Hunting Black Bears — are they dangerous? – P4

Previously, I’ve outlined five matters of concern — in P1, P2 and P3 — that I’ve learned from observation and experience in thirty seasons of black bear hunts.

In P4 (the final part), there remains two more areas of concern that I deem important for both safety and success in black bear hunting:

6 > Understanding their comfort zones, and when it might be intruded upon:

In P1, I referred to an incident involving a small sow and her cub that regularly visited my bait setup both before and during the first week of hunting season. I made mention that the young sow never seemed to be aware of my presence when putting up the stand when she and the cub paid a visit to the bait site, and later again when I was in the stand on the second day of the legal season. But she was VERY aware of  the presence of the big male in hiding nearby.

On reflection, I realized she was also aware of my presence on both occasions, knowing my whereabouts, but ignored me because she perceived I wasn’t a threat, and provided food for her and her offspring. So, in a sense, her perception was that I was sort of a protector – ally! That was at 35 yards. On the other hand, had I come down from the stand in an aggressive stance making a move toward her and/or her cub, that mood would have swiftly changed! Why? Because bears have something like a sixth sense and read body language and focus of the eyes very quickly and accurately! They normally do that with each other as well as with humans. They can readily detect intention of other bears and humans by mannerisms, body stance, eye contact and vocalisations. Unless a mature male bear has become a predator of lesser bears, and humans, it will usually stop at a safe distance to evaluate the situation, and may even stand on hind legs like a human to get a better look, then move off quietly from a possible confrontation.

On the other hand, if they are on a source of food such as a berry patch, or a recent kill, their mood may very well be one of protecting “THEIR” food or territory… they might show aggression by clacking their teeth, huffing, false charges, etc. Unless you are hunting black bears it’s wise to back off (not run off!) slowly and quietly. If you run, that encourages them to chase.

In a case of physical contact, if you’re NOT hunting (no weapon), hit or kick them where the sun doesn’t shine – it works like with a man – or punch them in the snout, thumbs in eyes, and so on. Because any man, no matter his strength or size, is no match in a “fair” fight with a bruin, you must counter attack with max force using boots, fists, rocks, big sticks, and so on — it’s NO time for mercy, because the bear will show NO compassion regardless of whoever you might be!

The following is a first-hand account: When I was into bear hunts big time in Haliburton Highlands, I used to stop at a coffee shop/deli on route. It wasn’t far from my destination on the main paved road. There’s an interesting history involved in that shop that I’ll not go into at this time, but it had just recently been taken over by a young married man who was born and raised in the area. The shop had also been just a coffee shop/small restaurant that had burnt down, then rebuilt once insurance matters were settled. Included was a butcher shop that also handled wild game. The new owner decided the gain was not worth the pain so the “young man” bought it. It was, as mentioned, on a main highway highly travelled during the summer months by cottagers on their way to and from their homes away from home. The young man’s house was on a dirt side road about ten kilometres (6 miles) in somewhat isolated conditions removed from his shop. His young wife lived in this remote area, surrounded by wilderness, with their young baby. He was the “brave heart” and she the “not-so-brave heart”.

One morning en route to check my baits, I stopped for a chat with “Peter”, I’ll call him, at the coffee shop/deli. Usually he was an optimistic, cheerful type. This day, however, he was semi-angry and somewhat depressed. Then he told me his story of the night before coming to work:

The night was hot and humid. Living in a small house half-built with no AC, the front door was left open with just a screen door closed to keep out mosquitoes, small varmints, etc. The screen-door was held closed by a spring. The couple lay on the outside of the bed sheets, he in only his shorts. There was the usual tossing and turning trying to get comfortable in the stifling heat and humidity. Then it happened, without warnings of any kind, a ruckus in the kitchen next to their improvised bedroom broke out at 3 A.M.! Now fully awake from a foggy slumberland, the couple realized there was a bear in their kitchen; and it sounded like he was part of a demolition squad!

Instinct and emotion took over and in a flash “Peter” was headed for the kitchen in only his shorts — no time for decorum! The bear — about 300 to 350 lbs estimated by reflection after the fact — had the garbage bag in its mouth and headed for the front screen door that had closed behind him on entry. Peter grabbed the first long-handled tool available and was onto the bear beating it with a broom! The bear didn’t bother opening the door, but took the screen with him, bounded across the deck with the garbage bag still clenched in its teeth, with Peter still  pounding him with the broom, plunged through the railing taking out a couple of spokes, landing in the flower patch below the deck! The garbage bag burst open leaving a mess in the flower bed — with young Peter still in the chase beating the big bruin with now the broom handle — all that’s left of it! In the pitch darkness, Peter stops and realizes his situation standing there in only his underpants with only a broom handle in his hands as the bear disappears into the blackness of the night!

Lesson? A fearless big mature black bear that breaks into a home at 3 a.m. can be intimidated by a brave, fearless, enraged human that conveys his wrath by body language and vocalizations! He was screaming at the top of his lungs at the bear, calling it by names the bear would have to check with Webster! The bear got the message, but the young man wasn’t finished with that bear just yet! That bear and its mess would be very costly to Peter: He would have to sell his shop, find other employment, and move his wife and baby closer to civilization.

About two days later, as I was making another trek to the Haliburton Highlands to check my baits, I stopped for a visit with Peter. He said he’d got his revenge: Coming to work that morning, that same bear was “making out” with a female in the middle of the remote dirt road; once reality dawned, he tramped on the gas and his old pickup hit the pair driving them bodily into the ditch! He never stopped to wish them well!

There were several lessons involved for the bear in the above account:

That bear had been accustomed to breaking in homes and/or cottages when humans were asleep or away. And he had become somewhat of a bully because no one, including other bears, had stood up to him! That was a rude awakening, not only literally for the couple, but for the black bruin himself! Someone, or thing, was fearless in its counterattack!

I’ve seen that with cats and dogs: My mother was a “cat person” — we always had cats around our place, and I took a liking to them as well. It seemed the dogs of the community were always on the loose and causing trouble. My next oldest brother brought home one day, in the basket of his bike, a kitten which he got from his cousin. That black and white kitten became a mother cat in two or three years and was small in stature, but not in spirit. One of my uncles had two dogs which we surreptitiously named “Mutt and Jeff” — Mutt was the big one and Jeff a rather small sub-species. They travelled together, and always managed to get into fights with other dogs. Mutt did most of the fighting and Jeff was the cheer leader!

Anyway, one day, without invitation, they showed up in our front yard sniffing things out! That was their unlucky day! My brother’s black and white was in the yard and had some kittens thereabouts. She took after those dogs with screams and flashes of claws that would cause the devil himself to retreat — you would have had to witness it to believe it. Those two flea-bitten rascals left the yard with afterburners aglow — and NEVER returned!

That black and white momma cat weighed, maybe, 1 and 1/2 lbs, and put the skedaddle to two mutts that together weighed about 50 lbs!

Can bears be intimidated? You betcha, especially if you qualify as a bear psychologist! But you gotta know “when to fold ’em”.

But, unlike those mutts, bears will likely return to have a better understanding of who or what spooked them. They make judgements based on learned experiences.

Bears have shown up at baits with three legs, or missing an eye or battered and scratched noses and an ear chewed off! Sometimes in emaciated conditions as the result of wounds from rifle or shotgun shots! They can be intimidated when they don’t understand the situation, but when they learn they “are none the worse off” they might seek revenge at the first opportune time. They ARE crafty and cagey!

7> How bears understand their situations, and how they might interpret them: 

This is another sow and cubs account: A number of years ago I was hunting on private land with Ken as a partner. We assisted in putting up a home-built tree stand for a lady hunter. She was an Olympic champion with a bow and won a number of medals and trophies. Her husband is a well known wealthy cattle farmer from our district. She wanted to shoot a bear using a bow. The rancher was known to my friend, Ken, so we assisted with the tree stand that would allow for bow hunting of bear. It was a platform about 5′ x 6′ at 15′ above ground. Access was via an old TV antenna tripod tower with ladder-like spokes. From there access to the platform was through a trap-door about 2-feet square. There was a skirt around the top of the platform about 3-feet high that served as a rest for the weapon and to partially hide the hunter. She harvested a 165 lb male bear the first week with one shot. The following week was our turn.

Talk about bears galore! And whitetails! Once in crossing an open area in our vehicle, toting bait for the barrel, a huge buck trotted (not “bounded”) ahead of us. It was the largest I’ve ever seen, and was for Ken as well — he was a CO who spent much of his life in “the woods”. It went 400+lbs easily! Then, a moment later another buck crossed in front of us. It was only a “normal” buck whitetail around 275 lbs.

We had selected an area for the stand enclosed by large trees and bush, but not crowded with such — it was fairly open in certain directions. Bear tracks of variable sizes were abundant in the mud. I chose the tree stand as Ken prefers feet on the ground. We made a blind for him about thirty yards behind my location. This gave two very distinct perspectives of the area. One day when we arrived, and I got into the stand through the 2′ square floor opening, I found a pile of bear scat on the floor not far from the opening! A good size bear (according to the size of the scat!) had climbed the TV antenna, made his way through the floor hole, and pooped there claiming it as his territory! We saw lots of bears in total over a week of hunting — but never shot one.

But one intrigued me for a few minutes. Late one afternoon/early evening, I saw a couple of siblings crossing an open area en route toward the bait barrel. They looked like yearlings, but I wondered where momma bear might be. My perspective at 15′ allowed a good view of a broad area. The young bears boldly approached the bait barrel and one tipped it over — stuff spilled out causing one of them to run off a little ways and then cautiously return for another look. I knew from evidence that young bears had previously been attending the site. The pair sniffed and chewed on various morsels, played with bits and pieces, and then….

As darkness was fast approaching, out of the corner of my eye I detected movement in a finger of trees off to my left. I watched it, and then, almost like in a dream, emerged one of the largest live bears I’ve ever personally eyeballed! It was about 100 yards “out” but deliberately approached the bait setup with a slow but steady stride. My rifle was resting on the railing, fully loaded for bear of any size or disposition. The young bears seemed oblivious at first. I watched the scene thinking: “If that’s a male, it’s my trophy. If it’s momma bear, she’s huge and the siblings will feel safe! When they saw that big black bruin, they ran to her and, though legal — it was the fall season — I didn’t pull the trigger. She was for sure 400 lbs — and legal! They walked off together into the darkness.

But how was she interpreting her situation?

She let her offsprings approach danger before she would come to the bait! She waited to see if harm came to them before she would expose herself. That’s quite normal in the animal kingdom when the descendants are deemed mature enough to fend for themselves.

Lions behave in a similar manner as do whitetails! Bucks will allow females and the young to come into a field of oats or clover before they will venture.

The following photo was taken in a field where a bear bait was setup. Deer are in the area but seldom seen when bear are also about. But this doe approached my setup with the buck following far behind!

So how clear is the thinking of a bear when it senses that danger might be in a bait setup or tree stand?

A small bear, or cub, will watch the behaviour of the mother and siblings, if there are any. They get clues from that. Also from pushes and hits or bites from the mother as well as vocalisations. They also seem to have an innate sense of the meaning of such behaviour on the part of the mother. And we mustn’t discount a bears intuition, or sense, of happenings around them by humans — farm machinery, motor vehicles, boats, crowds, and/or the vocalisations of other forest animals such as a raven or squirrel, as well as creatures and animals fleeing from a forest fire; as examples. They do have intelligence at a certain level and tests show that they have a measure of being capable of interpreting  the meaning of certain situations or events; for example: a tractor at work in a field, or a hunter with a firearm who is acting as though he might be in pursuit of them.

I’ve witnessed a mother bear give a mighty wack to a youngster when he tried to take some of her food! She drove him (her?) up a tree and wouldn’t let him come down until she called him! She even grabbed the bait bucket and ran off with it! The other sibling knew better than provoke momma further and fended for himself. He got no wacks!

There’s no question that a bear learns from experience… something some humans could profit from, and rationalization as well as intuition.

Say, couldn’t we all learn something profitable from the observation of bears?

Are bears dangerous? Are humans?

Til the next: I’ve decided to add a postscript to this theme that will attempt to answer the following two questions: Does a bear ever try to intimidate a hunter; why and how? And, Will you or I ever know if a predator bear has been secretly checking us out for weakness or a possible meal?

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

 

Hunting Black Bears — are they dangerous? – P3

This is P 3 of this topic.

Previously, I had discussed a couple of important issues that should be kept in mind and acted upon during each and every visit to an area where black bears might carry out their activities; particularly in wilderness and semi-wilderness regions. In Ontario they are more concentrated in Central Ontario and north country, but also around agricultural areas of Southern Ontario where crops such as oats and corn are grown. (You may left click on any photo for a larger picture.)

The issues previously discussed were:

1) The ELEMENT OF SURPRISE, and

2) Being At RISK

We’ll now consider three more matters for our attention:

3) Pertinent lessons related to the social behaviour of bears

4) Other lessons on the dynamics of their emotional reactions

5) The individual personalities of bears

Finally, for P4, it will be:

6) Understanding their comfort zones, and when it might be intruded upon, consciously or unconsciously.

7) Their knowledge and understanding of their own situations, and how they might interpret that.

Now:

3 >The social behaviour of bears, and what we should learn from that:

It’s quite obvious to those who observe bears — including the blacks — that they have a social structure and behave in certain predictable ways toward each other.

They are not herd animals that travel together in groups  looking for grass, or other vegetation, or a source of  water to drink. Nor are they pack animals that live in tight family groups such as wolves and lions. And they don’t share living quarters and food as do hyenas and African wild dogs. The sole exception would be a mother bear caring for her cub(s) for about one year.

Bears are loners, both male and female, except for a relatively brief mating period. And both are promiscuous during that time. They have no sense of family relations. A male impregnates a sow and she may have sexual relations with other males as he will with other females if available. She (like some promiscuous humans) may not know for certain who fathered her cub(s) and doesn’t really care as long as her “motherly” instincts are fulfilled. She may actually come to fear a male, after exit from the den with her cub(s), that he might kill and eat her offspring!

Bears are not sentimental in relationships. When they travel or move about, foremost in their thinking is food and drink. Then mating, and lastly their comfort and safety. Much like humans in those matters. But there’s probably not much thought, and certainly little, if any, planning that goes into such matters — it’s more like natural instinct. That’s a distinction from the nature of humans, who tend to give some rational thought and planning to activities  (at least some of us do). Bears act on the impulse of the moment that is generated by their hormones and genes… Come to think of it, too many humans seem to behave like the animal kingdom in that regard, though they claim to know better. For bears, and others of the wild kingdom, we make excuses for what comes naturally to them. And some humans make excuses for themselves too, even though they should know better! “Ignorance of the law is no excuse”, nor is ignorance in being just plain stupid! We’re not bears or sheep — but come to think of that as well, you can leave out the “sheep” part, as Jesus wisely called us “sheep”, and sheep are nice but dumb!

I put their comfort and safety together, and last but not least. At times it might be their primary concern, such as in denning or escaping from perceived harm. We need to keep in mind, however, that bears are at the top of the food chain in North America. They may not be aware of it, but we should be.

While bears are essentially loners,  several may congregate at a food source for their own reasons, but will do so competitively. They will keep their distance from each other, and observe certain “ground rules” if possible. If not, then feuds and some private battles may ensue. Yet, often there is a “pecking order”. Dominant males (in particular) will command their own space.

In observing bears at baits, or on camera, young bears come in first, sometimes, but not every time, or sows with cubs. Bears have to work that out among themselves. My observation from many years and seasons is that if a dominant bear discovers a bait setup, he will guard it as his own by sleeping nearby. Other bears get to know this, and depending on how he “feels” about matters, they may not dare approach the site without his “permission”. But, if he wanders away (for his own reasons) for a few days, “they” may sneak in for a morsel or two. When he returns, however, you’ll not see them again at the bait until he has fully satiated his hunger. Since no two situations are identical, a lot goes on behind the scenes that we know little to nothing about. It may be the mating season that will keep a male around if females (or a single one) are in the area and attending a bait setup. Still, other food sources such as corn, oats, nuts or berries may draw them away.

It has been said: If you know what a bear is going to do next, then you know more than the bear does! That has some appearance of truth, but the fact is that any bear, no matter his/her activities, has a purpose in it, though it might very well be brief.

What do I mean? Bears, at least black bears, are easily distracted (from appearances, somewhat like humans). Because searching for food, especially in late summer/early fall, is their most dominant activity, we must assume they are searching out sources: berries, nuts from trees, corn, etc. Also the smell of something dead or rotting, or sources of sweet things — some of which can be provided in a bait setup — can become an overwhelming temptation. But, if natural crops, or those planted by humans, are abundant, they may ignore baits if close to farms or human habitation. So bears may leave one area and head for another if there are several competing sources within a 25 sq-mile area. They can pick up the scent of “food” from 10 miles away(16 kms) if weather conditions are favorable.

4 > The dynamics of their emotional reactions: Are bears ever happy? Bears communicate their emotions by body language. When very young, they like play activities as in wrestling and simulated fighting with siblings (if any), or with the mother bear if other youngsters aren’t available. They will romp, and play with an object or chew on it. They seem content if the mother is around to snuggle them, provide food and a secure ambience. But momma bear will drive them away the second year, and she may do it with some forceful wacks and bites! Then the youngster is on his/her own, making them quite vulnerable for a year or so until they learn to fend for themselves.

(Here is a youngster out on his own hoping for something from an empty barrel, or maybe momma bear will show up!)

Do bears ever get angry? Yes, of course! Bears get angry with other bears, especially a male with another male who may be competing for a particular female during mating season, or for territorial rights. A dominant male will let other bears — regardless of sex, age or maturity, know his dominance by being aggressive, fighting or showing any other forms of control such as guarding a food stash. It’s in his particular temperament to have control and express fearlessness (Just like some humans!). Size and full maturity may be an important factor, but far from the only one. A male of 350 lbs may control an area where a 500 lb male is also in habitation. The reason? The dominant 350 lb bear is aggressive and confident while the 500 lb male may be more content and passive. He won’t be “pushed around”, mind you, by the smaller bear but is not particularly interested in pushing others around. And that brings us to a consideration of:

Are they sometimes afraid? Some bears will run from the intrusion of a human, or humans, into “their space”, which may give a false impression that they all fear humans by natural instinct. I once read somewhere that “a deer may leave the country when spooked, but a black bear may return and eat your lunch!” So true! A bear may fear a larger more dominant bear, but any bear is a member of the species that is at the top of the food chain in North America! Let us not forget that!

Mature bears have been known to walk into work shops and garages where a man was at work! Or, climb into an apple tree on the front lawn of a home with residents inside! I once saw a yearling bear (kicked out by its mother) come to within 2 – feet of my young partner who fell asleep behind an 18-inch diameter tree! I had to toss small sticks at my partner, finally connecting with his head, to alert him to the presence of a 90 lb black bear on the other side of the tree!

A bear is only “fearful” of being killed — as if they understood what that would mean.  And even then they may come perilously close before they get the message!

The first bear I ever harvested had a tan muzzle that was well scared from some brawls for territorial rights!

Bears can be cautious, and very smart in keeping out of trouble. They can live and prosper, like a coyote, on the fringes of human occupation, or, on the other hand in the most wild of wildernesses. They are very smart and adaptable, much different than the grizzly in that regard. Grizzlies have moved away from humans and their occupations, to live in remote uninhabitable (for most humans) regions of unspoiled wildernesses.

And that brings us to consider:

5> The individual personalities of black bears: Some of that has already been portrayed in various comments and examples. Yet there remains a need for a sharper focus.

Bears are very individualistic. Each bear has its own personality, though it may fall within a certain spectrum.

A young bear, out on its own, appeared at the front of a garage sniffing a gas can as the owner (Roger) came out the door of his home to start up some heavy machinery he would be using during his work day. The distance from the door of his house to the gas can was about 15 yards. But the interesting thing was that the young bear wasn’t spooked, nor did it run off! It seemed fascinated by the smell of gasoline, which, no doubt, was his first exposure to it. While there were many bears in Roger’s area, that was a FIRST!

I knew him well as I had bear hunted on his property (with permission) for seven seasons. It bordered a Provincial Wildlife Park.

As stated, black bears are individualistic, curious, somewhat fearless, and smart — though at times (from a human perspective) they appear dumb! But it’s more like their curiosity and naiveté that gets them into trouble! But they are fast learners! They have a fantastic memory that serves them well when it comes to not only survival, but prosperity in a bear sense.

Of course, they (like humans) are omnivores, and they clearly remember food sources, what they like and don’t, if there’s plenty. And, their preferences differ, like humans, if there’s an abundance.

This account came from first hand: A friend and former partner in bear hunts was in years past employed by the Ontario MNR for seeding a northern lake with young lake trout. At the end of a long day, they would pull their small boat and motor on shore, leaving everything as it was, go into their small cabin, have a snack and fall into a deep sleep for the night until daybreak when their activities commenced all over again.

One morning, at daybreak, they walked out the door of their cabin toward the boat which had a fair-sized hole in the bow! And, on the inside they found clear evidence of a bear’s activity! Sharp claws had dug their way through the wooden hull at the bow looking for fish since the fish smell was still prominent in the bow area from the previous day’s seeding process! If there was the smell of fish, the bear reckoned there had to BE fish somewhere under that wood!

I’ve witnessed the same sort of thing at multiple bear baits! Since a bear counts upon the smell of “food”, even from miles away, to find food, there’s got to BE food at the source of the scent! At one site a large mature bear bit into a now-empty, large soup can that I’d put bacon fat into. Another chewed an empty five gallon plastic container that was used for baiting. Another dug under the bait barrel looking for additional “food” though it was empty at the time!

A bear may burn more energy than he/she gains in turning over large boulders in finding a few ants or grubs under it (Again, like some human activities!).

In hopes that you may have gained some further insights about black bears….

Til the next on: 6) Understanding their comfort zones, and 7) Their knowledge and understanding of their own situations, and how they might interpret that.

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

“The fool says in his heart ‘There is no God'” – The Bible

Black Bear Hunting — are they dangerous game? – P2

Depending on who you are and your level of experience around bears, your attitude toward the question posed by our theme could range anywhere from: “Yep, they’re potentially dangerous.”, to “When a bear sees me, it runs the other way, so I think they’re generally quite harmless.”, to “Bears are predators, so I don’t trust them.”, to “I think they’re cute and cuddly, so why would anyone want to harm them?”. And those don’t necessarily represent all possible attitudes because people have wide ranging temperaments, experience in contact with wildlife, and sources of education regarding them — the majority being anti, others being limited pro, and perhaps some being neutral.

The majority of my education about black bears has come from first hand experience in specific hunting of them over a period of thirty years in at least as many seasons. If I qualify as a legitimate student and analyst, that should grant status enough to express valid opinions on black bears and hunting them. And if I’m a good teacher, observations made could become practical instructions for the novice hunter of bruins as well as providing useful details for the hunter whose experience has been limited to deer and lesser game. In other words, such information could serve a useful purpose in the absence of a pro guide or outfitter.

In my last blog, I listed several areas of knowledge and awareness that could be critical for the hunter in their pursuit of black bears. The first of these being:

THE ELEMENT of SURPRISE: Those who have undergone a life threatening episode with bears, and survived, did not usually expect it. Therefore, they were not prepared for such an encounter that could terminate in a life altering experience, or worse, their own fatality!

Unfortunately, real life knowledge is mostly unavailable to the rookie hiker, camper, fisherman, hunter and idealist nature lover as they venture into a semi-wilderness, or real wilderness, with high hopes for a revitalizing adventure!

TV and alternate sources of media information often present only the positive and bright side of such experiences that leave the relative novice in the dark concerning the possible confrontation of meeting with a bear in a bad mood, or hungry, or injured, or with cubs in tow! True, it may rarely happen, but “rarely” is NOT “never”! They are different words in a dictionary with distinct meanings!

To venture forth with the notion that it “rarely happens”, therefore that will somehow guarantee that it will “never happen to me” is an attitude of presumption that has gotten some people killed and others maimed for life!!

I NEVER go into a wilderness area, or one that is a known habitat for bears, without some form of protection that amounts to more than my fists and good will! I have no intention of becoming a statistic that people read about and then forget: “Oh well, the poor guy was the only one to get killed by a bear this year — one among how many thousands that yearly visit nature’s wonderlands?” Only one among thousands — but do you want to be that one? The chance of being injured or killed by a bear for those who frequent our parks and wildernesses is greater than winning a lottery! Think about that if you play “the lottery” and vacation in a wilderness area. You are more likely to have a bad encounter with a bear than in winning a lottery! And I’m not speaking of one of those “scratch and play” cards where someone wins $5 once in a while to keep ’em comin’.

On the other hand, I realize that you, being a reader of this article, are more serious about such matters. You may be aware of all that I could mention, or even experienced much of it, but there’s a hidden danger therein: We can too easily become blaisé, or jaded, with an overabundance of knowledge; like the pro hockey player who “knows” he could be checked into the boards by a heavy defenceman that might end his pro hockey career, but while he’s aware of that possibility he believes it will never happen to him!

Yesterday, I went into a Crown Land (public land) hunting area that I know very well in the Haliburton Highlands. While the bear season is still on (the only BG season in the spring), I specifically purchased a bear tag allowing me to tote a loaded rifle, even though my intention was not to shoot a bear. It was purchased for protection while my partner and I were scrounging in a hillside with a metal detector for any bullets that had passed through test media that I had employed for testing in late November, 2017. That was after seasons for moose and deer had ended. And I had a bear tag in my wallet for that occasion as well since bear season was still open for a few days.

I’ve stated that I’ll never visit any bear habitat area without a legal means of protection. In Canada, we are therefore limited to an axe, bear spray or a rifle. At times I’ve toted a long-handled axe when baiting before bear season opens. A few times it’s been bear spray — which I don’t have any experience with in a real-life encounter, and therefore have little trust in. So, I’ve pretty much limited my visits to such areas during bear season so I can be legal in toting a rifle (which I’ve plenty of experience with in shooting bears) in season with a tag in my wallet.

In other words, I put into practice what I preach: NEVER, go into black bear habitat without a legal KNOWN form of ADEQUATE protection. And, I’ll add to that: Adequate for a mean-spirited bear, a hungry predator bear, or even a sow with cubs. Yes, it’s not legal to hunt sows with cubs in the spring of Ontario, but I would defend myself if attacked by one, or even making a charge within a range where I had time to make a valid quick decision, or a surprise attack. I’d take my chances in court if need be, rather than chances with a bear attack — ANY bear!

Statistically, what are those chances? Who knows for certain? The person who perishes in a pile-up of transport trucks, vans and big or small cars on Canada’s busiest highway, the 401, becomes a statistic. But is that a mere statistic to the family? What are the chances of that happening? We still travel on super highways that are too busy and too fast!

The busier the highway, and in bad driving conditions due to fog, snow or heavy rain, the chances of escaping a wreck are diminished by at least 60%!

And what about bears? To have a nice stroll in the bush for a day with no bears present means 100% safety from a bear attack. But to walk on the same trail, as cited in P1, with the hidden presence of a sow bear and cubs that she has sent up trees for protection from me, would have meant a 100% probability of a mother bear attack had I not been aware of the situation and backtracked immediately and quietly! A majority of hikers on that trail would not have been alert to the real danger and walked right smack into a protection-minded bear-at-any-cost with all possible ramifications!

The element of surprise has no regard for statistics!

At RISK: We might be if we are presuming there are no bears in a bear area! At 1 km to the north of our home is a conservation area. It borders one of the Kawartha Lakes. I used to walk its trails about once per week. That is until I invited my wife to join me. There is a lot of poison ivy along the sides of the trails and in open areas. I can walk in poison ivy like in a clover field without any ill affects, but not my wife. While we stuck to the trails, somehow she managed to contact it with very bad consequences that lasted for a number of years. So I decided not to walk there again because I might bring home some spores on my shoes or clothing.

But there was also an additional reason: the sighting of bears caused the management to post warning signs along trails of the presence of bears, with the emphasis that those who used the trails were doing so at there OWN RISK!

I knew there were bears in our area before they posted the signs, but decided it was not worth the risk since I was not allowed to carry a firearm.

I’m not totally against risk taking — even if we stay in our homes 24/7 there is no guarantee against a home accident! As a matter of fact, most accidents occur at home! But we don’t stop living due to that. Same with travelling. Then, there are those who jump from planes for a thrill, or from bridges, towers and rock ledges into a water course! In fact, most of my life has involved risk-taking in one form or another, but that doesn’t mean purposely inviting it! And I think a cavalier attitude in bear country verges on “purposely inviting risk”.

So how do we avoid risk taking in bear country? Of course, we can’t possibly escape from all risks in bear country, but we can minimize that unhappy prospect if we practice the following “dos” and “don’ts”:

1 > Do get as much knowledge and practical information as possible on black bears: their size, nature, habitat, food sources and possible behaviour around other animals as well as humans.

2 > Do become as familiar as possible with the area of your proposed travels in a wilderness region for whatever purpose: its trails, streams, ridges, marshes, lakes and potential food and water sources for bears. Are there berry bushes, nut trees, etc? Is there the possibility of a bear being on the carcass of a moose or deer, etc? Would you be alert to discerning that by the smell of rotting flesh? Or it could be fresh meat!

3 > Try not to be alone in such a venture unless you already have lots of experience. But, even then, there is the unknown and unknowable. Many such explorers of unfamiliar country have failed to return home.

4 > Where legal, carry a weapon for self protection that is both powerful and handy. To go into details would warrant several additional pages.

1 > Don’t pretend that you know everything and have all the answers for every potential bad situation when facing a possible predatory bear.

2 > Don’t try to be quiet in the bush unless you are hunting.

3 > Don’t be overly anxious and imagine danger at every step.

4 > Don’t believe everything in print, or conversations, about black bears that overemphasize danger, or underestimate it. Use some discernment and ask intelligent questions.

I’ve talked with some who believe themselves experts that downplay the idea that black bears are potentially dangerous game and that they can all be killed with nothing more than a .30-30 class of rifle.

Others claim that it all amounts to bullet placement, nothing more, without regard for distance, angle of presentation, temperament, or size of animal.

There are still others who believe that bears (without distinction) are all harmless until cornered or threatened.

Such people are AT RISK without knowing it! They believe and speak from behind their wall of ignorance.

It’s WISE to treat ALL wild adult bears with respect as well as a potential threat to your personal welfare.

Til the next on this same theme.

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

Black Bear Hunting –are they Dangerous Game? – P1

Whenever the subject of Dangerous Game (DG) comes up, whether in a magazine article, a post on an Internet forum, or in a conversation, black bears are only rarely mentioned. The FACT that  bears are potentially dangerous whatever their color, is nonetheless mostly reserved in the thinking of gunwriters, wealthy sportsmen, and many outdoor magazines, to the browns and whites, including grizzly whatever shades of brown their fur may reflect.

That’s unfortunate for a couple of reasons:

1) The uninformed and misinformed could well be in a state of naiveté in a surprise encounter with a black species of bear!

2) Even many potential hunters may assume their’s little danger involved in their pursuit!

My goal is to inform at least some of the uninformed, and lay to rest false assumptions by presenting facts concerning black bears, their nature, habitat, and all-around capabilities.

But, are they dangerous?

A wild animal that can weigh up to 600 lbs/272 kg, or more, with over-size dentures and long, sharp-pointed claws isn’t your everyday pet, even if some still nestle up to their Teddy Bears prior to entering Slumber Land!

The tragic truth is that some experienced campers, woodsmen and, yes, even hunters have been caught off guard by a sudden-surprise attack by a predatory bear with malicious intent, or a female with cubs hidden in the bush.

Having spent I don’t know how many thousand hours in “the bush”, I’m certain that many bears didn’t let me know of their presence hidden by thick brush within a handful of yards/meters from me. But there also were many occasions when I knew of their nearness while having not seen them.

One specific incident happened when I was on a familiar narrow and twisty trail that usually had sections where I needed watertight boots. As well, there were parts where visibility was limited to a few yards in tight quarters. I was carrying a Marlin lever-action in .45-70 loaded for bear. At about the halfway point of where I was headed, I heard off to my left, at about thirty yards, a somewhat familiar sound coming from near the tops of some mixed mature trees. I stopped in my tracks, looked in the direction of the tree tops but still no sign of the cause of the almost inaudible noise. Then, very quickly I discerned the faint cries of bear cubs! Momma bear knew exactly where I was and sent her cubs up trees not more than thirty paces from me! I never saw her but knew it was a matter of seconds before I would be dealing with an unwanted, very bad situation! I quietly but quickly backtracked. I have serious doubts that the average “Joe” or “Jane” would have recognized what was going on before Momma bear was on them!

Yes, that trail was used by deer and moose hunters in season, and there was a familiar bear bait setup (not mine) not more than fifty yards from the entrance to the trail off the main dirt road. I was about 1/2 mile beyond that. But also that trail was occasionally used by “nature” observers and sport fisherman as it bordered a small lake.

I was not fearful of my safety, but I didn’t want to have to make an appearance in court for having shot in self-defence a sow bear protecting her cubs! That could be very depressing.

I’ve both watched on tree-cams and in person from tree-stands, mother bears’ activities when approaching, feeding at and leaving bear bait sites when her cubs were with her or nearby.

In reading some author’s hunting stories in magazines, you might recognize from time to time that some of the stories bear resemblance to what you had previously read from the same author. The fact is, you are indeed reading a first-hand account of the same hunt but with a different emphasis and slant. It is likely that the purpose of the second piece is distinct from the first. Example: The focus of the first part might be the game and area, while the second account appearing even years later could be on the rifle and load as well as other equipment.

I mention the above because some of my hunting adventures are like that — I’ve told the following in a previous account but from another perspective: that of the firearm used. This time the main purpose will be on the behaviour of the bears involved, especially that of the female.

My estimate is that she was no more than 140 lbs. She was very wary and alert to any possible danger with a single cub in tow. I was in a tree-stand (as pictured) on the side of a ridge with the bait barrel 65 yards downhill from me. The pair had been attending the bait site for at least several days prior to my first stint as a hunter in the stand. This was Crown Land (public land) in thick forest bordering a large marsh surrounding a small lake. I also knew from ample sign that a large boar bear was also hitting the bait site after hours, which was also known to the sow with her cub. She was very watchful and on guard due to that fact, knowing he might kill (and eat) her offspring.

I first saw her with the cub a few days before opening day while putting up my tree-stand. They came to the bait at noon but the barrel was empty, so they moved back into the thick bush without seeming to notice my presence. The next time was, as mentioned, my first time hunting from that location, a few days after opening day. She did several circles of the area coming closer to my stand each time as the cub plunged headlong into the barrel for a morsel. She came within thirty-five yards of me but, again, never seemed to notice my presence. After ten or so minutes she left the scene with baby bear following back into dense undercover. Of course, the barrel was replenished with bait each time I went to the location. The last time I saw them, the big boar bear was about forty yards up behind me in thick cover waiting for me to leave. In the meanwhile, the mother bear with her young’un revisited the site around 6:30 – 7:00 pm. She was obviously nervous and very agitated, knowing full well that the big bear she feared was nearby. They both grabbed something from the barrel and made a hurried departure like they had just robbed a jewellery store! Later still, as I was preparing to leave in near darkness (too dark to hunt) the big male came in to the bait. Honestly, I was wary of running into him on the trail in darkness! But he knew exactly where I was at any moment, yet he fearlessly came to the bait on his time!

“What’s the point?”, you may ask. Actually, there were several germane issues involved that I took from those incidents:

1) The element of surprise:

2) Being at risk:

3) Pertinent lessons related to the social behaviour of bears:

4) Other lessons of the dynamics of their emotional reactions:

5) The individual personalities of bears:

6) Understanding their comfort zones, and when it might be intruded upon, consciously or unconsciously:

7) Their knowledge and understanding of their own situation, and how they might interpret that:

Next time we’ll get into some of those issues and lessons in P2.

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

A “BRUSH RIFLE” — what is it? – P2

In P1, qualities were presented that I’d want in a rifle that might work well for close-in hunting (such as in brush) as well as having some “reach” to 300 – 400 yards/meters. A few suggestions were made.

P1 was concluded with the remark that I’ve owned such rifles, and currently own one. That is a rifle that could be very useful in close-quarter hunting and also in possible long distance shooting of LG. But before we do that, I’ll briefly rehearse the three criteria described in part one:

I want such a rifle to be fully capable of fulfilling these merits:

1. Reliable
2. Safe
3. Light & handy

In a description of  “Light & handy”, I proposed that a common bolt-action, such as found in a 22″ barrelled .30-06 might be the option of many. In fact, “might be” is not likely strong enough. It probably would be the choice of many. So, I’ll not debate that choice here other than to repeat that it would not be, and is not, my choice because of some experience with that cartridge and the physical conditions under which most of my BG hunts  have taken place.

(I had stepped out of thick bush to the edge of a marsh that extends 400 yards in the direction of the photo. But to the right it reaches to nearly 1 km. There were scattered moose tracks throughout the area. While this is not Northern Ontario, it is representative of that region and Central Ontario.)

To state it succinctly, there are BETTER cartridges if we want one for BOTH close-quarter hunting of large game, and/or big game that may become hazardous to one’s health and welfare in the blink-of-an-eye, as well as some possible long-distance shooting of wounded game (by client or self). In many situations, as previously described when I hunted both moose and bear in Northern Ontario, the only shot presented in a week of hunting might be on a moose at 500 – 600 yards. Or, since there were big piles of large bear scat in BOTH open areas AND in thick brush, I needed to be prepared for ANY SHOT, far or in-your-face!

Make no mistake – I’ve toted .30-06s with handloads in hunting whitetails under similar conditions, but that was less than an hour’s drive from home. And I wasn’t hunting bear or moose! I’m not suggesting that the .30-06 is inadequate for moose or bear under IDEAL conditions. “IDEAL” for many is close to home where they can “pick” when and where to shoot. For others it means with an outfitter. Others, still, will be partners of a group that can “blast away” at a wounded beast.

My consideration is for myself under the conditions described — ALONE! Even when hunting moose with a companion, we were only together when leaving camp. Then each of us went off in different directions to cover as much territory as possible in a few days of hunting. So, in effect — I was alone and dependant on personal skill sets, and my rifle!

(Sitting in a bear blind waiting for a buck to come up over the ridge, my nearest partner was 90 kilometers from me at home. That was my Ruger #1 in .45-70 LT.)

In bear hunts (as well as deer) I’ve mostly been sitting in a ground blind, or tree stand, or scouting, ALONE with no help nearby. Therefore, I want a rifle and load that I’m overly familiar with — knowing it’s full potential — that Also has:

4) More than ample power: 

Why? “Just enough” or “ample” suggests precision shooting on a stationary target that has presented itself broadside, or nearly so. I’ve watched many videos on that sort of thing, usually with a team and an outfitter or PH. The shooter/hunter is micro-managed in his/her shot, and anything less than a broadside is frowned upon!

In a DIY hunt, or alone, it might become a case of “any shot possible”, or “shoot now!” in a case of survival!

That’s why I CHOOSE MORE THAN AMPLE, and that’s not a .30-06.

Here’s a quote from the renowned, former PH, Dr. Kevin Robertson: “I’m very much a heavy bullet for caliber man … I like the heavier option simply because some shots may be at animals not ideally positioned. Heavier bullets contain more momentum and this makes them penetrate better on less than ideal shots” — SPORTS AFIELD, October, 2009.

I couldn’t have said it better myself. Indeed, I have said it dozens of times! That statement was made in reference to a question in regard to the .30-06 in use for larger plains game. So, his recommendation for, and IF the .30-06 was to be used, to employ the heaviest bullet with the greatest SD and momentum. He wasn’t suggesting a .30-06 as the BEST option, but since the potential client was intending to use it for plains game, what bullet should he choose? But Dr. Robertson’s remark was in regard to the principle he enunciated: a heavy bullet for caliber because of the prospect of bad angles! And that would be WITH a PH at his shoulder! AND, that would also be with “PREMIUM” bullets! Heavy for caliber with the BEST bullets!

Kevin Robertson has also spoken very favorably of the 9.3 x 62, and that was long before “premiums”, as such, were available. Or before MVs had evolved to what is possible today with the best powders.

(Left click on photo for a better view.)

That is my choice of a cartridge and rifle in a handy bolt-action that can fulfil all expectations as a “BRUSH RIFLE” as well as a long-range shooter of BG. It has replaced all my mediums from a .338 Win Mag to a .375 H&H… It can do anything as well, or better, depending on conditions and load.

That’s a bold statement, and will evoke a negative reaction from some who are traditional in their thinking, or who lack experience in handloading this great cartridge. Admittedly, the average handloader of the 9.3 x 62 will be content with traditional loads, believed to be adequate or “enough”… I’m not one of them! In handloading, I want the best for the job at hand, not just adequate.

As that concerns medium bores, I don’t need one of each, though I’ve owned and used several of them — often in more than one version. In .338-cal, I’ve owned and used a 20″ and a 26″ in .338 Win Mag; a 26″ .340 Wby; two 22″ .35 Whelens,  a couple of .350 Rem Mags, and a 22″, 24″ and 26″ in .375 H&H. When I say that my 9.3 x 62 can do anything they could, I’m not living in a fantasy world! And it only has a 22.44″ barrel. When loaded with four cartridges, a 3-9x by 40mm scope, a 1″ nylon sling, it tilts the scales at 7.7 lbs.

As concerns its best hunting load for large game, it produces 4365 ft-lbs from the 286 Nosler Partition. That load matches the .340 Weatherby 250gr Partition load in momentum from the muzzle to 500 yards! Then, there is the 320gr Woodleigh at 2464 fps that matches or exceeds the .375 H&H in momentum firing a 300gr at 2600 fps.

So, yes, I’d concur with Drs Heath and Robertson, who wrote that they failed to see any distinction in effect on Cape buffalo when using either their 9.3 x 62’s or their .375 H&H’s. Not that I have their experience, but I can read ballistic charts.

I have utmost confidence in my 9.3 x 62 for “brush hunting” of anything I might personally point it at in my limited N.A. area. And that would include wolf, bear, moose and elk, as well as big whitetails that can attain 400 lbs. Moreover, I’d also take it for brown bear and grizzly, given the opportunity. And you could add to that, large moose to 500 yards! So, is my favorite “medium” capable as a “Brush Rifle”?

As to what we may term, “dedicated” brush guns,there are several of course. I’ve owned at least two, and perhaps more if a 12-gauge is included with slugs. But this is about rifles.

The first was kept for a full decade, and was indeed a dedicated brush rifle: A Ruger 96/44 in .44 Remington Magnum. It was more powerful than a .30-30, and equal to a .35 Remington in KE, but surpassed it in TE within the ranges intended – less than 100 yards.

Here are some handloads: (I did shoot some Federal factory 300gr hardcasts through it for information.)

270gr Speer – 1800+ fps/1942 ft-lbs avg.
300gr Hornady XTP – 1725 fps/1982 ft-lbs (Dec/02)
300gr Speer – 1692 fps/1907 ft-lbs (18/12/02)

This rifle was used for trail walking and bringing bait for bears.

The other rifle that could have been considered a “brush rifle” was a Marlin 1895 G, with the short 18.5″ barrel. But it had the infamous “ports”, and while it went hunting, and I developed a lot of handloads for it that were fired at the range with muffs on, in woody conditions it was way too loud!! So… it went down the road. Marlin has since done away with the ports and sell a pile of the “G” models. From 400s and 405s, I got something over 2000 fps using AA2015.

Having already mentioned the .375 Ruger in its short 20″ barrelled “Alaskan” model as a potential brush gun, maybe the .416 Ruger in a 20″ version should be viewed as a possible candidate as well. While likely seen as “overpowered” for such a theme, there’s no doubt it finds itself doing that job admirably in Alaskan and African close-quarter operations. If it were the only firearm I owned, I’m sure I could find reason enough to employ it in brush hunting of both bear and moose here in our province. A quality 350gr at 2400 to 2600 fps would make some sense.

Still, in this context, how could I fail to give consideration to my most highly prized Big Bore – the excellent .458 Winchester Magnum. All matters considered, it is the best of the Big Bores. And at a mere 40″ total length, including a 24-inch barrel, my Ruger Tropical No.1 is 2.4″ shorter than my 9.3 x 62.

Yesterday (Apr. 30/19), I invested a couple of hours at our range (setting up the Chrony, Lead Sled and targets included) firing some new loads. The fastest was a 350gr TSX at 2760 fps/5919 ft-lbs, and the slowest was a 500gr Hornady RN at 2218 fps/5461 ft-lbs. In between were 480gr DGX’s, 450gr TSX’s, a 450gr Swift AF, and 400gr Barnes Busters.

But hey, here is the complete list corrected to MV:
500 Hornady (74 grs A2230) = 2218 (this load gave 2227 in my former CZ550 with a 25″ barrel) COL = 3.56″
500 Hornady (75 grs A2230 = (gave a low – false reading – don’t know why, but it could be increased by 1/2 gr according to case head expansion) COL = 3.56″
500 Hornady (81 grs H335) = 2233 (max load with this powder – max allowable expansion for continued use of case) COL = 3.56″

480 DGX (82 grs H335) = 2262 (low case expansion – could be increased by 1- grain) COL = 3.56″
480 DGX (76 grs A2230 = 2272 (max case expansion) COL = 3.56″

450 TSX (82 grs H335 = 2290 (no brass expansion – this was 1-gr less than a previous test. Will go to 84 grs next time) COL = 3.68″
450 TSX (76 grs A2230)= 2326 (could increase by 1-grain) COL = 3.69″

450 Swift AF (84 grs H335) = 2414/5822 ft-lbs (max with this powder for continued use of the case. This bullet has responded very well in my rifle.)
COL = 3.565″

400 Barnes Buster (83 grs H335) = 2381 COL = 3.28″
400 Barnes Buster (83 grs H335) = 2388 (These are hard bullets, and case head expansion is near max. So I’ll not try to increase this load more than 1/2 gr) COL = 3.28″

350 TSX (81 grs H4198) = 2760/5919 ft-lbs (This is the same result I received from my former CZ550 with 1-grain less at 80 grs. But the CZ had a 1-inch longer barrel. Pressure was not over max.) COL = 3.46″

Now, what could I do with all that?

First of all, they are test loads for my Ruger No.1 in .458.

Secondly: I’ll do some over, and increase some loads giving more opportunity to A2230 and H4895.

Thirdly: I plan on some reduced loads, like the 480 DGX that shows real promise at around 1750 – 1800 fps. That will likely be through the use of RL-15.

Also, I have a couple more reduced loads, garnered from my former CZ:
405 Remington at just over 2000 using RL-15, and the
350 Hornady using the same load of RL-15

A BRUSH RIFLE?

Yeah, I have one… maybe a couple!

I know, I know, the .458 is NOT “light”, but it is handy. At over 10 lbs, and with the ports, it makes life very bearable in the recoil department. But if a big bruin shows up here this spring, recoil will only be like a normal 12-gauge turkey load.

Oh yeah… about points 5,6 and 7 — My Ruger No.1 and Tikka T3 aren’t “Safe Queens”; and surely you’ve noticed that handloads are the only way to improve the ballistics of any rifle, and they both have good scopes for real close or far; and dark places….

“But it’s a single-shot!”, some would cry out in alarm! I KNOW THAT! How many shots do you need?

Til the next,

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

 

 

 

“A BRUSH RIFLE” –what is it? – P1

I’ve hunted moose in places where there were thick tangles of alder patches that you couldn’t always get to where you wanted to go unless you passed through them; vision was often less than three yards! Did I carry a “brush gun”? No, not exactly according to what is generally described as a “brush rifle”.  But then, almost any rifle suited for big game could become a temporary brush rifle. For example: I toted my CZ550 in .458 Win Mag  for moose one season in Northern Ontario where the terrain was very mixed. At times there was heavy bush land that included thick alder patches; at others it was open clear cuts where a moose might be caught crossing at up to 600 meters. Still other contexts might dictate a shot across a small lake or marsh. Then there were what seemed like mini-mountains to climb. Moose sign was found in all of those landscapes, so my .458 at times was called upon to be a “brush gun” and at others a flat-shooting magnum!

(Left click on photos for a better view.)

But aside from the fact that many rifles could perform all such tasks quite effectively, yet the question still begs to be more clearly defined as to what is intended when someone says: “The rifle I used for whitetails last year was my brush gun”.

Do you have one, or maybe several? How would you describe them as distinct from others in your safe or cabinet?

Let’s delve into that and see if it’s really possible to make such distinctions. Note that I’ve already set a parameter in suggesting “brush rifles” for BIG game (BG). So this isn’t a topic on suitable brush rifles for rabbit hunting! No, I’m thinking suitable for big whitetails and on up to whatever I may have a tag for.

I have in mind four types of actions that would, under most conditions, be suitable, and cartridges suited to those types of rifles: Levers, semis, pumps and bolts. Yes, and even a fifth type that would be suitable with some qualifications: a single-shot.

In qualifying a rifle as suitable for brush or woods hunting of BG, I want the following attributes:

1) Reliable
2) Safe
3) Light & handy
4) More than ample power
5) Not for beauty or a “safe queen”
6) Easy to develop handloads for
7) A reliable scope of ample brightness. If a variable, it must have a low power of not more than 3x with an exit beam of not less than 5mm.

Let’s review each of those points, and suggest some appropriate rifles and their cartridges:

Reliable:

It should go without saying, but a rifle in any hunting context should be reliable. But some types of hunts MUST, without any qualifications demand reliability, especially if DG are involved at close quarters. And that is not a reference to African DG in particular, but where brush hunting of any game might involve a last chance opportunity, or confrontation with a beast that could become very aggressive in its attempts to escape. That could be a large buck whitetail, or a cow moose protecting her calf, or a sow bear accompanied by cubs, etc.

I’ve even had new rifles fail! We should NEVER assume that because a rifle is new — or new to us — that it will work flawlessly, each and every time, because of name brand, or purchased from a friend, or even on the recommendation of a family member or gum shop owner.

A good hunting buddy of mine purchased a custom .270 Winchester on the recommendation of a retired police officer and qualifier of potential hunters. He also was a non-licensed gun smith, and a good friend of my friend. The rifle was part of an auction of a recently deceased collector who was well known to the former police officer, and highly regarded.

My friend was not a handloader, so he purchased high quality Federal Premium 150gr ammo loaded with Partitions for a bear hunt in partnership with myself. For the hunt we were separated by 3.5 kms in dense forest. He also was accompanied by a mutual friend of ours. They “picked straws” (actually matches) to determine who would get the first chance on a bruin coming to the bait at about 35 yards. My friend Ken, who bought the .270 got the “luck of the draw”. It didn’t take long when an over-size black bruin came cautiously to the bait. Ken, a trained officer of the law, is a good marksman. He squeezed the trigger of his “new” .270 Winchester, and all anyone heard in the dead stillness of the dark forest, including the over-size bruin, was a deafening “CLICK”! But from 35 yards the bear didn’t run away… but quickly its head turned in the direction of their blind! The silence was overwhelming! What to do? Ken had two options: One – to re-cock and pull the trigger again (Not as noisy by simply raising the bolt and closing it again), or two — extract the faulty cartridge and re-chamber a new round with the bear staring them down! Ken chose option two…. “SQUEEEEK”, and in a flash the bear was gone… FOREVER! From what was told to me later that evening by Ken and Frank, — and by a passer-by the following week who said he saw a bear on the road, just about 50 yards from the bait setup, that “stood five feet tall”? “No”, he said, “that was on all fours, not standing like a man”–  that bear was probably 500+ lbs! And it was lost due to a faulty rifle!

(Six shots at 100 from my 9.3 x 62)

All that to emphasise the emphatic NEED to shoot at least a couple of boxes of factory ammo in a “new” rifle BEFORE the hunt! Ken took his “beautiful” .270 to his friend who took the bolt apart and found grease inside that over time had hardened while in a safe. Of course, a dedicated handloader would be a member of a club where he could practice and run a rifle through its paces that sooner or later who reveal any defects.

I would never take a rifle on a hunt that I had any remaining concerns over. Yet, my 673 Remington in .350 Rem Mag gave me an unexpected shock when a slight bump caused the floor plate to spring open dumping the ammo on the ground after clattering on the plastic chair that was my seat in a bear hunt… that hunt was also over!!

Some things may be optional in a hunt, but not reliability of your rifle.

SAFE:

In brush hunting, the ever lurking danger is for a twig or branch to get caught in the trigger guard, and by times unknowingly. So a safety that works under all conditions is paramount. I prefer a tang safety that is operated by the thumb, and is minimal in height. I know this will offend any who follow “the crowd”, but while I’ve used the M70 three position “wing” safety, I don’t like them. Some others don’t like the dual safety of the Marlin Big Bores, which is actually one of the safest rifles – and perhaps THE safest on the market with the cross bolt that blocks the hammer — IF you use it! Also, another present danger in woods or brush hunting in rugged terrain is the potential of being tripped by an unseen object like a root or rock. Then, on the side of a ridge where there’s bare rock or grass wetted by recent rains, one can easily experience a fall. Is our rifle in safe hands in such an event where we intuitively want to grab a rock, branch or tree for support? Those are dangerous moments that we need to be prepared for before such an unhappy event! A well known hunting consultant and TV personality ended up shooting his PH in the back right shoulder with his .458 Win Mag as he hurried to back away from an elephant charge. His PH was just in front of him and took the full charge, not of the elephant, but of a 500gr Nosler completely through his shoulder. He survived but his guiding career was over! The TV personality said he slipped in quickly backing away and tripped over a branch or root! But his finger was in the trigger guard without the safety “ON”!

But being “safe” in gun handling starts with good habits and a mind that doesn’t take safety for granted… our own or that of any others in close proximity.

I’ve used a lot of Marlin BIG BORES with the “extra” security of the cross -bolt, and never found it a handicap when I needed to shoot something.

Absolutely, I want a safe rifle in any environment, but especially in country filled with potential hazards to personal welfare. I don’t take anything for granted.

LIGHT & HANDY:

<(That’s a 38″ single-shot .45-70, loaded with Hornady 325gr at 2400 fps for wolf. It weighed a little over 7 lbs ready. The longest shot available in that area was 165 yards along an open and straight stretch of the trail. There were three wolves travelling it just before I arrived.)

Yes, there does exist what we might respectfully call “a Brush Rifle”. One of the enduring features that singles it out more than any other is “light and short”. Add other features such as: tough, powerful and quick handling, and we have the quintessential “BRUSH RIFLE”. Additional characteristics might be found in type of stock, scope and action.

Let’s give some credit where it is due, and make some suggestions:

1) The Ruger Alaskan in .375 Ruger. This has to be one of the best “brush rifles” currently in production. With a 20″ barrel and a .30-06 length action it comes in a very potent chambering, the .375 Ruger. In my view, and obviously that of many Alaskans and others, it’s a brillant concept — especially for a handloader. It has become a favorite of Alaskan guides in protection of clients who hunt the big bears.

Again, from my perspective, it would serve just as well in the Yukon and Northwest Territories. But not to limit it to those regions of North America, it’s utility could be unleashed in the Rocky Mountain states as well as Canada’s western provinces, and Ontario for large black bears, moose and elk.

Due to it’s potential power, it’s range would not be limited to 300 yards in the case of larger animals. Yes, the 20″ barrel will loose approximately 150 fps (depending on actual load), but with the “right bullet” it should still be ample for moose or elk to 400 yards. At woods ranges it would only be “more ample”!

Savage produced one a few years ago with an 18″ tube, but that might prove to be too short, creating more muzzle blast, and an additional reduction in effect (“power”) that would be considered unwarranted. In other words, a barrel that short (18″) could upset the balance of such a short, powerful bolt action, and lose too much velocity that the extra -2″ might very well create, that any gains would be negated by the deficits. An extra 2″ one way or the other will not disqualify a rifle as a “brush gun”.

2) Marlin’s (or Winchester) lever actions are noted for their strength and reliability in woods hunting. That, along with their potential “power” has made them favorites for deer, bear, elk and moose at ranges up to around 250 yards with appropriate handloads. I’ve used the 1895 in .45-70 for a lot of bruin huntin’. But the ranges were usually 100 yards or less. However, in developing computer-generated ballistic profiles, I discovered long ago that several of my favorite loads could be effective on large moose to 300 yards.

In bear hunts an 1895 Marlin was among my favorites, and for moose it often went along as a backup.

3) A light and handy bolt action that is also reasonably capable of dealing with any hunting situation normally encountered in North America, and most of the rest of the world.

The Ruger .375 is one, as noted at the beginning of this section. However, it is not a “light” rifle, but then, neither is the Marlin 1895 with scope and ammo. They qualify as handy (overall length) and powerful, but not as “light”, or possibly “quick”.

I’m thinking here of a general-purpose BG bolt action rifle not longer than 42″ (OL). Generally, most of these would be a medium bore (.338 to .375). I’ve written quite a lot over the past few years on this genre.

What it amounts to is a bolt-action repeater of the approximate length and weight of a ubiquitous .30-06 in a synthetic stock with a medium weight 22″ barrel. All up, with scope, ammo and sling it would come in at about 7.5 to 8.5 lbs. Though a .30-06 would be the choice of many, it is not mine.

Mine would be, as mentioned, a medium bore from .338 to .375 if I wanted it to reach out a bit beyond 400 yards in the case of “have to” on large game (LG). It could ALSO serve as a near perfect “brush rifle” using one load for far or near.

I have such a rifle — and I’ve owned others. (More details coming up in P2 as well as the rest of the desired qualities in a “BRUSH RIFLE”)

Til the next,

Happy Easter to one and all: The Easter message is found in the Epistle of the Apostle Paul to the church at Corinth: 1 Corinthians, chapter 15.

BOB MITCHELL

Rifle Bullets — how they work.

The round ball has been described by then author, Ross Seyfried, as the perfect projectile. It may have been at a certain time in history but, other than current usage in shotguns, it fell out of favor about a century-and-a-half ago to be replaced by more aerodynamic designs. Whatever may have been their main attributes, they have long since been replaced not only by those that resist atmospheric drag better, but also by great improvements in construction and style. Enhanced engineering capability and practical issues have forced the evolution of both pragmatic thinking and re-tooling by bullet manufacturers; most of which came about as a product of multiple wars. That is, in a melancholy sense, a terrible reality that still imposes a somewhat negative perception of guns and bullets on current “civilized society”. So those of us who use them in recreational activities must live with that awareness — like it or not. My first big-game rifle was a British Jungle Carbine in .303, and for most other Canadian hunters of my generation as well. Americans have had a love affair with their ex-military rifles chambered in .30-06, which has been carried on in just about every production sporting rifle to this day. But that didn’t happen with the various editions of the Brit .303, though many military rifles of that chambering are still in use for hunting purposes across Northern Canada; usually in a somewhat modified form.

For myself, the study of ballistics and bullets is related to a scientific bent, and a pragmatic one. I want to know what works best, and why. Or the corollary of that being: what doesn’t work as well, and why. Of course, the experience of others, and self, may shorten the process to the pragmatic issue of what works best, but begs the issue of “why”. Some of us must find out for ourselves — which may be “the hard way”, but in the end often more satisfying.

What works “best” may NOT be a premium bullet in certain applications; and what may be considered an inferior bullet may actually work excellently in other applications. So, it’s not just a matter of the latest and most costly that should determine our choice for every use.

< This bullet is a prime example of how a “cheap” Remington bullet may do it’s intended work as well as a Swift A-Frame that costs four times as much. It was a 200gr, .35-cal fired from a Marlin chambered for the .35 Remington. It immediately terminated a very good bear from a few yards leaving the muzzle at about 2100 fps, as handloaded by a good friend. And make note of the fact that it was a ROUND NOSE SP that seems to be left on dealers shelves these days in favor of the sleek-slippery kind!

Over time, I have collected a small number of bullets from game, and a larger number from personal tests in various media: conducted to determine comparative results of bullets designed for similar purposes.

EXPANDING BULLETS for hunting purposes are made that way to “dump” as much kinetic energy as possible into the vitals of an animal before exit. That is the usual way of looking at matters in as brief a statement as possible. However, as we all should know by now, there’s more to it than that.

Kinetic energy is an important factor, but is it the only one? As understanding of the issues involved have come to light, professional hunters, guides, regular hunters, and ballisticians have finally come to an agreement on a couple of key issues regarding the clean termination of big game:

1) The bullet must expand (exception: solids for their very limited use) and retain a majority of their initial weight. Some bullets are designed to lose a portion of the frontal part, such as the Partition and CEB Raptors. But they must still retain enough weight and momentum for adequate penetration through a vital area.

There are various claims as to whose bullet does that job best. Some measure success based on percentage of weight retained after complete expansion. Swift is one such company that claims at least a 95% weight retention after impact with flesh and bone. And pretty pictures are presented to back up such a claim. Of course, in such a scenario, the bullet has NOT produced an exit wound that a majority seem to think necessary IF the bullet has a success story to tell.

Every bullet retrieved from an animal stayed INSIDE the animal and there was NO EXIT! And, moreover, if it was found inside the animal, we must assume, by nature of the circumstance, it died prior to the necropsy!

Some say a bullet failed if it “exploded”, or came apart, inside the animal! Others proclaim that a bullet succeeded if the bullet made a significant exit wound whereby they could track the animal from 50 to 200 yards from a blood spore! Where I live and hunt, I’d choose the former as I prefer a dead animal where it was shot to one that I may have to search for in a ravine or thick bush in the dark — especially if it is noted for being of the hazardous sort! That’s speaking from having experienced both scenarios.

I’ve had Partitions exit and I’ve had them stay inside the animal — both cases on one bull moose. The first went through both lungs leaving a small exit wound but splattered blood and lung tissue across the bushes on the far side. The next was a quartering-away shot that stopped under the hide next to the offside shoulder. The bull went down to stay — but it got back up when my son approached it. I shot it the third time in the rump and it went down to stay. Those last two 250gr Partitions were retrieved — the second shot bullet made a lump under the hide which my son, Phil, immediately detected and retrieved. The last by the butcher in the forward chest compartment of the moose. They each lost the front core and retained 71% of un-fired weight. Did they fail or succeed? You be the judge.

Personally, I think my Marlin lever-action .45-70 would have put an end to matters much sooner with less shooting! No, not proof, just a sense! It was for backup, loaded with 405gr Remingtons that would leave the muzzle at a tad over 2100 fps.

The three shots made on the moose were from my .340 Weatherby. The bullets were 250gr Partitions at 3000 fps. Range was 165 yards. Impact energy was about the same as a factory load from a .338 Win Mag at the muzzle — 3927 ft-lbs each! That moose absorbed a total of 7855 foot lbs of KE from the two that stayed inside the beast, plus whatever was transmitted from the one that made a pass-through, plus two from my son’s .338 Win Mag at near muzzle velocity from 250gr Hornady’s to finish the moose on the ground — one through the neck and the other between the eyes!

If anyone is inclined to deny the effect of KE in killing power — there is your argument!

That’s one solid reason why I mentioned above that there’s more to it than a good expanding bullet in the right place!

So, let’s consider this “more to it than…”:
PLEASE NOTE what is clearly said in the statement above: “more to it than a good expanding bullet in the right place”.

If that is true, which I’m obviously convinced is a valid statement of fact, then there are at least TWO conclusions drawn from it:
a) Bullet placement is NOT the main thing as many seem to claim, and
b) There IS “more to it”.

The three shots I made on that 1100 lb bull were all made from offhand and hit exactly where aimed. This was NOT a “trophy” hunt, which I think is a bad word anyway (I happen to agree with Shane Mahoney on that theme — he writes for SPORT’S AFIELD, but the article was in MOUNTAIN HUNTER, a Canadian publication, titled: The Power of a Word”. The word is “trophy” of which he feels it contributes to a bad impression of our sport within the general public.). I’m just a hunter! The primary issues for me in hunting is first my own safety and that of any others who may be partners. The second is the clean and immediate termination of the beast I’m hunting. That is a safety issue AND to spare the animal from needless suffering. The main goal IS NOT to collect horns! I will collect meat. So, I didn’t aim to hit the moose in the shoulders, but just behind them. In total the moose made two steps after the first shot, went down on the second and would have been finished had not my son spooked it and had we left it for twenty minutes or so. Ergo, the bullets did their job as intended, but a bigger bore with good bullets would have finished matters sooner — of that I’m convinced.

Yes, you can shoot a moose in the “hump” and dump it on the spot — no doubt. That’s a spinal shot, but from 165 yards offhand!?

I’ve witnessed on video a number of Cape buffalo being “knocked down” on the first shot from a spinal hit, but always there was need for finishing shots. So bullet placement is part of it, and with a “good bullet”, but not the whole thing!

2) The end of the matter is that one of two things must happen, and perhaps even both: a) Oxygen to the brain must be shut off, or b) Messages to and/or from the brain interrupted.

Oxygenated blood to the brain comes from the lungs via arteries. This blood supply is cut off immediately or quickly with the destruction of both lungs and/or the heart, or major arteries above the heart. In larger game this happens from a larger permanent wound cavity in any, or all, of those vital areas, and usually caused by a large caliber bullet of proper construction that has enough force and energy to not only reach vitals but completely and immediately finish their activities. Of course, a brain shot is the quickest means of permanently shutting down any messages, such as, “Destroy that humanoid!”

On elephants a solid is used from large calibers with enough force to smash through the “honeycomb” bone structure that protects the brain from a frontal shot. A side-brain shot might be preferred for lesser calibers as there is less protection for the brain. That’s mostly moot these days as ele hunting is fast becoming a relic of the past.

So, what about “best” expanding bullets for any soft-skinned game from 300lbs to 1500 lbs? If an expanding bullet expands too fast and too much it will release its energy too quickly and may not penetrate enough to reach vitals. If it expands too slowly or has a relatively small “mushroom”, it may exit without fast enough termination that allows the animal to possibly run too far into a thick bush, a ravine, a swamp, or onto a property that we don’t have permission to enter. Worst case, it may be lost! That’s why I prefer to start with a large bore. A larger bore using a good expanding bullet will always create a larger permanent wound cavity, other things being equal such as energy, bullet profile and construction.

Just about everyone who hunts big game within those boundaries (more or less) has his favorites. Hornady lists certain of their bullets for medium game AND large game. Others of similar design, but heavier, are listed for large game plus dangerous game, such as their DGX and DGS series in calibers from .375 to .510. 9.3mm comes in a 300gr DGS, plus a 286gr SP-RP that also is suggested for DG. And so on.

Seemingly, there’s no end to offerings from the major bullet companies that cover all basic needs in the medium to large, and even dangerous game projectiles. Though Nosler has been one of the slowest to venture into the rare realm of solids and softs for the larger calibers most often associated with trips for large DG.

Some hunters swear by Barnes’ offerings, others by Swift, and still more by Nosler, CEB or North Fork. And I’ve left out a few because the list is seemingly endless and growing.

But you get the message, I’m sure. There are truly no bad ones; though even the best will at times not get the job done as expected. The bullet’s fault? Maybe, but more likely it is due to some failure on the part of the hunter.

SOLIDS are intended for sure penetration on big, tough game like elephant, a follow-up on buffalo, hippo, the rear-end shot on a departing large-dangerous game, etc.

A “big hammer” breaks big bones better than a small one. And broken bones become secondary missiles of destruction in addition to bullets. I’ll soon be testing some 450gr Barnes Triple-Shock-X in my Ruger Tropical in .458 Win Mag. Currently some older 450gr-X are loaded and ready to go as soon as the weather cooperates. If that goes well, the 450 TSX’s will be given a try with the same load of 83 grains H335 at 3.695″ COL. The 450-X has a COL of 3.705″. I will be expecting over 2400 fps. If the first shot or two doesn’t reveal excess PSI, I’ll continue shooting.

(This is a loaded 450-X — expected MV will be 2400+ fps)

Till the next…

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL