British Columbia Black Bear

[gerry]

I took this bear last Sunday with some friends of mine. I used my new 375 Ruger, my first shot was at 30 yards as the bear sat down and faced me with an older style 250 gr Barnes X bullet, the bullet came out his back. He was trying to get up again so I shot him at about 10 yards with a 260 gr AccuBond through both shoulders which settled him down quickly. This bullet exited too leaving and exit hole about 1 inch in size. I'm a big fan of the AccuBond but am still hoping to try an E Tip when Nosler starts making the 375 version. The bear hide measured 6'1" nose to tail and 6'9" across the front claws.

Matt who hopes to try hunting soon and me with the bear

Matt and his dad

Butchering with my friend John

 

[DrMike]

He's a dandy, Gerry. Congratulations. It is certainly greener there than here. Whilst in town we are seeing lots of green, there is still four to six feet of snow in the higher elevations. Again, great pictures. I'd say the 375 Ruger works very well.

 

[gerry]

Thanks Mike, it's always greener on our side of the province :wink: all kidding aside we do have a lot of snow in the high country here too. We saw a bunch of other bears including one that was bigger than the one I shot and 2 smaller cinnamon colored bears that were beautiful too. We needed some meat and this one gave us a good supply, we ground most of it up but saved a few roasts as well. I'm pleased with how the 260 gr AccuBond works as is my good friend who put the 375 Ruger bug into me. John, pictured butchering, shoots a 260 gr Partition in his 375 Ruger. He shot a blackie last year with it and was quite pleased with the performance of that bullet too.

 

[SJB358]

Excellent bear Gerry! Looks like a table full of great chow. That 375 is a pretty strong contender. Scotty

 

[DrMike]

He is a lanky bear. By the fall he would have been a bruiser. He had some good size, however. A 6' 1" bear is a great specimen. His coat looks to be in very fine shape. I need to get out again this week.

 

[gerry]

He is a lanky bear. By the fall he would have been a bruiser. He had some good size, however. A 6' 1" bear is a great specimen. His coat looks to be in very fine shape. I need to get out again this week.

That is a good way of describing him, lanky, thats why I think he is a younger bear. He did have a nice coat since it's been a cold spring so far the hides should be good for a while yet Mike good luck getting a nice bear this week

 

[257 Ackley]

Gerry - nice bear and account of the shots you took. Were you shooting over bait or more of a spot and stalk type of hunt?

 

[gerry]

Thanks, baiting bears is illegal here in B.C. we spot and stalk or hunt over a natural food source like blueberries or spawning salmon in the fall.

 

[DrMike]

Joel,

Baiting is proscribed in BC lest we draw a grizzly to the bait.

 

[257 Ackley]

Good to know...I know in Ontario they bait for bear, but they aren't dealing with big-boy bears there :lol: .

 

[DrMike]

Joel,

Baiting is permitted in most provinces. However, wherever the possibility that grizzlies might be drawn to the bait station, it is proscribed. Obviously, from Gerry's bear, there are some fine possibilities with the technique of spot-and-stalk.

 

[JD338]

Gerry

Congratulations on a great bear, He is a dandy for sure.

JD338

 

[Greg Nolan]

Congrats on a fine bear. That 375 sounds like big medacine with the 260 AccuBond.
Greg

 

[jmad_81]

That is a very fine looking bear! I'm jealous of you guys up north, most of the bears here have lost there long winter hair and don't look as nice as yours.

I'm a huge fan of the 375R loaded with the 260 AB as well. Flat out impressive.

 

[Guy Miner]

Congratulations on a mighty fine bear!

 

[Scott Spencer]

Let me be another to add in my congratulations as well, Gerry!! Awesome bear!

 

[gerry]

Thanks guys, obviuosly a 375 Ruger isn't needed for black bears, I usually use my 35 Whelen, but I needed to shoot something with it. Hopefully I will draw a grizz permit for this fall will likely use the AccuBond load as well it's great bullet for North American hunting

 

[Hank Hunter]

Congrats Gerry on a fine B.C. blackie. We are fortunate to live in a province which just about has it all :grin:

 

[Guy Miner]

"Thanks guys, obviuosly a 375 Ruger isn't needed for black bears, I usually use my 35 Whelen, but I needed to shoot something with it. Hopefully I will draw a grizz permit for this fall will likely use the AccuBond load as well it's great bullet for North American hunting"


I completely understand. My .375 will likely never return to Africa. A previous owner took Cape Buff and other big game there. I fell hard for it when I found it on the used gun rack here in town and bought it. Mine is a .375 H&H Ruger Number One. Agree about the 260 gr AccuBond as well. It turned out to be very accurate from my rifle, even at 300 yards, and performed very well in my penetration/expansion tests, so.... I used it on a black bear too.

It's kind of fun having a "big" rifle - but I don't want to wait until I manage to scrape together enough dough for an African hunt to use the doggone thing.

Why not use it for bear & elk? :grin:

 

[SJB358]

"Thanks guys, obviuosly a 375 Ruger isn't needed for black bears, I usually use my 35 Whelen, but I needed to shoot something with it. Hopefully I will draw a grizz permit for this fall will likely use the AccuBond load as well it's great bullet for North American hunting"


I completely understand. My .375 will likely never return to Africa. A previous owner took Cape Buff and other big game there. I fell hard for it when I found it on the used gun rack here in town and bought it. Mine is a .375 H&H Ruger Number One. Agree about the 260 gr AccuBond as well. It turned out to be very accurate from my rifle, even at 300 yards, and performed very well in my penetration/expansion tests, so.... I used it on a black bear too.

It's kind of fun having a "big" rifle - but I don't want to wait until I manage to scrape together enough dough for an African hunt to use the doggone thing.

Why not use it for bear & elk? :grin:

I like the way you think Guy! Scotty