This year our camp is having a problem with at least one bear. He got into some carelessly left garbage and has become bold. One member came out of the kitchen last week and he was there...the problem being he just stood there, not afraid. We have called the ministry of natural resources for help and as with most gov't beurocracies they said do the best you can. We've got 40 0r 50 kids in tents in the coming weeks. My question ... I,m hoping nothing will happen but just in case I want to be prepared. My question to you is I have a 12 gauge pump -full choke, a marlin .3030 , and a .303 british. What is my best bet if all hell breaks loose? I know its not recomended (full)but slugs in the pump are effective stoppers. The .3030 is a bit under powered but close range youve got 6 quick rounds or the .303 B 10 rounds. I however am a southpaw so the bolt is a little awkward. Any thoughts?
Bears at camp
- Thread starter alaus24
- Start date
I sought out the answers to your exact question with some of my hardcore hunting buddies. I got mostly the same answer 00buck. As one said the slug is great if you hit your target, with the 00buck or SSG literally point and shoot . I have a remote camp and keep both of the above handy for my 12 guage pump. I haven`t had to dispose of a bear yet but they are definitely in the area, counted six the last time out, luckily no friendly or bold ones yet.
Hey Alaus24... You've notified the authorities about the problem, do so EVERY time the bear shows up... In my humble opinion... If that bear continues to show up, SHOOT IT... The fact that it has become a problem and you have a bunch of kids showing up shortly, IS a recipe for disaster...
Furthermore, use your 303, it's got the most energy, IF you'll be disposing of the bear in a controlled situation... Now, if you needed a firearm for an emergency, I'd go with the shotgun...
Cheers
Jay
Furthermore, use your 303, it's got the most energy, IF you'll be disposing of the bear in a controlled situation... Now, if you needed a firearm for an emergency, I'd go with the shotgun...
Cheers
Jay
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I have to go with Jay on this one. It's unfortunate that someone got careless with the garbage and that the bear has to pay the price. I would inform the authorities that you want it gone before the next camp session. If it's not, then you know what to do. I would have whoever was careless with the garbage set up camp next to it for the night. I'm certain he might be more inclined to do it correctly from now on.
I've had similar problems while takeing kids on campouts.
Bears are naturally curious and always hungry. They are feeders of opportunity and smart enough to pick up on any easy meal. They mostly feed on grass, but will immediately jump on any opportunity to feed on anything else.
As far as slugs in your shotgun go, "if all hell breaks loose". You are going to be shooting under 30 meters. At that range, a slug will tear right through a bear and keep on traveling with a lot of retained energy. I would suggest that if you really have to shoot the bear, which I personally have no problems with, use SSG or Double O Buck shot. At 30 meters or less, there wil be a pattern of about 40 cm and very few if any of the pellets will emerge. You may miss with a few, but they won't create anywhere near the problem of a slug. If it hits the fan, you won't be looking for an adequate backstop or direction to shoot.
I've shot bears as close as 3 meters with 00Buck, it flattens them on the spot, at 25 meters it does the same thing.
The big thing is remain cool and use your head, nothing intended here, if you deal with kids, that's a given. But bears can and will change in an instant from trusting to scared and aggressive.
Personally I would suggest you deal with the problem under conditions you create. Not knowing where you're situated, it shouldn't be a big deal to set up a very frightening situation for the animal, depending on habits or hunger, it may have to turn lethal. Either way try to control it as much as possible.
If and when the situation is allowed to denegrate to the point of attack or damage, the situation is already out of control and anything can happen.
A friend and I had a hungry/curious bear come into a tent in the middle of the night, what an explosive situation that turned into, includeing a knocked over stove and blood (not ours) all over everything. The bear had been hanging around for a couple of days and even followed us over the hill to a new campsight. I learned very quickly, right then and there, get control of the situation before it gets out of hand.
bearhunter
Bears are naturally curious and always hungry. They are feeders of opportunity and smart enough to pick up on any easy meal. They mostly feed on grass, but will immediately jump on any opportunity to feed on anything else.
As far as slugs in your shotgun go, "if all hell breaks loose". You are going to be shooting under 30 meters. At that range, a slug will tear right through a bear and keep on traveling with a lot of retained energy. I would suggest that if you really have to shoot the bear, which I personally have no problems with, use SSG or Double O Buck shot. At 30 meters or less, there wil be a pattern of about 40 cm and very few if any of the pellets will emerge. You may miss with a few, but they won't create anywhere near the problem of a slug. If it hits the fan, you won't be looking for an adequate backstop or direction to shoot.
I've shot bears as close as 3 meters with 00Buck, it flattens them on the spot, at 25 meters it does the same thing.
The big thing is remain cool and use your head, nothing intended here, if you deal with kids, that's a given. But bears can and will change in an instant from trusting to scared and aggressive.
Personally I would suggest you deal with the problem under conditions you create. Not knowing where you're situated, it shouldn't be a big deal to set up a very frightening situation for the animal, depending on habits or hunger, it may have to turn lethal. Either way try to control it as much as possible.
If and when the situation is allowed to denegrate to the point of attack or damage, the situation is already out of control and anything can happen.
A friend and I had a hungry/curious bear come into a tent in the middle of the night, what an explosive situation that turned into, includeing a knocked over stove and blood (not ours) all over everything. The bear had been hanging around for a couple of days and even followed us over the hill to a new campsight. I learned very quickly, right then and there, get control of the situation before it gets out of hand.
bearhunter
Amen to what Bearhunter said. Shotgun all the way, and I would load a mixture of 00 buck shells and a slug at the end, just in case you need it. It's too easy to miss in a panic situation with a rifle. You can also try shooting "bear bangers" out of your shotty at this bear to try and scare him off first.
I missed what kind of bear you've got there... black?
I missed what kind of bear you've got there... black?
Thank you all .Yes black. The bear has always liked the camp .When no one is there he suns himself at one end of the kitchen that is sheltered from the wind in the spring. We see the scat and hair stuck in the siding where he scratches himself. Our hope is that when camp opens he will make himself scarce. The rifle range is in use and we tend to make a fair bit of "Happy" noise. It seems the shotgun is the best method. Absolute worst case scenerio, the range would be short and only if it was the last gasp . We would use air horns whistles etc under a camp lock down. We are in cottage country and the backstop was a very serious conscern. I just didn't realize "00" buck had that much punch. Thanks again
frenchyguy
CGN Regular
- Location
- New Brunswick
first thing you need is a designated spotters, keeping an eye out for the bear, i assume this is quite a large area. hopefully there will be alot of warning before the bear gets too close. back home, we used to till gasperau (fish) into the fields for fertilizer, every time you went out there were bears all over the yard, never bothered us though. except that when we were kids, you would walk down the 1/4 mile driveway at night, and hear the bears striding next to you in the edge.. hehehe.. memories! as for the gun, id use the 303 for the spotter, and have the shotgun and 00buck by me for SHTF
"...the 00buck or SSG literally point and shoot..." No it isn't. Nor is any buckshot reliable enough past 40 yards.
One well placed shot from either the .30-30(it has plenty of power) or .303 will do nicely.
Read this. Scroll down to page 14. http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR_E000041.pdf
One well placed shot from either the .30-30(it has plenty of power) or .303 will do nicely.
Read this. Scroll down to page 14. http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR_E000041.pdf
I'd have considered some really SERIOUS levels of aversion therapy for the bear, like two or more guys with shotguns loaded up with bangers, if you had the time to get him the heck outta Dodge a while before the kids were coming.
Like make sure he thinks that the camp is the worst place in the whole world, kind of aversion. I'm told that a hit with one leaves a really big bruise!
At least with some time, there would have been a chance to see if it "stuck".
With the kids around, or soon to be, I think the 3S plan might be the most effective.
There are lots of bears.
Offing the bear in front of the campers is gonna be a whole 'nother level of BS to go through.
MNR said do the best you can. Getrdone!
Cheers
Trev
Like make sure he thinks that the camp is the worst place in the whole world, kind of aversion. I'm told that a hit with one leaves a really big bruise!
At least with some time, there would have been a chance to see if it "stuck".
With the kids around, or soon to be, I think the 3S plan might be the most effective.
There are lots of bears.
Offing the bear in front of the campers is gonna be a whole 'nother level of BS to go through.
MNR said do the best you can. Getrdone!
Cheers
Trev
check out remington's 000 buck. .36 caliber pellets (8), good tight pattern. I saw a good sized male black bear knocked down furiously with one shot.
(the 00 buck is .33 cal and 9 or 12 balls) The bear was hit broadside and 6 pellets took him out.
Of course, I know you wouldn't do this, and neither would I, but it would be a shame if someone left a couple of loaves of bread soaked in antifreeze laying around in his favorite free food spot. Like I said, I know you wouldn't do this, just talking about this one time in band camp.......
(the 00 buck is .33 cal and 9 or 12 balls) The bear was hit broadside and 6 pellets took him out.
Of course, I know you wouldn't do this, and neither would I, but it would be a shame if someone left a couple of loaves of bread soaked in antifreeze laying around in his favorite free food spot. Like I said, I know you wouldn't do this, just talking about this one time in band camp.......
