great success . As you said , there isn't a Griz behind every bush , in fact , I feel fortunate every time I see one .
 
And the answer is still the same….pack a sheep rifle and keep your wits about you.

Which I have said a thousand times on the "bear protection" threads for over a decade. No need to panic over a rare bear encounter.
 
Which I have said a thousand times on the "bear protection" threads for over a decade. No need to panic over a rare bear encounter.

Every single drainage has at least 1 Grizzly in it. Many of them are dinner bell bears.
 
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