The HuntingPA.com Outdoor Community banner
  • Hey Guest, it looks like you haven't made your first post yet. Until you make an introduction thread, the rest of the site is locked to posting. Why not take a few minutes to say hi!
1 - 20 of 40 Posts

· Registered
Joined
·
1,798 Posts
Discussion Starter · #1 · (Edited)
I got a small bear with a handgun this morning in 3D. My first bear and managed to do it with a handgun. Bear was about 75lbs. I would have liked it to be bigger, but it's my first.....and done with a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 Magnum.

I was walking a trail through some scrubs, when I heard 5 shots from down below. I stopped and waited, thinking maybe something might run my way. The trail has a bend and I heard and saw black running my way. Before I could get the handgun out of the holster, the nice sized bear ran into the scrubs. I said........fiddle-sticks!!!

But not 30 seconds later, I hear and see black coming through the scrubs at me. I figured the bear ran back down the hill, but came back up when it confronted the shooter(s). I was ready this time, had the gun out and put the front sight on the shoulder of what I thought was the returning big bear. Through the scrubs, I found an opening and pulled the trigger. The bear only ran a short distance and expired.

When I walked up to it, I saw that it wasn't the big bear I had seen 30 seconds earlier, but a smaller bear. While tagging the bear, two smaller bears broke through the scrubs and continued on to my left. About a minute later, I heard a sound to my right, turned and saw the larger bear.

Apparently what happened was the person who shot the 5-shots was shooting at the sow or one of her cubs. The sow was the first one to break out onto the trail I was on, spot me, then go back into the scrubs. When I heard and saw black, I assumed it was her as I had not seen or heard any other bears. What had happened was she ducked into the scrubs and the smaller ones continued my way.

I had posted the picture on a black bear hunting page on Facebook with the macho men saying I shot a dog, while the other complimented me on my first bear. Years ago, these macho men would have shot this bear, then left it to rot in the woods. Right now, the bear is at my taxidermist waiting for me to decide what type of mount or rug I want to get.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
14,122 Posts
Congrats! Don't worry about the macho men, the only bears they ever shot at were in their dreams... and they missed, LOL.

Nothing wrong with a 75lb bear, especially if it was dressed weight. In either case, that size bear makes a real nice rug, not too big to hang up on the wall, but plenty big enough to make a nice rug.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,798 Posts
Discussion Starter · #12 ·
Congrats! Don't worry about the macho men, the only bears they even shot at were in their dreams... and they missed, LOL.

Nothing wrong with a 75lb bear, especially if it was dressed weight. In either case, that size bear makes a real nice rug, not too big to hang up on the wall, but plenty big enough to make a nice rug.
Thanks. Yes, my wife mentioned a rug.....I was flabbergasted!! ;) LOL! The world might be coming to an end! LOL!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
870 Posts
The Last year I hunted bear here in 2F: I passed on a bear that had to be near the 700 lb. mark - mostly because ( in my opinion ) it'd be too big to eat. Plus just too dang hard to get out of the area he lives in once dead. Not to mention I have a lot of history with that bear..... Haven't seen him in the past 2 years since I no longer hunt in his valley ( but am pretty sure he's still alive and well ).
Then I passed on a cubby that came walking past me on the final day. I guesstimate it at about 50 lbs..... Just couldn't bring myself to shoot it.
But I pass no judgement on anyone who takes any bear! just like All Bucks are trophies - so are All Bears !
Oh yea, I did have one other encounter that same year on the evening of the final day: was sitting with my wife watching an old dirt road when the squirrels in the bottom began going nuts. Told the wife that a bear was coming and to keep her eyes open. She then began to freak out wanting to go to the car! ( Now picture this: there I am sitting with my 3006 - and her with her 270 - It's about 45min. till last light - and she's soo scared that a bear is coming our way, that she freaks out enough to make me agree to start the walk out. ) once we get to the car; I begin putting the rifles away ( and by then i'm less than happy ) when from behind the car she starts yelling "BEAR". Here the little 150 lb. bear had followed us all the way along the lake to the car.... As she was yelling, it ran down over the back of the dam - where it was quickly shot by another hunter who we didn't even know was there!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
714 Posts
Good job on the bear! I would shoot a bear that was so small that I couldn't make Cinderella slippers out of it. That is my current attitude after having crawled through a bunch of laurel for days on end. When I was younger and dumber I used to pick on the guy at the archery shop that had a cub mounted in his basement. I probably should apologize.
 
1 - 20 of 40 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top