Cool old picture of a working double in Alaska

[Scott CWO]

that information is solid gold! not sure about the pad in inches plus two for a squared bear, your thoughts?

Yeah I’m kind of in between. I go with plus 1.5. I haven’t measured pads on dead bears for a while but will start doing it again. The last one I measured was a bit over 8” and the bear squared 9’10”. The guy in the picture is 6’5” for reference. It was this bear.

 

[Moosemind]

When Joe Want was a packer. Most bears back then were hunted with a 30-06.

 

[Bullhunter]

Betterinthebush
Please:
Who is Bill Pinnel?
Can you write some more details about the pictures with the broken rifle, skulls, pp.

 

[Bullhunter]

To Bill P.:
Ich had found him and all the infos to the picture (real or hoax):

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[Betterinthebush]

Betterinthebush
Please:
Who is Bill Pinnel?
Can you write some more details about the pictures with the broken rifle, skulls, pp.

@Bullhunter, the only things I know about Bill Pinnel are anecdotal and as tangible as anyone else’s. I worked for a master guide when I first started packing and working as an a-guide who knew Jo Want very well, but I never met Joe.

As far as the picture goes, I will say this; there is a lot of debate amongst guides as to whether the photo was indicative of an actual scene Bill found or if Bill salted the scene with the skulls and rotted rifle and used them all as props. Opinions on this subject are passionate on both sides. I’ll leave it at that.

I, personally, believe that the scene was real. I think that Bill did move the human skull into the frame and probably turned the bear skull toward the camera for effect. I base this opinion on the only actual fact I do know about the entire matter: Bill never showed this picture nor (apparently) ever spoke of his find, and nobody has ever claimed they have the rotted rifle. The photo was found in a box of pictures by his partner Talifson after Bill died.

Bill could have used the scene (real or staged) for marketing. But, he didn’t. This makes me believe he recorded the scene and then respectfully left everything where he found it.

 

[Bullhunter]

Better...
Thank you, great statement.

 

[Hagler.450Ex]

I've never hunted bears, and have never been to Alaska, but on the subject of Joe's .500 and weather and moisture conditions, and banging around and this and that, I say "why not?". I usually feel real disgust in a good rifle having been made, only to sit in some millionaire's vault and never being used at all. That is where I feel disgust. I say use them, because it's what they are made for. This goes for any rifle, because we're only here for a short time.
On another note, if the bears are as big as those pictured, I'd be using a .500 as well!