Griz hunt- a rifle quandary *hunt update*
- Thread starter Tuffcity
- Start date
I have been thinking about this a bit more, when you go to the range, take a n accurate shooting light recoiling rifle. Shoot 5 or 10 out of the accurate rifle, shoot the 375, shoot 5 or 10 out of the first rifle. This should give you some practice with trigger time and target acquisition. If your second 5 or 10 shows flyers, you may be getting a flinch.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Ever since Angus got a vasectomy his mind's been off ass and onto class. I wonder which is harder on the pocketbook?
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Hotwheels81
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- South of GP
I've had that conversation before, it ranges from the archer being an idot to there must be a guide with a rifle with him or nobody would be stupid enough to do it...
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Meh, I'd bet it goes pretty well. Seems as if animals react differently to an arrow and a bullet, the quiet sting of an arrow seems to breed a wholly different dying state of mind, more wound up confusion less panic. Like anything, as long as the shot's good. Literally all Grizzly problems I've had related and the one I enjoyed in person were either bumping a sow with cubs, or a wounded / badly shot bear follow up.
Like they say in my day job, the worst talent has the best stories, and makes the most money as there's the most messing about! The guys good at what they do, really doubt it matters what the method is.
Like they say in my day job, the worst talent has the best stories, and makes the most money as there's the most messing about! The guys good at what they do, really doubt it matters what the method is.
I'll bet archers still debate the best broad-head, or arrow weight versus speed versus energy versus trajectory versus compound versus longbow, so within their genre there is still a sense of "best".
Absolutely... my reference was a comparison between the impressions of those who think of a single shot, large bore rifle for grizzly as "lunacy," compared to one utilizing a bow for grizzly.
Ardent is correct, and of course his point is key... there is a completely different dying sequence when a lethal archery shot is made as compared to a lethal firearm shot. In the stillness the quarry has nothing specific to focus on (usually)... and tends to run off in confusion, with a lethal hit, they lack the wherewithal (response time) to reverse directions to affect any sort of aggressive action... they can't run down the "boom." Most big game animals perforated with a properly placed arrow, go down just as they are realizing something is amiss, but they are not quite sure what it is... they seem puzzled in the end.
It s a No brainer take the H&H and get the job done properly ! jmo RJ
I've seen the same effect with long range hits with rifles, and hits with 22 center fires. It's not an all the time thing, but sometimes an animal will act like it got a bug bite and kick its side and maybe walk in a circle wondering why he's feeling a bit woozy before laying down and dieing. It could have spend those last moments taking a crack at the sound barrier, but without the panic button being pushed it doesn't know it's supposed to run.
I have a bigger fear of losing an animal on a long awaited, perhaps once in a lifetime and expensive hunt than getting flattened, perforated or chewed up by the same animal. Having said that, I've seen a couple grizzlies die at close to bow range. The speed that they possess when want to move staggers the imagination.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Ok, so this is the beast that will go. My bad, I mistakenly said it was a 1958 when it actually is a 1955 (brain fart by me), "Alaskan" model.
Yes, it is a bit of a long and heavy unit but I've packed it on enough hunts that the weight isn't an issue. Some one asked how much trigger time I have had with it- about 600 hand load rounds since I got it.The majority shooting standing, kneeling, with sticks, leaning on stuff etc and a lot of those shooting clay pigeons off a 100m back stop. I'm not a huge fan of shooting lots off a bench, all that tells me is that my rifle is sighted in and I have a decent trigger press. When I first got it I spent the afternoon putting 60 rounds through it and decided that the original petrified hockey puck that passed as a recoil pad had to go. Limbsaver is such a better mod.Wood has some battle scars but she's a solid rig and functions flawlessly.
Still undecided if I will scope it or leave the peep on.
RC
Bella Coola grizzly hunt 2012
Okay, now I think you're bragging rather than asking for advice.
If you do scope it, use QD rings so you have options. If you can see the front sight without any issues, keep the peep sight, if it was me I'd loose the screw in aperture and the front sight hood, and exchange the factory bead with a brass faced rectangular post.
Something like this . . .
With a sight picture like this . . .
I've tried shooting with and without the hood and it doesn't seem to make much difference. The hood actually gives me another reference point as it ends up being a ring within a ring with a point in the centre kind of set up. The front blade sight isn't too bad.
Not my first BBQ when it comes to hunting big bears, but hunting and killing one seems to be two very mutually exclusive events for me! Best grizzly repellent I have is a tag in my pocket. Bumped into a lot of them over the years and with a couple a lot closer than I would have liked but no rugs in front of the fireplace yet.
RC
Griz hunt- a rifle quandary * Hunt update*
I am convinced that the best bear repellant for me is a tag in my pocket. Snake bit for the last 3 years on grizzly I hoped this would finally be the year.
As you know, I had drawn a spring tag in the northwest corner of BC, between Haines Junction, Yukon and Haines, Alaska and as time ran down on my tag closing date I finally was able to get away for a weekend and hunt. I cashed in some airmiles points and jetted up to Whitehorse.
My wife, Helen, is currently working in Whitehorse so we planned an extended weekend trip, glassing from the road as time was short, and she would hunt bear on the Yukon side (being a resident of YT now) if we found one and I would check out the BC side.
As luck would have it the first morning out we ran into a griz on the BC side. At first blush it seemed like one worth going after but after taking a bit of time to really look at it I decided to pass. Pretty bear but a bit shortā¦
Later that afternoon I spotted another up on the mountainside and decided to make a play for it as it looked considerably bigger. He was sitting on the edge of a small ravine, investigating ground squirrels and I saw that I had cover on the opposite side and would have a less than 50yard shot if I got parallel to him. Thatās when my enthusiasm took over and I made an āI know better than thatā type of mistake. I was part way up the far side and realized the wind was not in my favour. I backed down but by then the damage was done and I saw him lift his head and sniff the air. See yaā¦
I worked my way back down the mountainside, mentally kicking myself with each step. As we had plenty of day light left we headed back in to Yukon and decided to check out some areas in Helās licence zone.
About an hour in I got her attention with āBlack bear, a good one!ā and the stalk was on. This time with the wind and terrain solidly in our favour and Helen in the lead we got up on the boar with no problems.
He appeared to be thoroughly enjoying his salad of fresh dandelions until a cloud of smoke and a .50 cal bullet put a crimp in his dinner plans. She shot him with her muzzleloader from about 25 or so yards out and the bear dropped in his tracks.
About 3 hours later we had him skinned out, quartered up and back to the truck.
The next day and a bit was spent looking for a griz for me but, as the saying goes, āif it wasnāt for bad luck Iād have no luck at allā and year 4 ended without a grizzly for me.
I canāt and wonāt complain. I only had (really) 2 days to get on one, had a chance, got to spend some quality time with my favourite hunting partner and helped her get a kick-ass bear in the process. Iāll eat my tag for trips like this any day. ļ
Yukon has mandatory inspection for bears (grizzly and black) and when she took the skull in the bio told her that the bear was 18- 20ish years old. It green scores about 19 Ā½ā.
Beautiful 6ā+ hide with no rub marks.
Here are a few random shots from the trip.
RC
I did go back again for the last 2 days of my tag but once again only bumped into a small grizzly. I will probably apply next year for the same tag but dedicate a bunch more time (work willing) to getting even further back.
I am convinced that the best bear repellant for me is a tag in my pocket. Snake bit for the last 3 years on grizzly I hoped this would finally be the year.
As you know, I had drawn a spring tag in the northwest corner of BC, between Haines Junction, Yukon and Haines, Alaska and as time ran down on my tag closing date I finally was able to get away for a weekend and hunt. I cashed in some airmiles points and jetted up to Whitehorse.
My wife, Helen, is currently working in Whitehorse so we planned an extended weekend trip, glassing from the road as time was short, and she would hunt bear on the Yukon side (being a resident of YT now) if we found one and I would check out the BC side.
As luck would have it the first morning out we ran into a griz on the BC side. At first blush it seemed like one worth going after but after taking a bit of time to really look at it I decided to pass. Pretty bear but a bit shortā¦
Later that afternoon I spotted another up on the mountainside and decided to make a play for it as it looked considerably bigger. He was sitting on the edge of a small ravine, investigating ground squirrels and I saw that I had cover on the opposite side and would have a less than 50yard shot if I got parallel to him. Thatās when my enthusiasm took over and I made an āI know better than thatā type of mistake. I was part way up the far side and realized the wind was not in my favour. I backed down but by then the damage was done and I saw him lift his head and sniff the air. See yaā¦
I worked my way back down the mountainside, mentally kicking myself with each step. As we had plenty of day light left we headed back in to Yukon and decided to check out some areas in Helās licence zone.
About an hour in I got her attention with āBlack bear, a good one!ā and the stalk was on. This time with the wind and terrain solidly in our favour and Helen in the lead we got up on the boar with no problems.
He appeared to be thoroughly enjoying his salad of fresh dandelions until a cloud of smoke and a .50 cal bullet put a crimp in his dinner plans. She shot him with her muzzleloader from about 25 or so yards out and the bear dropped in his tracks.
About 3 hours later we had him skinned out, quartered up and back to the truck.
The next day and a bit was spent looking for a griz for me but, as the saying goes, āif it wasnāt for bad luck Iād have no luck at allā and year 4 ended without a grizzly for me.
I canāt and wonāt complain. I only had (really) 2 days to get on one, had a chance, got to spend some quality time with my favourite hunting partner and helped her get a kick-ass bear in the process. Iāll eat my tag for trips like this any day. ļ
Yukon has mandatory inspection for bears (grizzly and black) and when she took the skull in the bio told her that the bear was 18- 20ish years old. It green scores about 19 Ā½ā.
Beautiful 6ā+ hide with no rub marks.
Here are a few random shots from the trip.
RC
I did go back again for the last 2 days of my tag but once again only bumped into a small grizzly. I will probably apply next year for the same tag but dedicate a bunch more time (work willing) to getting even further back.
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bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Great story and nice pics, congrats!!!
This picture looks like a bear in a field of "hemp". Did you find a secret plot?
