Bear With My .35 Whelen

Slooshark1

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I went for a drive with my two boys the other night to take our new Golden Retriever puppy, Wilson, for a walk. My oldest son is 5 1/2 years old and my youngest is 3 1/2. We weren't 10 minutes from our home in South Porcupine, ON when we spotted a small black bear about 50 yards beside the road. I pulled over about 40 yards past him and hopped out and threw the clip in my Remington Model 7600 .35 Whelen. I walked back and he was just walking up the side of a steep hill when I got him in the crosshairs of my Leupold Vari-X III 1.5 x 5 scope. I squeezed off a shot and sent a 225 Grain Barnes X Triple shock through him behind the front shoulders. He collapsed and was dead almost instantly. Those triple shocks are awesome! I hadn't planned on putting my tag on a bear that small but I had my boys with me and they'd never seen a big game animal field dressed or skinned before because it's usually done at someone else's place. I ran back to the truck and trigger-locked the rifle and put it away. I got the boys, the dog and my hunting gear and walked over to the bear. They were curious and not grossed out at all at the field dressing part and they watched me skin him in the back yard when we got home. The bear had been gorging on Mountain Ash berries and pin cherries. Even the dog was impressed and wanted to keep sniffing the bear. He's only 12 weeks old. Any dog that I've had before has always been terrified of bears. It wasn't the bear that made the evening, though, it was having my two boys with me when it happened. I'm so looking forward to the day when they can come to our deer camp and hear the echo of the high-powered rifles in the still morning hardwoods while we do our deer drives or be in on a moose kill with the rest of the gang during our moose hunt.

I just thought I'd share my evening with you fellow father's and hunters.

Best regards,

Slooshark1
 
Thanks for sharing Slooshark! I can't wait to take Hannah and Reid out. Hannah puts on her pink Barbie backpack and walks the steep slope in our backyard, saying she is Sheep or Moose hunting all the time, it is priceless!
As for Reid, well I am still teaching him how to say "Mooose" and "Raaam"..:D

Noel
 
thanks 4 the interesting story.

I think your 35 whelen came with a lucky horseshoe installed in it somewhere. I've been reading your accounts of hunting success with it since last fall. Of course shooting straight helps the luck to be "good".
 
great story there .you can always buy another tag for a bigger bear.can't wait to see my sons reaction on his first moose hunt this fall.better get my self a few more chips for the ole camera
 
Most excellent. Glad to hear the kids were with you as they are the ones that will keep out hunting heritage alive..... That moment will lilkely stick with them for a long time too...
 
svt-40 said:
Do you think it is safe to approach a downed bear with no gun?

you beat me to it..... :mad:

Nice experience! One thing is for sure. The kids will forget who Nimo, or Chicke Little was in a few years... they will never forget this experince ever!!!!
You're a lucky man....

Word from my own experience.,... I always keep my rifle ready when I have an animal down. Some other bear might decide to join the party.....
 
Slooshark1 said:
Remington Model 7600 .35 Whelen. I walked back and he was just walking up the side of a steep hill when I got him in the crosshairs of my Leupold Vari-X III 1.5 x 5 scope. I squeezed off a shot and sent a 225 Grain Barnes X Triple shock through him behind the front shoulders. He collapsed and was dead almost instantly.

Nice rig!! I have the exact setup.

I'm sure you would still be chasing him if you had tried that with a WSM. :dancingbanana:





 
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