Here in the Pacific Northwest, Washington State, we have a large population of black bear. 30,000+ animals. Twenty some years ago a popular vote (what a way to manage game!) outlawed baiting and hound hunting, so we've largely turned to classic western "spot and stalk" hunting. Calling can also be productive...
My home in central Washington is on the eastern edge of the Cascade Mountains, and is an area known to have a good black bear population. The species of "black bear" actually comes in many different "color phases" as they're called here: black, cinnamon, blonde and chocolate. Sometimes a bit of a mix as well. This holds true in other parts of the Northwest as well, including British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana.
Mature boars here usually go about 300 - 350 pounds in my area. A few years ago an out-sized, salmon fed bear of over 600 pounds was taken!
They're not normally aggressive, though if wounded and followed into the brush, they can and will defend themselves. Black bears actually kill more people than grizzlies, though grizzlies of course are very much respected for their physical power and ferocity.
The trophy of a black bear is both the hide and the skull. The meat can be very good, depending on the bear's diet. If he's browsing on berry bushes, the meat is often a slightly sweet, dark red meat. Similar to, but perhaps better than good beef to my taste. If he's been eating rotting salmon, or rotting deer and elk carcasses... Well, the meat isn't worth taking. Often in the spring bears will graze on long, green grasses, but may also eat winter-kill deer and elk carcasses.
My son and I do a fair bit of bear hunting, by spot and stalk. He normally uses his ancient 30-06 Model of 1917, with a 6x scope and 165 grain Nosler Partitions. This is a great combination for black bear. I've also used my 30-06 Remington 700 with Nosler Ballistic Tips, but have also relied upon my 375 H&H Ruger Number One single shot. My sons call that rifle "Dad's bear rifle."
A typical day involves getting to a high point where we can observe a likely area. One such area has a long-abandoned homestead, with the remnants of an old fruit orchard. Nice! There is also a water source, and above the old homestead there are many berry bushes.
We get in place before sunrise, and as the light gathers we scan hard though our binoculars for bear. This is very steep, rugged country.
If one is seen, we watch. We try to anticipate the bear's travel, and intercept. Or simply stalk as close as possible while he's feeding. Then the bear is ranged, and the shot taken. This may be near, or as far as 150 - 300+ yards. Hopefully the bear is killed with the first shot. The bear though is a very robust animal and can run a considerable distance if only one lung is taken. Even with a broken shoulder or leg, the bear can cover ground very rapidly.
Sometimes we will hit one, and it will quickly make for the thick cover in the deep ravines.
Suddenly this changes things. I've followed up several wounded bears in the brush. One, wounded by another hunter, I ended up shooting at about 15 feet (five meters) in the brush, with my 375 H&H! Quite an experience. Briefly, before I saw him, I could hear the bear moving, and even breathing, but I could not see him. Finally I saw part of the bear and shot. That ended things.
We skin the bear quickly, to best preserve the hide. The hindquarters and the "backstraps" both hold very good meat. Depending on the bear's diet.
A few photos:
My son with his first bear a few years ago, Washington State, taken with a 30-06:
My bear, September 2016, taken with a 30-06 at 325 yards:
My son with a good sized bear, initially shot at 300+ yards, then followed into the brush and finished at short range:
My 2010 bear, taken with the Ruger Number One. One shot at 306 yards according to the laser:
Calling bears... Sounding like an injured deer or elk. Can bring them to very close range. I've had bears come to within 20 yards of me when I've used a call. Maybe 15 yards. It was uncomfortably close. The bear, when called, changes from happy omnivore feeding on roots & berries, to a killer... Ready for meat! Very, very different behavior to deal with. I love it.
Regards, Guy
My home in central Washington is on the eastern edge of the Cascade Mountains, and is an area known to have a good black bear population. The species of "black bear" actually comes in many different "color phases" as they're called here: black, cinnamon, blonde and chocolate. Sometimes a bit of a mix as well. This holds true in other parts of the Northwest as well, including British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana.
Mature boars here usually go about 300 - 350 pounds in my area. A few years ago an out-sized, salmon fed bear of over 600 pounds was taken!
They're not normally aggressive, though if wounded and followed into the brush, they can and will defend themselves. Black bears actually kill more people than grizzlies, though grizzlies of course are very much respected for their physical power and ferocity.
The trophy of a black bear is both the hide and the skull. The meat can be very good, depending on the bear's diet. If he's browsing on berry bushes, the meat is often a slightly sweet, dark red meat. Similar to, but perhaps better than good beef to my taste. If he's been eating rotting salmon, or rotting deer and elk carcasses... Well, the meat isn't worth taking. Often in the spring bears will graze on long, green grasses, but may also eat winter-kill deer and elk carcasses.
My son and I do a fair bit of bear hunting, by spot and stalk. He normally uses his ancient 30-06 Model of 1917, with a 6x scope and 165 grain Nosler Partitions. This is a great combination for black bear. I've also used my 30-06 Remington 700 with Nosler Ballistic Tips, but have also relied upon my 375 H&H Ruger Number One single shot. My sons call that rifle "Dad's bear rifle."
A typical day involves getting to a high point where we can observe a likely area. One such area has a long-abandoned homestead, with the remnants of an old fruit orchard. Nice! There is also a water source, and above the old homestead there are many berry bushes.
We get in place before sunrise, and as the light gathers we scan hard though our binoculars for bear. This is very steep, rugged country.
If one is seen, we watch. We try to anticipate the bear's travel, and intercept. Or simply stalk as close as possible while he's feeding. Then the bear is ranged, and the shot taken. This may be near, or as far as 150 - 300+ yards. Hopefully the bear is killed with the first shot. The bear though is a very robust animal and can run a considerable distance if only one lung is taken. Even with a broken shoulder or leg, the bear can cover ground very rapidly.
Sometimes we will hit one, and it will quickly make for the thick cover in the deep ravines.
Suddenly this changes things. I've followed up several wounded bears in the brush. One, wounded by another hunter, I ended up shooting at about 15 feet (five meters) in the brush, with my 375 H&H! Quite an experience. Briefly, before I saw him, I could hear the bear moving, and even breathing, but I could not see him. Finally I saw part of the bear and shot. That ended things.
We skin the bear quickly, to best preserve the hide. The hindquarters and the "backstraps" both hold very good meat. Depending on the bear's diet.
A few photos:
My son with his first bear a few years ago, Washington State, taken with a 30-06:
My bear, September 2016, taken with a 30-06 at 325 yards:
My son with a good sized bear, initially shot at 300+ yards, then followed into the brush and finished at short range:
My 2010 bear, taken with the Ruger Number One. One shot at 306 yards according to the laser:
Calling bears... Sounding like an injured deer or elk. Can bring them to very close range. I've had bears come to within 20 yards of me when I've used a call. Maybe 15 yards. It was uncomfortably close. The bear, when called, changes from happy omnivore feeding on roots & berries, to a killer... Ready for meat! Very, very different behavior to deal with. I love it.
Regards, Guy
Attachments
Last edited by a moderator:
