nuisance bear and light birdshot

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PYK

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NW SASK
I have a big black bear that seems to like birdseed (sunflower seeds). It has taken down feeders twice and returns to check out if he missed anything. I have scared him off 4x with 12ga, the last time with a wax slug to the butt. He is not aggressive and runs at slightest noise or movement.
I have max 30 yds from feeders to the bush and I don't get enough time to get an aimed shot. I really don't want to try a kill shot , a wounded bear is not an option.
So, the question is.... what would be the effect of a 12ga target load of #9s to the south end of a north bound bear at 40yds?
Would the lead shot penatrate hair and hide and result in a wounded bear or would he just get a good slap in the butt as he hits the bush?
I don't think the light shot would cause a penatrating wound.
Looking for 2nd opinions.
I have not seen this bear in the open and sitting on the deck feeding mosquitoes for a few days to bushwack him is not appealing.

Pyk
 
All or nothing, don't sling lead at that bear unless you're gonna kill him. I think #9 pellets would break the hide and piss him off but not do any lethal damage. Just my thoughts.
 
A fed bear is a dead bear!
Either buy some rubber bullets or sss.
Whistler has a bear problem 20 years ago and a gal came up from California and offered some tips.
Rubber bullets was one of them.
Try google and see what you find.Either it is rubber bullets or sss.
The choice is yours.
Rob
 
FLHTCUI said:
A fed bear is a dead bear!
Either buy some rubber bullets or sss.
Whistler has a bear problem 20 years ago and a gal came up from California and offered some tips.
Rubber bullets was one of them.
Try google and see what you find.Either it is rubber bullets or sss.
The choice is yours.
Rob
Click to expand...
I agree with fed bear/dead bear. He got into the seeds once, just keeps coming back to check.
Rubber bullets are a week or 200 miles away.
Prefer to avoid the sss.
No kids to worry about or this would have been sorted out a few days ago.
 
My brother in law uses trap shot at 40-50 yards and it is very effective in moving bears along, have seen it with my own eyes. At that range it is unlikely to penetrate is my understanding but he told me a story of his dad doing something similar years ago and they found a dead bear down the road the next day. All it took was one pellet in a bad spot. So I took the moral of the story to be if you're willing to pull the trigger you have to be willing to accept the potential consequences. Good luck.
 
Easiest is to remove the feeder. You can also make "rubber" slugs by cutting open the top of a trap loaf, pouring out the shot and replacing with hot glue. Works great although range is limited.
 
atr said:
Quit baiting them if you don't want them there .
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The feeders are down, haven't been refilled. The damn thing keeps coming back. He must really like sunflower seeds. There is no other food and have a metal garbage bin. We have had a lot of other bears come thru here but this one seems to like the ambience.
 
Dfbshaw said:
Draft a law making bears eating bird seed illegal. That should take care of the problem.
Your Govt.
Click to expand...

I think we have lived in a Lieberal Utopia too long, this is both funny and sad.

Not sure about the birdshot. Tried a 20 Ga I picked up here, for function on a 3 gal plastic pail. Through and through @ 20 ish yards, with 2 3/4 target bulk. The 12 should be similar, so you might want to pace it off.
 
Dfbshaw said:
Draft a law making bears eating bird seed illegal. That should take care of the problem.
Your Govt.
Click to expand...

Man did that make me LOL!!!

PYK said:
The feeders are down, haven't been refilled. The damn thing keeps coming back. He must really like sunflower seeds. There is no other food and have a metal garbage bin. We have had a lot of other bears come thru here but this one seems to like the ambience.
Click to expand...

Well, you are doing what you can. Food source has been removed, but as you can see, once a habit has been formed it is hard to break... Hopefully the bear will move on once the food source is gone long enough.

WRT shooting the bear, I don't think 'half measures' are the solution. If you do use rubber slugs, you better have someone with LIVE rounds backing you up...

Good luck.

Cheers
Jay
 
PYK said:
The feeders are down, haven't been refilled. The damn thing keeps coming back. He must really like sunflower seeds. There is no other food and have a metal garbage bin. We have had a lot of other bears come thru here but this one seems to like the ambience.
Click to expand...

Leave the feeders down , and the bear will lose interest , and move along in due time . Not a wise idea to be shooting bears with bird shot as it may open up a wound that will result in infection , and a slow death for the bear . Maybe call the Forest Rangers , and they may live trap , and remove the bear for you .
 
There's an old story floating 'bout, about two hunters where one shawt a grizz in the arse
with buck shawt to move him along.
One of the three dint make it home breathing.
 
Many years ago I harvested a bear that some Ahole had shot with bird shot. There was numerous pellets just under the hide that had long since healed over. That animal had lived a life of pain due to someones ignorance. Please don't use bird shot.
 
Do not use bird shot. Bad idea.
Here in BC the conservation service takes a pretty dim view of rubber slugs... you'll probably be charged if they find out.
Pepper spray can be used. I'd also use a truck.
 
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