Opinions wanted - Optics for bear hunting

[bearkilr]

Almost nothing like shooting an animal at 800 yards. For that equipment is paramount, along with a knowledge of shooting and conditions that few have. The results are far from certain, and an argument could be made that nobody should do it. Such arguments have been made before.

Shooting a baited bear (not that there's anything at all wrong with that) at 50-100 yards (and probably rested if any thought was given the process) is about the opposite. Equipment doesn't matter much; shorten the range a bit and a bow works fine. Conditions mean nothing. Only the most rudimentary of shooting skills is needed. An argument could be made that it would difficult to screw that up; though no doubt people do. If they do it probably wasn't because they had a 1-4 X, a 2-7 X, a 3-9ish or a 4.5-14 or no scope at all.

Conditions mean nothing to the actual bullet path but they mean everything to whether or not you're even going to see a bear or whether he's going to smell you, hear you, or see you. So yeah, it's quite easy to screw up getting a shot. They're usually on high alert when approaching a bait.

Anyhow, 4x magnification is all that's needed, with good light gathering and a reticle that's not too thin.

 

[Jim870]

Not really a whole lot to add, as long as I can see the bear and my sight against it in low light I am not concerned about magnification. I have fibre optics on my bow and the front sight of my shotgun. Rifles have worn a variety of scopes only thing close to a requirement is no more than 6x on the lowest setting for variables or for a fixed power. Not that I really want a fixed 6x or a variable with 6x on its lowest for most hunting scenarios but I have made do a time or two.

 

[Butcherbill]

Something in a 2-7 power would be my pick for out to 100y, my deer rifle has a 4-12x40 on it and I find I’m never dialed up past x6. The majority of the time it’s at x4, last season both my whitetail were shot between 25-40y. I’m likely going to put a 2-7 or 2-10 optic on it, I’ve been thinking of going back to irons as well. I’ve really been enjoying shooting with irons again the last year and a bit.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

Something in a 2-7 power would be my pick for out to 100y, my deer rifle has a 4-12x40 on it and I find I’m never dialed up past x6. The majority of the time it’s at x4, last season both my whitetail were shot between 25-40y. I’m likely going to put a 2-7 or 2-10 optic on it, I’ve been thinking of going back to irons as well. I’ve really been enjoying shooting with irons again the last year and a bit.

Anything that works for deer is fine for bear.

Grizz

 

[Dogleg]

Conditions mean nothing to the actual bullet path but they mean everything to whether or not you're even going to see a bear or whether he's going to smell you, hear you, or see you. So yeah, it's quite easy to screw up getting a shot. They're usually on high alert when approaching a bait.

Anyhow, 4x magnification is all that's needed, with good light gathering and a reticle that's not too thin.

I was referring to conditions for the shot, but you knew that. The hunting, such as it is, is in the prep and placement of baits. Optics won't help you carry bait, but since I shoot much of mine they might matter that much.

 

[Ardent]

I hunted in Alberta years ago, and a good portion of the time the bears knew you were there and didn’t care in the slightest, but it’s a whole different area from Manitoba. Figured the lessons didn’t get out as the sows and immatures got passes and nothing untoward happened to them, and the boars were taken and didn’t spread their knowledge of the unfortunate side effects of corn and molasses. Maybe the breed gets nerves bred into them over successive generations of taking the bold, but the bears in northern Alberta wouldn’t be held back from the smell of molasses by a guy in a tree.

 

[Dogleg]

Bears know where the bait came from. We’ve had them look in the window on a ground blind and go back to eating.

Bears cache food all the time, I think they just assume that they are raiding one of ours. Its a sure bet they can smell human scent; its just that at that moment they don’t care. Those that truly care don't need to come at all.

 

[tar21]

Quality red dot since my shots are 50 yards max, have used a benelli r1 argo e which had really nice fiber optic open sights

 

[nowarningshot]

Almost nothing like shooting an animal at 800 yards. For that equipment is paramount, along with a knowledge of shooting and conditions that few have. The results are far from certain, and an argument could be made that nobody should do it. Such arguments have been made before.

Shooting a baited bear (not that there's anything at all wrong with that) at 50-100 yards (and probably rested if any thought was given the process) is about the opposite. Equipment doesn't matter much; shorten the range a bit and a bow works fine. Conditions mean nothing. Only the most rudimentary of shooting skills is needed. An argument could be made that it would difficult to screw that up; though no doubt people do. If they do it probably wasn't because they had a 1-4 X, a 2-7 X, a 3-9ish or a 4.5-14 or no scope at all.

Bang on.

My rifles have a variety, according to use. Two, short range rifles wear Nikon M3 1-4×20 german 4a.

There is a reason 3-9 is so popular. Every maker does them, good all around, low price.

 

[Scotty454]

For that short of range, and including the possibility of having to make a rushed shot up close, something with a low end of 1x (I.e. no magnification) would be ideal I think? Lots of companies make optics in the 1-6 or 1-8 range.

 

[bearkilr]

I hunted in Alberta years ago, and a good portion of the time the bears knew you were there and didn’t care in the slightest, but it’s a whole different area from Manitoba. Figured the lessons didn’t get out as the sows and immatures got passes and nothing untoward happened to them, and the boars were taken and didn’t spread their knowledge of the unfortunate side effects of corn and molasses. Maybe the breed gets nerves bred into them over successive generations of taking the bold, but the bears in northern Alberta wouldn’t be held back from the smell of molasses by a guy in a tree.

That's typical behaviour for sows with young ones and juvenile bears here, but the big ones are cautious,often sitting back in the bush out of sight listening and checking the air for human scent, or doing a circle aorund the perimeter of the bait, out of sight. I have quite a few on camera that become nocturnal after they've been alerted to an actual presence at the bait, or they just stay away altogether.
The big bears also don't seem to spend much time at the bait, often just going there to check things out. For the other bears that have a harder time finding food, it's pretty irresistible to them.

 

[Butcherbill]

Anything that works for deer is fine for bear.

Grizz

Agreed, over the last couple years the longest shot I took at large game was 100y on the nose. 2-7 is plenty of mag for hunting at that range. Nice to have to wider fov at x2 once I’ve snuck in close, which seems to be my preferred approach. I do engoy the 4-12 at the range, it’ll get put on something else that sees more target shooting.

 

[brybenn]

2.5x20 on my double rifle
2-7x36 on my 458wm
3-9x50 on my 300wm
6-24x44 on my 2506
Blade front with red fiber optic and v rear on my slug gun

They all work fine for me however i havent used the 300wm on bear but watched many other animals thru it

 

[asphalt599]

I take a bolt action with a 3-9x40 or my guide gun with a skinner peep in it.