I noticed quite a few signs last year regarding spraying and saw a helicopter parked at a campsite for a while. I've yet to notice any signs of spraying in the south east corner of 38 this year, but I also haven't put many miles on yet.
ontario august bear hunt
- Thread starter brybenn
- Start date
If you are talking about Ontario Black Bears they are not hard to kill.
Anything you like, all the way down to a 243 is "enough".
I don't purposely hunt black bears but when they show up at my deer stand during the gun season they go down with my 243 - if they come around while moose hunting (which is usually the case - can't get them to stay away from our camp) then they get blasted with the 7.08.
And my dead bears can't tell you which rifle I shot them with - mmmmm Bear Burgers
Anything you like, all the way down to a 243 is "enough".
I don't purposely hunt black bears but when they show up at my deer stand during the gun season they go down with my 243 - if they come around while moose hunting (which is usually the case - can't get them to stay away from our camp) then they get blasted with the 7.08.
And my dead bears can't tell you which rifle I shot them with - mmmmm Bear Burgers
The biggest bear I've shot was with a 25/06. I like my big bores. They work very well. I hunt in some very thick areas and I prefer to anchor them on the spot with a shoulder shot whether it's a 200 lb bear or a 500 lb bear I have the confidence of knowing I can break thru the shoulder and reach the vitals. Is a 243 up to that task on a 500 lb bear? I haven't used a 243 in that situation but I know I wouldn't take that shot with my 25/06.
I've had the not so pleasant task of tracking a wounded bear in thick cover. As exciting as it can be its not really all that fun and a slower heavy bullet works much better than a little speedy one when your target is 15-20' in front of you in my experience.
I agree the 243 or 250 savage or even the 30/30 are enough to kill a bear with proper bullets and placement but the potential to loose an animal is often increased. They are fast soft footed and covered with fat and fur that clogs the exit hole and holds the blood. Not a good combo for finding an animal that runs in thick cover.
That's also the reason I don't use my cross bow for bear.
If i hunted open fields and flatter land I may hunt differently
I've had the not so pleasant task of tracking a wounded bear in thick cover. As exciting as it can be its not really all that fun and a slower heavy bullet works much better than a little speedy one when your target is 15-20' in front of you in my experience.
I agree the 243 or 250 savage or even the 30/30 are enough to kill a bear with proper bullets and placement but the potential to loose an animal is often increased. They are fast soft footed and covered with fat and fur that clogs the exit hole and holds the blood. Not a good combo for finding an animal that runs in thick cover.
That's also the reason I don't use my cross bow for bear.
If i hunted open fields and flatter land I may hunt differently
