Just got back from my first day elk hunting this year. Long story short, my buddy came along to help pack meat if I was successful, he carried only a .22 for grouse, and the only tag he had for the area was a black bear tag, and never having seen any back there, he wasn't worried.
We put on a good hunt, making about 15km of foot travel in the Rocky Mountains for the day. We came out before last light and while driving spotted, guess what a black bear on an open slope at the top of the ridge. My friend borrowed my new, virgin .270 WCF, and after a good jog up the mountain and a slow and low stalk he smashed the bruin head on with a 140 Accubond at 42 yds. We later found the bullet entered the neck, smashed 3 vertebrae, broke three ribs moved up, broke 5 more spinal vertebrae and then continued to penetrate 8 more inches of meat and fat. In total the bullet made over two feet of penetration including heavy bone!
The real kicker (other than we didn't get my elk, and my buddy drew first blood with my new gun) is the bear's green skull measurements are 12 11/16 and 7 10/16 B&C. That means it is a green 20 5/16" bear.
I'll get pictures downloaded asap.
We put on a good hunt, making about 15km of foot travel in the Rocky Mountains for the day. We came out before last light and while driving spotted, guess what a black bear on an open slope at the top of the ridge. My friend borrowed my new, virgin .270 WCF, and after a good jog up the mountain and a slow and low stalk he smashed the bruin head on with a 140 Accubond at 42 yds. We later found the bullet entered the neck, smashed 3 vertebrae, broke three ribs moved up, broke 5 more spinal vertebrae and then continued to penetrate 8 more inches of meat and fat. In total the bullet made over two feet of penetration including heavy bone!
The real kicker (other than we didn't get my elk, and my buddy drew first blood with my new gun) is the bear's green skull measurements are 12 11/16 and 7 10/16 B&C. That means it is a green 20 5/16" bear.
I'll get pictures downloaded asap.
