Black bear hunting with a Muzzleloader

[tecumseh]

Anyone Bear hunt with a muzzleloader? I've been tossing the idea around with a couple guys I hunt with about doing a black bear hunt with our smokepoles if I don't draw the deer tag I want in Colorado for 2013.

 

[bbearhntr]

I took a smaller bear (2 yr old) in Minnesota a few years back with my CVA 50cal. I slapped her with a Powerbelt bullet on top of 150g of Pyrodex. It worked magically! The bear made it 30 yds and couldn't make it any farther. I would not hesitate to use it again. I used a cheap red dot scope and would recomend that to anyone hunting in dense dark cover. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[JD338]

That would be a fun hunt.
A good way to try out the new Nosler 300 gr BT ML bullet.

JD338

 

[caribouhunter]

i shot a 200 lbs ( live weight ) bear a couple years ago with mine
loaded with a 300 gr .45 cal extreme elite bullet from PR bullets over 2 pills of T7
the bear made 30 yards

 

[Thebear_78]

I have been using my Encore 209x50 for baited black bear for the last couple years. Reaccuring run ins with a couple brown bears have prompted me to switch to my 375 RUM. I still occasionally bring the smoke pole but usually in conjunction with my 870 loaded wth breneke slugs for the walk in and out. After killing a large cow moose two years ago with the encore I have no doubt that it would make short work of any bear, black or brown.

My load was 250gr Expander MZ behind two 777 magnum pellets. Shot through a large cow quartering towards me at 70 yards, breaking the front shoulder and exiting the ribs. Found one petal sheared off in the shoulder joint but the terminal performance was awesome.

 

[tecumseh]

I have been using my Encore 209x50 for baited black bear for the last couple years. Reaccuring run ins with a couple brown bears have prompted me to switch to my 375 RUM. I still occasionally bring the smoke pole but usually in conjunction with my 870 loaded wth breneke slugs for the walk in and out. After killing a large cow moose two years ago with the encore I have no doubt that it would make short work of any bear, black or brown.

My load was 250gr Expander MZ behind two 777 magnum pellets. Shot through a large cow quartering towards me at 70 yards, breaking the front shoulder and exiting the ribs. Found one petal sheared off in the shoulder joint but the terminal performance was awesome.

We're going too be in Grizzly country in Montana If we go. I'm using 110gr of Blackhorn 209 with a 250gr Hornady SST Sabot, I have no doubt it will make short work of anything I would hunt with a muzzleloader.

That's not a bad idea having a shotgun loaded with slugs on hand! I might bring my Mossberg 500 along too have in camp in case any unwanted visitors paid us a visit.

 

[JD338]

I have been using my Encore 209x50 for baited black bear for the last couple years. Reaccuring run ins with a couple brown bears have prompted me to switch to my 375 RUM. I still occasionally bring the smoke pole but usually in conjunction with my 870 loaded wth breneke slugs for the walk in and out. After killing a large cow moose two years ago with the encore I have no doubt that it would make short work of any bear, black or brown.

My load was 250gr Expander MZ behind two 777 magnum pellets. Shot through a large cow quartering towards me at 70 yards, breaking the front shoulder and exiting the ribs. Found one petal sheared off in the shoulder joint but the terminal performance was awesome.

We're going too be in Grizzly country in Montana If we go. I'm using 110gr of Blackhorn 209 with a 250gr Hornady SST Sabot, I have no doubt it will make short work of anything I would hunt with a muzzleloader.

That's not a bad idea having a shotgun loaded with slugs on hand! I might bring my Mossberg 500 along too have in camp in case any unwanted visitors paid us a visit.

It would also be a good reason to go get yourself a Marlin 1895 Guide gun in 45-70. :wink: :mrgreen:

JD338

 

[Thebear_78]

I agree that any rifle beats a shotgun for bear defense, but the shotgun lives behind the seat of the truck so it was always handy. It also has a light mount so. It's good for point shooting at close range. The Brenneke black magic are about the only slug I would trust.

I've been seriously considering getting another guide gun for such purpose.

There is nothing quite as unnerving as walking up to a bait barrel and not noticing the 800+ pound brown bear standing less than 10 feet away, except getting charged, both of which happened last spring bait season.

I walked up set down my rifle and dropped my pack to empty the 5 gallon bucket of powder sugar coated dog food into the barrel when this dude stood up less than 10 feet away. He had been laying stretched out behind a log. He wasn't concerned in the least as he patiently waited for me to load the barrel. No sign of aggression but also no fear. He actually became quite a problem, impossible to scare off and eventually took a black bear away from a buddy of mine. Got this pic of him off the trail camera.

 

[gerry]

That's a big boy, look how beefy he is and his ears are tiny. Hopefully you will be able to take him out one day.

 

[Woodycreek]

I agree that any rifle beats a shotgun for bear defense, but the shotgun lives behind the seat of the truck so it was always handy. It also has a light mount so. It's good for point shooting at close range. The Brenneke black magic are about the only slug I would trust.

I've been seriously considering getting another guide gun for such purpose.

There is nothing quite as unnerving as walking up to a bait barrel and not noticing the 800+ pound brown bear standing less than 10 feet away, except getting charged, both of which happened last spring bait season.

I walked up set down my rifle and dropped my pack to empty the 5 gallon bucket of powder sugar coated dog food into the barrel when this dude stood up less than 10 feet away. He had been laying stretched out behind a log. He wasn't concerned in the least as he patiently waited for me to load the barrel. No sign of aggression but also no fear. He actually became quite a problem, impossible to scare off and eventually took a black bear away from a buddy of mine. Got this pic of him off the trail camera.

Holy Smokes! What an up close encounter with Mr Sugar Bear! All the more reason to carry a pistol if you need to put down the long gun.

 

[Thebear_78]

You can't hunt the brown bear over bait unless you are a certain percentage disabled. Think it is like 80% but don't quote me. Other wise this is in an area where brown bear is a draw with only 7 tags given out last year.

 

[DrMike]

Yeah, he looks to be a good sized boy. It would be a tad unnerving to meet and greet over treats.

 

[tecumseh]

Wow! He hasn't missed very many meals :grin: that would definitely get your blood pumping!

 

[SJB358]

That is an AWESOME picture of that bear! Man, country like that, I am not sure if I would ever put a rifle down! Thank you for the picture and story TB78..

Brian, I am not sure there is a pistol, mortal men could fire fast enough to phase a bear like that!

 

[Guy Miner]

Passed on the only shot opportunity I had at a bear, while deer hunting with my traditional .50 cal T-C muzzle loader some years back.

Was up high in the Cascades here in Washington, hoping to find a nice size mulie, when I spotted a black bear coming along the top of the ridgeline, towards me, from about a quarter mile out. Hunkered down in a stand of trees and waited. Watched the bear come closer and closer. At about 50 yards, I noticed a cub tumbling along, about 100 yards behind the sow. Doggone it! Well, by this time Mama Bear was only 30 or 35 yards from me, and headed right in my direction. I stood up and hollered "Hi Bear!"

She stopped and woofed and made a sharp turn, then headed out of there with that cub trying like crazy to keep up. Glad I didn't shoot her. I think the .50 cal soft lead 385 grain Hornady "Great Plains" bullet would have worked fine though. It sure did a good job on mule deer!

There - my only muzzle loading bear story.

And yes, that's a big ol' fat grizz/brownie in the photo! Wow!

Guy

 

[Woodycreek]

That is an AWESOME picture of that bear! Man, country like that, I am not sure if I would ever put a rifle down! Thank you for the picture and story TB78..

Brian, I am not sure there is a pistol, mortal men could fire fast enough to phase a bear like that!

I know for a fact I'm not going outrun big brown :lol: May as well give him some 10mm love as he is chewing on my leg!

 

[pre6422hornet]

That is an AWESOME picture of that bear! Man, country like that, I am not sure if I would ever put a rifle down! Thank you for the picture and story TB78..

Brian, I am not sure there is a pistol, mortal men could fire fast enough to phase a bear like that!

I know for a fact I'm not going outrun big brown :lol: May as well give him some 10mm love as he is chewing on my leg!

I'm sure that would get his attention :grin: