Saskatchewan bear

[jimbo1972]

Heading to Canada from Georgia on Thursday to bear hunt. Due to tariffs and the resulting drop in travelers from Canada I am having to leave a day early as my original Westjet flight got cancelled.
I’m taking a unique selection of firearms. Primary rifle is a Blaser R8 in 375H&H with a Leupold VX6 2x12x42. Overkill but it’s a fun gun. For backup is a Winchester Model 1895 Lever Action in 30-06.
Can’t wait as I have purchased bear tags while elk hunting but that was only a just in case not the primary target.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

Looks like you will be well prepared. Love the lever gun. Where are you hunting?

 

[DillonG]

Knock’em down! Share pics when you get time!

 

[Wiley64]

I think the 375 makes sense, I know so many people that have wounded bears. They cast a spell on you!

 

[Brickman301]

Heading to Canada from Georgia on Thursday to bear hunt. Due to tariffs and the resulting drop in travelers from Canada I am having to leave a day early as my original Westjet flight got cancelled.
I’m taking a unique selection of firearms. Primary rifle is a Blaser R8 in 375H&H with a Leupold VX6 2x12x42. Overkill but it’s a fun gun. For backup is a Winchester Model 1895 Lever Action in 30-06.
Can’t wait as I have purchased bear tags while elk hunting but that was only a just in case not the primary target.View attachment 685562View attachment 685563View attachment 685565View attachment 685566View attachment 685567

No such thing as “over kill”
I think your combo of cartridges is perfect!

 

[jimbo1972]

Looks like you will be well prepared. Love the lever gun. Where are you hunting?

Safari River Outfitters

 

[Mekaniks]

Excellent looking forward to following along

 

[BRICKBURN]

Good luck.

 

[Wiley64]

I’ve taken two big bears with them! You are in good hands

Safari River Outfitters

 

[Tbitty]

Safari River Outfitters

Great people there, you should have a wonderful time and they'll definitely put in blinds with good bear activity. Send us the report when you fill your tag!

 

[Green Chile]

I took the lever gun last year but I’m taking a R8 this year. I was going to take my 375 like you but had the 300 win mag prepped already.

 

[jimbo1972]

I took the lever gun last year but I’m taking a R8 this year. I was going to take my 375 like you but had the 300 win mag prepped already.

I have a 300 win mag and 257 Weatherby barrels for the R8 but was a little concerned about Canada understanding a swap barrel rifle so went with the safe bet by just taking two different rifles. Plus this is the first hunting trip beyond deer and hogs local where the R8 has went along. I bought it after my last trip to Africa. Here's the custom case I have for it. The stock/receiver, a place for a extra trigger group/ magazine, 3 barrels, 3 Leupold scopes and 2 suppressors all weighing only 42 lbs.

 

[ACE (in CT)]

How is Canada about Suppressors? We always drive, and take only Bows, the questions at the border are almost exclusively “do you have any Handguns?”. Once, a guy didn’t quite believe I was hunting bears with a Bow.

Good luck in Sask, it’s beautiful Country.

 

[jimbo1972]

How is Canada about Suppressors? We always drive, and take only Bows, the questions at the border are almost exclusively “do you have any Handguns?”. Once, a guy didn’t quite believe I was hunting bears with a Bow.

Good luck in Sask, it’s beautiful Country.

No go on suppressors just like handguns. Extremely complicated gun laws. They have a 800 number to call to make sure the gun you plan to bring is still legal as they are always making more illegal. My Blaser R8 has a 300 Win Mag Barrel and a 257 Weatherby all in a nice short custom case but it’s not worth messing with to potentially have someone on the Canada side understand a switch barrel rifle.

 

[Tbitty]

I'd take the 257 instead of 375. Black bears aren't terribly tough animals, and as long as you make a good shot with an expanding bullet, 257 is more than plenty of gun. When I was in camp a couple years back, 3 of us took our bears with bow, 1 other guy used a 308 with Terminal Ascent bullets. No bear went more than 100 yards after being hit.

I know there's no such thing as overkill... but 375 is overkill. Haha

More importantly, take whatever weapon you most want to use and know you shoot well. It's your hunt, a bunch of online opinions don't much matter.

 

[Tbitty]

Separate note, make sure your ammo is NOT in the same case as the rifle(s). It needs to be in a separate checked bag.

 

[Red Leg]

Is this a baited or spot and stalk hunt? Will you have a guide to help ID a shooter?

 

[Tbitty]

Is this a baited or spot and stalk hunt? Will you have a guide to help ID a shooter?

Assuming it's the same as my hunt (with same outfitter) - it is baited hunt and no guide in the stand with you, they only bring you in and take you out.

 

[jimbo1972]

Separate note, make sure your ammo is NOT in the same case as the rifle(s). It needs to be in a separate checked bag.

News to me. According to both Delta and Westjet can be in same case. I fly Delta Atlanta to Minneapolis then to Edmonton on Westjet. Only time I have heard of this is when I flew to Africa.

 

[jimbo1972]

Assuming it's the same as my hunt (with same outfitter) - it is baited hunt and no guide in the stand with you, they only bring you in and take you out.

Yes