Going on my first black bear hunt in October

[Daisy]

Sighted in my 375 Ruger today for bear hunt. Blaser r8 with 20” barrel and Steiner h6xi 2-12.

Using 275gr CEB Raptor I chrono’d today at 2686.

Middle first, then left, then right.

 

[Green Chile]

Excellent. Now you can break both shoulders and get an exit on a nice bear. What distance is it sighted for? This is baited or spot and stalk?

 

[Daisy]

Baited. Turns out my 50 and 100 yard zero are almost exactly the same.

 

[Hunt anything]

I’m actually on a ranch in Northern California on a bear/deer hunt right now.

Saw a very small bear close up and a very big one very far away so far.

I brought my .375 Ruger and used it to drop this nice 4x3 blacktail buck deer yesterday, the copper Hornady bullet obviously passed right thru, lol.

I did that hunt with an old friend back in the late 80’s. Great hunt.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

If you want the hide for a rug, that rifle/bullet combination may be a bit much. Yes, an exit wound is desirable but not a hole the size of a bushel basket. Hard for taxidermist to fix. A bullet that size doesn't need to explode to be effective on black bear. Hunting over bait it should be easy enough to place a more modest bullet in a lethal location.

 

[Daisy]

If you want the hide for a rug, that rifle/bullet combination may be a bit much. Yes, an exit wound is desirable but not a hole the size of a bushel basket. Hard for taxidermist to fix. A bullet that size doesn't need to explode to be effective on black bear. Hunting over bait it should be easy enough to place a more modest bullet in a lethal location.

I agree with you. It’s not needed. But I have it and just want to use it!

 

[Green Chile]

The 375 will be fine and you will get an exit. I've seen more bears lost the last 2 years to clients that didn't get exits. If you want less damage, shoot behind the shoulders and halfway on vertical for double lung.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I agree with you. It’s not needed. But I have it and just want to use it!

I hunted elk last year with the 404 I built in 2023 because I still had not had a chance to shoot anything with it. Not a great choice for an elk gun but no matter if it didn't pan out. I'm an empty nester who doesn't need that much meat and I've shot a lot of elk over the years.

However, you might want to reconsider the bullet design. I was shooting 400 gr Barnes at 2200 fps. Far from explosive. Even if no pass through, no worries about a big slug like that not having enough killing power to take out a big elk (reasonably close range). Of course I wouldn't need to be too concerned about a wounded elk taking me out in a followup situation (though one nearly did in 1984). You will be shooting relatively close over bait so you won't need a lot of velocity. Even if the big 375 slug stays relatively intact after impact, the exit wound will still be substantial. And black bear is good eating. Why waste the meat? Some things to think about anyway.

 

[Throwback]

Going in western NC. I’m gonna use my 375ruger with 275gr raptor. I know that’s more gun than needed. But I have the cartridge and haven’t used it on game yet.

Anyone else done a black bear hunt?

Went on my first one this June. 375Ruger is plenty and I think a great choice. You will have fun, be patient. Cheers

Post in thread 'USA: Black Bear At The Flying B Ranch - Idaho'

Aug 24, 2025

Congratulations on both you and your son getting bears!

Can you share a few more details on the outfitter? Location? Where did you fly into? Thanks!

Yes sir. We flew into Spokane, WA. The outfitter picked us up and it was about a 3 hour drive to lodge but an easy, beautiful one. You can fly into a few different towns though, e.g. Lewiston, etc. Kamiah, ID is the nearest little town I think to where the lodge sits.

I definitely recommend it. I call this place a 5 star set up. The lodge, food, service, etc... It is high end. Our guide was very down to earth, practical and knew...

• Throwback

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[revturbo9967]

what are you impressions of the H6Xi?

 

[Russ16]

Please post a hunt report! I'm interested in this hunt in the future.

 

[Daisy]

what are you impressions of the H6Xi?

Absolutely love it. Good glass. Feels substantial. I like the ffp and has nice bright illumination.

I have sold all my leupold and march scopes and only use h6xi and a t5xi 1-5 on my 416. I have 2-12 on my 223, 30-06, and 375 Ruger. And 3-18 on 6.5prc and 338 Lapua.

 

[revturbo9967]

Thank you, I may order one for a scopeless rifle.

 

[Green Chile]

Always interesting to hear other's experiences with scopes. Sounds like you really like the Steiner to sell and replace everything. I know how much hassle that can be! I did the same thing with illuminated Swaro and NightForce. Both handle all of my requirements very well.

 

[revturbo9967]

Always interesting to hear other's experiences with scopes. Sounds like you really like the Steiner to sell and replace everything. I know how much hassle that can be! I did the same thing with illuminated Swaro and NightForce. Both handle all of my requirements very well.

This Steiner really interests me, and for around 1500, it doesn’t break the bank.

 

[Raven]

.375 Ruger is something that should be enough for any bear. I got almost all of my bears with a caliber .375 H&H Mag. However, they were brown bears. But I would also shoot a black bear with this caliber.

I know of many cases where a bear wounded by a caliber .308 win and even .30-06, left and was not found. Just a month ago, I saw it twice during the week, and I saw the sadness of the hunters who had to pay for the escaped trophy. That's why I always advise all my friends to take the largest possible caliber on the bear. It doesn't matter if it's a big bear or a small one, but it's better to be safe.

 

[Green Chile]

Classic deer cartridges can do just fine on bears but not all bears are equal and they are certainly built differently than deer. Skin some bears and then consider how beefy those bears are built and how much muscle and bone is there. Every year at bear camp there is at least 1 lost bear and as many as 3 sometimes out of a group of 7-8 hunters EVERY week. The majority of those I have observed that were not recovered were with deer type cartridges...6.5, 308, etc. Sure they kill bears but the margin of error is smaller and most of those did not seem to have an exit wound. At any rate, there was virtually no blood trail to follow and the bears leave the area. Clients lose a lot of sleep and are unhappy.

I hunt black bears with 300 win mag to 375 levels and premium bullets. I always get an exit and the bear either drops right there or goes somersaulting for 20 feet and is done. Lots of blood...bear is finished in seconds. Makes the guides VERY happy and I get to sleep in the next day.

 

[revturbo9967]

Last bear I got was with a 4 inch 44 mag at 10 feet.

 

[Daisy]

This Steiner really interests me, and for around 1500, it doesn’t break the bank.

This place has them for around 1200.

https://deleonrxgunsandammo.com/product/h6xi-2-12x42-mhr-moa-ffp

 

[Daisy]

Always interesting to hear other's experiences with scopes. Sounds like you really like the Steiner to sell and replace everything. I know how much hassle that can be! I did the same thing with illuminated Swaro and NightForce. Both handle all of my requirements very well.

I like to use lots of different cartridges. But I like my setup to be the same on all of them. With the Blaser r8 and same scope on each it all feels and points the same