Why is the .458 Winchester Magnum MIA?

In watching a recent YouTube video related to hunting African DG, the host was promoting the .375 H&H as the best overall choice for a first-timer on Safari where both PG and DG were on the menu. There was nothing especially novel about such advise as it basically followed a script from the past century. And the venerable .375 H&H has only improved over the subsequent decades and done nothing since to disuade such a sound recommendation. But he didn’t rest his case there, but went on to highlight that the .375 H&H is still being effectively used by veterans of the safari game – even to the demise of elephants. Then he suggested the usual pluses for its continued use on such game:

< The late Dr Don Heath (aka “Ganyana”) using his 9.3 x 62 on a charging elephant!

• A continued supply of good factory ammo – that has even improved in recent times.

• Adequate for the most dangerous in the hands of careful shooters.

• Ideal for the largest PG, and will do a good job on both small and medium game.

• Perhaps its best attribute being relatively mild recoil.

BUT!

According to him, there is a better choice if the shooter is advanced and can handle the recoil! That being a .416 Remington, Rigby or Ruger. He said that while the .375 H&H has effectively killed more Cape Buffalo than all others combined, a .416 makes a difference in bullet impact that’s clearly visible to the shooter! And then he went on to make that case.

Later, as I was scrolling the Internet for more data on the most popular rifles and cartridges for dangerous game hunting, I came across another video where the host (never saw him previously or recognized his name) gave his recommendations for different DG species, starting with the usual and proceeding to the end (again I don’t recall all his recommendations). BUT, I couldn’t help noticing that the .458 Winchester Magnum wasn’t on his list! Duh!

Who’s at fault there?

Well, I think we have to start with the usual suspects. . . . . The MEDIA! In this case the Sporting media! And more specifically still: The hunting & shooting media! And who writes their articles? Paid gunwriters, of which they have never been numerous at any given time! And they write about their hunts and guns used, as well as their own personal hunting rifles.

Let’s face it – we as hunter-shooters are a relatively small group, and a diminishing one at that. And the number of well-known writers who have been consistent in promoting the .458 Winchester Magnum are miniscule! The best known – who rarely writes anymore – is Phil Shoemaker a master guide and pilot up in Alaska. Other than that a piece shows up once in a blue moon in “the media”, that is usually full of subjective views, historical and current errors, and personal bias. Today, all the hype is about the latest bullets and their zip codes, and the speciality rifles that shoot them that mimic themes of bygone days like a super .257 Roberts or 6.5 x 55 Swede.

< Phil Shoemaker and his famed .458 Win Mag (“ole ugly”) and results from a 500gr DGX to the brain of this dugga boy!

Fifteen to twenty years ago, Big Bores was the hot topic. Just consider Hornady’s run of producing bullets, cases and ammo for the likes of: the 450/400 NE 3″, 416 RIGBY, 404 JEFFERY and 470 NE in addition to the other usual current big-bore products, such as for the more recent .416s and traditional .458 Win and Lott. Today, it’s small bores! That is in the media and sales. Today it’s about “platforms” and “chaises” that will send a svelte 140gr at 2900 fps down range to 350yds – 700 yds at 1/2 to 1/4 moa. To me, that’s informal or formal target shooting. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but to equate that with elk or moose hunting to 600 or 800 yds is the dream of fools!

Today, it’s about sales to a much younger generation that can only dream of an African safari. Who knows what the future holds for hunting or even shooting?

In the meantime, the immediate future bodes well for the distinguished .458 Winchester Magnum, as a sort of revival is currently under way, if the interest in the ~300 pages on the topic: “The Great .458 Winchester Magnum. . . .” on the http://www.24hrcampfire.com is any indication. As well, my own blog writing sees increasing interest on themes related to the wonderful .458 Winchester Magnum. For the past several months it has been the number one topic of interest in my varied posts.

And, of course, there are reasons for that:

1) For some the prospect of a Dangerous Game hunt in Alaska or Africa is a current reality. It’s not a far-off dream. Aside from a .375 H&H (which is a medium), a true big-bore rifle has appeal and makes sense.

2) There’s something “manly” about using such a rifle in a real hunt. Current society tends to downplay “manliness” and strongly implies that men should think, speak and act more “gentle”, like gentlemen, than a more robust persona like a hockey defenceman or NFL Lineman. Frankly, some of us real MEN rebel against trying to force us into such societal molds! Some of us want big trucks, fast cars and motorcycles, and the biggest and baddest rifle we can afford and tote whether we ever see Africa or not, or can afford a Corvette or not!

I’ve always liked power, in guns, motors or motorcycles, even though I couldn’t afford them! It doesn’t hurt if you have it, but it might if you don’t! Sure, you could kill a brown bear using a .223 Remington – particularly if you’re using an M16 platform with multiple shots from a 10 or 20 round magazine! You could – but nobody does! Why? Because there are better tools.

< My former CZ 550 in .458 Winchester Magnum.

When our range opened to the use of semi-auto platforms, a lot of Chinese began showing up with military-style rifles and let-er-rip with hot brass flying every where! Not any more! Why? Because it spoiled the fun of everyone else – and that word got to the president and board. Sanity has returned!

Some just want to shoot paper targets informally. Others are more perfectionists who want to measure and qualify results from their fine-tuned equipment and handloads. Still others are like me: The need to develop good loads from hunting rifles, and for hunting purposes.

Only a small handful of those I’ve met at the range ever went on safari to Africa. I’m not sure that any member at the range ever owned a .458 Winchester Magnum other than myself during and since the time of my joining back in 1989. One gentleman that I’ve met at the range on several occasions has a .375 H&H and has made at least a few trips to Africa on safari. The vast majority of members that hunt larger game do so within the province for moose. So my .458 draws some attention and comments at the range, as well as questions about handloads. On the other hand, a significant number (not a majority by any stretch) are familiar with .45-70s and several have owned and made handloads for them. And a few have purchased my handloading journals on the .45-70.

And I owned one like this except it had those infamous ports that made it way too loud, so I sent it away!

Sometimes we get shooters/hunters there for practice for a significant upcoming hunt. Then they disappear and never show up again until the next year – and perhaps are never seen again. One such man was headed for Africa and brought his Weatherby MK V in .460 Wby Magnum. All his loads were factory and he only fired about a half- box. I asked for one of the empty brass cases and he gladly offered it to me. When I owned my CZ 550, I had serious thoughts of having my gunsmith Eddy VonAtzigen rechamber it to a .460 Wby Mag. Then I gave myself a reality check that ended such a dumb idea!

There is a fellow Canadian who writes special articles from time to time for SPORTS AFIELD. One such piece was on the .458 Winchester Magnum. Somehow he found out that I was writing – or had written a handloading manual on that great rifle cartridge, and contacted me for some practical help in making some mock ups for photography in his proposed article. He no longer owned a .458 but had used one extensively in Africa and was a fan. From time to time we keep in contact and his article in SPORTS AFIELD was a masterpiece, even though I was unable to help at the time due to surgery at a hospital. He still managed to find what he needed for photo support. He’ a great guy, living with wife and family in game rich northern British Columbia. So he is another gunwriter who strongly supports a .458 Winchester Magnum for northern game like moose, bears and elk, as well as in Alaska and the African scene.

< A friend’s elk in N. Alberta.

Let’s all give a hand in bringing back the Great .458 Winchester Magnum so it’ll no longer be MIA. There’s little doubt that the hunter/shooter accomplishing not only his part, but that of a mammoth contribution, is none other than Dr Ronald Berry aka “Riflecrank”. Google: http://www.24hrcampfire.com Please go there for an encyclopedic education on “The Great .458 Winchester Magnum. . .” under the “Express Rifles and Big Bores only” of “hunting and shooting” .

Till the next. . . .

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

Gearing Up for Fall Hunting

In the Province of Ontario, we are very fortunate in having a 4-month long period for hunting a variety of species from small to large, from September 1st to December 31st. That’s determined by licensing and dates for each species: Game birds like ducks, turkey, grouse and phesant; and small ground creatures like rabbits, coons, skunk, fox and groundhogs are all at potential risk to hunting. Similarly, in the medium to large game: canine predators, deer, moose, elk and black bear. A small game license covers the majority of such hunts, and individual big game licenses covers the rest: i.e – predators, deer, moose, elk and black bear.

My preoccupation come September 1st to late October will mostly focus on black bear with wolf as a secondary target. Not having a moose or elk tag, the last week of October will see me at home having vacated the area in favour of moose hunters moving in for a week. The first half of November, deer will be another option with bear and wolf still in the game if those licenses remain unfilled. Bear season ends November 31st, and wolf has to be renewed by Jan 1st if intent is to chase them to the end of March 2026.

The above is a potential schedule for various hunts during the fall and early winter. However, it will not be a daily routine as I’ll need to put a limit on how often I’ll make that 1 hour trip, each way, for my wife’s sake, rest, and expenses. And weather conditions will impose its own limitations as we move into November and possibly December.

Depending on a number of issues, my main weapon for bear while sitting in a blind will be the .458 Win Mag shooting those 400gr Colorado Customs at ~ 2260 fps. That’s about the same as those Federal factory loaded 400gr TBBCs at ~2280 fps. I’ll probably have a few of those along as well in a jacket pocket – just in case those 400gr CCs fail to work as anticipated – which I doubt will happen. . . . . . but ya never know unless you’ve BTDT – which I haven’t so far!

For the deer hunt (including wolf), it’ll be my .35 Whelen: load yet to be determined. Likely the bear load of 2023: 225gr AB at 2840 fps, OR a new load of those 250gr Partitions at 2710 fps as bear season will still be on (unless I’ve already filled that tag). A buck deer of the area could easily go +300 lbs, so the Whelen load of either the 225s or 250s would be suitable and work as well on any “chance wolf”.

< Year: late September, 2012. I was in a tree stand for bear hunting and spontaneously asked my Heavenly Father to see some wildlife. In less than 10 seconds this doe walked out of the woods with a buck following. First time in six seasons I’d seen deer on this property, and deer season was nearly two months away.

These will be day hunts with the opening day for deer finding us – my son, Phil, and I – awake and ready to roll before the sun rises. That will mean up and about by 5 am, leaving the house by 6 am and in the woods by 7 am. This will mean finding spots to sit and watch a trail for the first couple of hours, then walking quietly about searching for sign, etc. Then sitting a bit having a snack and a drink – perhaps back at the vehicle for some warmth. Then back at it until closing light. . . .

That will be a fresh challenge that my body isn’t yet ready for . . . . . It’s not presently a daily routine, yet if done correctly, it can only mean better health in the longer run – especially for my legs and heart. I try to work out daily in a purposeful physical sense: weights one day and walking the next. . . . weights and walking; weights and walking; weights and walking, etc.

Weights: 15 lb dumbells in each hand for a variety of excercises for 15 min. Then other routines finishing with 30 pushups (hey! I’m almost 90!)

Walking: at a good pace for 20 minutes up and down the hilly street outside – about a mile. Or, if weather is bad or it’s winter, at the local mall – five circuits at a good pace (short of running) within a particular area (about a mile).

It’s not the distance or time, but the steady routine of doing it that counts.

Of course, life itself dictates lifting weights and walking without a routine. Within a typical week, I’ll make several trips to stores and malls for cores and shopping. And I cut grass with a push lawnmower. . . . and shovel snow in the winter. etc. And I go down and up two sets of stairs, several times daily: One down to the finished basement apartment (for students attending the local college), and the other for leaving the house through the front door. When I leave the house there are two sets of stairs: one from the main floor to the front door, then an outside small patio that turns 90* to a final set to ground level. That’s 5 plus 7 = 12 stair steps out and 12 stair steps in every time I leave the house – and that might mean an average of 2 – 3 times a day. So in a week that could be up and down those stair steps 15 to 20 times; or nearly 500 steps. And that’s beside the indoor steps to the apartment below us (Our house is a raised bungalow). Don’t you think that matters for physical status? Just ask my wife with a very bad knee under care by a specialist, and an infected big toe requiring medication!

So my bear gun for this year is the Ruger No.1H in .458 Win Mag. It goes 10.65 lbs ready to hunt with scope, sling and ammo. So what’s 10.65 lbs compared to 160 lbs each and every time I climb out of the basement or back into our house? Groceries can weigh far more than that! In fact, I’m quite often toting 2x that in each hand in returning from shopping – that is compared to the rifle, not my personal weight!! And there are those who wince and cry over a rifle that weighs 7 lbs ready!

I don’t believe they’re real hunters, but shooters who drive to a range or setup, unload their “stuff” there, shoot their loads that generate less than 15 ft-lbs, load their “stuff” back into their vehicle, drive home after a “hard day” of shooting and/or “hunting”! Unfortunately, the Internet has become more of that sort of thing than actual hunting experiences with real hunting guns!

One foul-mouth “know-it-all” who professes to be “the expert” on all-things wonderful for long-range shooting or hunting has yet to show any real results for his claims. When challenged, he claims his rifles are easily capable of taking elk at 800 – 900 yds! Of course, those are expensive target rifles, but despite that no evidence exists that he’s ever shot a game animal close or far! And he uses the most disgusting language to put down anyone who challenges or disagrees with him! Yet, amazingly, there are shooters (hunters?) who think he’s the epitome of excellence in knowledge of shooting game animals at extreme ranges!

<hunting, tactical or target rifle?

Increasingly,”sanity” is becoming obsolescent in the English language! The above pic is of a Tikka T3X Lite Tactical rifle. Some would say it’s a great hunting rifle for elk at extreme ranges!

“Extreme range” – anything from 600 yds to. . . .

“Long range” – 300 to 500 yds

“Normal hunting ranges”: 50 to 350 yds

“Average hunting range” for big game: inside 250 yds.

I’ve often used this photo within my Crown Land hunting area to illustrate what it would take to lethally shoot a big game animal, like a mature moose, at 400 yds:<From where I took this pic to the farthest corner is over 400 yds according to satelite imagery. This is one of the more open areas in this region. I’d just visited my usual bear-bait setup at 50 – 60 yds up behind me. Beyond that at 100 yds up the ridge was my blind. It was late September – early October, moose season coming fast. Let’s say, for argument’s sake, that it was about two weeks later and I had a bull moose tag waiting to be filled and a mature bull was directly across the bog at 350 yds. This is a bog with a lot of unseen water. Where could I set up to take a shot? The shot would have to be taken from a standing, offhand stance – or maybe from the tree to the left as a rest! But movement could spook the bull. Should I shoot, or wait? This is typical moose country for the region. The logistics are very demanding. Impossible, really, for a solo hunter. Even with a team of three others with a couple of ATVs plus saws and axes, there’s a long night and day ahead for full recovery of the carcass. The rifle for such a scenario, is not the main consideration, but I’d certainly NOT want a wounded moose that might make it to the woods beyond and then where? Two or more shots? You shouldn’t count on it. . . nor would I. I’d choose a cannon that would drop it right there and keep it immobile till recovered!

The point of all that is to say that a .300 Wby is better than a 7 Rem Mag, and a .340 Wby is better than a .300 Wby, etc. in such a test of reality! That is to say: If we can shoot the more powerful one as well as the least powerful up till our marksmanship begins to deteriorate. Yep, I’d used my .340 prior to the time of that photo on a nice bull over 900 miles/1460 km further north. And I shot it as well as my .223. I was in my early sixties and don’t claim such expertise today. We must know our limits regardless of age, physical conditioning and circumstances. Then they don’t become excuses!

Till the next. . . .

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL

“He (Jesus) died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live”. (Galatians 1:4) NLT

About BEAR Hunting – P1

* During the next four months (May, June, July and August) I’ll be writing 2x monthly rather than 4x, due to an increase in other activities such as: outdoor and indoor work on our property, vacation and increased involvement with some family members. Plus, I want and need to get back to handloading and range activities which basically have been shut down over the winter and early spring. Also, I’ve started baiting for bear again that will continue to June 15 – the end of the spring bear hunt. September 1st will be the startup of the fall hunt that ends November 30. And God willing, I’ll start writing 4x monthly again.

“Ballistic Realities” will begin as a series once the current “ABOUT BEAR HUNTING” series is done.

Black bear hunting has become more popular in the 21 st century over a broader North American area for a number of reasons: 1) easier access to their ranges; 2) increase in black bear population; 3) bears showing up in new areas; 4) nuisance bears on streets and lawns of recent suburban developments that were formerly bear habitats – as big and small communities have expanded exponentially with dramatic population growth; 5) black bear hunting is second only to deer hunting in hunter involvement; 6) it can be done as a solo hunt; 7) it’s much cheaper than an elk, caribou, moose or brown bear hunt, 7) it has an element of danger – which is real, especially in remote wildernesses. 1000 miles/1600 kms from home on a bull moose hunt, and a bear tag in my wallet. Lots of big bear “pies” scattered around including one about ten yards from the camera. Bears are only hunted incidentally in this area in conjunction with a moose or deer hunt, so they live a long time and grow big.

This is an article involving some specifics in black bear hunting, not based on generalizations and hearsay, but my personal experiences over a period of three and a-half decades in the Province of Ontario. Since my first bear hunt, involving an outfitter in May of 1989, I’ve only missed 2 years without a hunt for a black bear, making a total of 33 years, plus another 5 years where I did both a spring and a fall hunt = 38 bear hunts. Some involved a few days and others a few weeks, and still a few lasted for the season which extended to 3 months in the fall from Sept 1st to Nov 30 th. And the fall season was only shortened recently to November 30 from December 15. Also, when I got started in 1989, the spring season got underway in mid-April, not the first of May. No, I didn’t take 38 bears, as my intent was selective for particular bears. I also wounded a couple that were lost and passed on others that I could have shot.

The longer I hunted bears, the more I became interested in them, their habitats, behavior and personalities. In short, a lot of my hunting became a study of them and fascination with them.

There is a type of person that hangs out on Internet hunting forums, who believes himself God’s gift to others in knowledge of firearms, shooting and hunting. He lives in a game-rich area and basically can walk out his back door and shoot game. No doubt he has knowedge, but doubtful that it is as extensive as claimed. In a word, I’m very skeptical of someone of that disposition making claims that bears are easy to kill, making them seem like killing pests or varmints with a firearm suited to that activity. And there are several Internet inhabitants who make such rediculous claims with a know-it-all attitude, and demean others whom they consider “not in their league”.

I’m not one of them! I’ve learned (the hard way) that bears are very intelligent and mostly know where I am before I know where they are. They also quickly become aware of any situation that spells danger. Dominant bruins live long lives because of that, and perform their activities after darkness arrives – they become nocturnal and will not be seen during daylight hours in an area of human habitation. The exception is if easy food is available in a district where hunting is not permitted – they get to know that and do become “pests” and are potentially dangerous. Property owners in non-hunting areas may treat the yearlings and juveniles as “pets”, thinking there’re cute and cuddly until they grow up and begin to take over the property – I’ve had several requests to eliminate them!

One came from a law officer who was a trainer in handgun use. His wife wanted an outsized black bruin eliminated from their property that was aggressive and destroying their bird feeders! He was recovering from a serious heart problem so didn’t feel ready to deal with an urgent problem. He walked me through their property in an agricultural area that had heavy and thick alders from which the bear was approaching the bird feeders hanging from trees within 30 yards of the house. That bear had also killed a local cow on an adjacent property. From descriptions, that bear would easily have gone 500 lbs! After settling on where I’d set up an ambush to kill the bear, that would have been within 25 yards from me, the wife disagreed and insisted it be more in the open and closer to the house. I then backed out because of my experience with bears in baiting them, and she really knew nothing more than wanting that bear gone! And, it was obvious in discussing the matter with her law officer husband, that she was calling the shots! I mention it only to say that most people, regardless of status, don’t know how to deal with problem bears.

A by-times partner through contacts gained access to a private farm property, no longer in use as such, and the owner – into heavy machinery operations – wanted the bears killed that had become a problem, especially with small grandchildren around. So, with my partner, the cousin (who was the contact person) of the owner took us on a tour of the property of several hundred acres. It was parceled out into several pastures separated by full-grown trees where fences had at times past divided them. There was also lots of brush and thorn bushes in some pastures while others were still decent for grass growning that was rarely cut but loaned to outsiders for cattle and/or horses. In addition there were four local horses, including a black stallion – that later, on the last night of our first season, after our hunt was finished, got killed by the dominant bear, and partially eaten. Altogether, I hunted that property off and on from 2008 to 2015, with the 2011 season at my old-favorite Crown Land site.

The 4 horses (3 under the tree). The black stallion (to the left of the tree) got chased by the dominant bruin down over the escarpment to the east (top of photo), and killed it. When found the next morning it was partly consumed and I got a call from the cousin – who had arranged this hunt on the property of the landowner. The previous evening was the last few hours of legal hunting for the season. Though I continued to hunt this property for the next several years, and shot three bears (two of my own, that were good bears) that dominant bruin was never around and had moved on.

My last bear taken on that private property was in October, 2015, and my last bear, period. It’s 7 feet from heels to top of head. And he was very clever, always knowing when I was hunting him and where. Except when I left early to go 200 yds to my van and didn’t return for 1/2 hour. Then I caught him on the bait and shot him with my 9.3 x 62.

I don’t hunt in built-up areas, but mostly on Crown Land that’s somewhat remote wilderness. But also on privately owned farm land that’s been abandoned as such, and has lots of brush and woodland where bears may hangout and feel safe. Such bears are still wild, but not extremely so, and mature ones will know your every move, and trust no one. You will not see them walking about, but hidden in the darkest and most remote parts. The only way they can be tempted to come very cautiously and sneakily to the border of where open fields and forest meets is by baits they can’t resist (hopefully). Usually, those are younger bears and/or females with cubs (which we don’t want or can lawfully shoot). I’ve only shot one dry female of 165 lbs by mistake, but she was lawful.

The point is that the bears hunters want are not easy to find or kill. In some more open areas of the West, often they can be spotted or stalked from a distance and shots may be taken at rather long distances with a suitable scoped-rifle. That would be a rare occasion here in the northeastern part of North America with our thick forests and small farms, relatively speaking. Usually, here in Eastern Canada shots on bear are less than 100 yds, and glimpses are fleeting. Usually, they hear or smell you long before you’d get a chance to pull the trigger on one. And that one may be lawful but a juvenile!

Hence, baiting bear, to get an opportunity on a bear wanted or dreamed of, is by far the best way to be successful. And baiting successfully takes a lot of knowledge, skill, hard work and patience! Working with hounds takes a special skill set, and bear-baiting is no less demanding if done right by the hunter who is not using an outfitter. If someone is hiring an outfitter they may think it’s easy, like buying meat at a supermarket, while knowing practically nothing about all that’s involved in agracultural practices.

Last year, on October 15, I saw for the first time the bear I’d been hunting over bait on Crown Land for two years! Knowing he was the dominant bear of the region, I was armed with my .375 H&H. It turned out that he was bigger than anticipated at ~+500 lbs, and I let him approach me to ~20 yards before I turned and walked away. He was too big for me to deal with alone in that wilderness, and I’d already shot “trophies” early on in my career as a bear hunter. As a fall bear ready for denning, he was magnificant! The best bear I’d ever seen that close in my lifetime! Alas, I didn’t get a pic of him as it all happened very quickly in tight quarters, and I put my crosshairs on him for protection with only the intent to shoot if he charged me – which he didn’t. At 20 yards I turned and walked away.

Was my .375 H&H too much gun? Is a .375 H&H “too much gun” to deal with a 400 to 500 lb lion? I certainly don’t think so! Plus, I was sure that bruin had killed and eaten some big game in that area because he could not have survived only on the desserts I was feeding him! And there was not a single living creature left in the neighbourhood. . . even to bears! And that location has traditionally been a “hot spot” for both deer and moose, as well as lesser fauna.

Will I hunt him again? Not specifically. But if I moved my bait location a mile or two away, he could still show up as that’s a mere overnight stroll for him. Even 5 miles away, he could easily smell it. He’s no threat to me as I’ve been his care giver, and he knows my scent intimately . . . but if he got really hungry and pissed-off, what then if we had an encounter? So I’m not yet sure about this spring hunt, I may let the current site cool off for the spring so he’ll have to go elsewhere. Then, I’ll commence baiting again come September. Maybe. . . .

What do bears eat and what do they like most?

They’ll even chew the containers of food if there’s still a smell of food in them!

They’ll eat most anything they can chew and swallow, but sweets are their downfall – more like humans than beasts! I feed them bird seed, marshmallows, licorice and anything from the freezer that needs to be thrown out. . . . occasionally apples, but they’ve become very expensive.

Any bear food must release a smell that pulls bears in to the bait site. Therefore, a barrel or containers with oppenings to release attractive scents must also protect the food from other creatures like coons, squirrels, fox, coyote, large birds or even deer! These are the types of containers that I’ve successfully used:

Buckets:

Barrels

Totes

Till the next: where other important details will be discussed, like

Scouting:

Location and placement of the bait site is also critical:

Having a clear view is necessary

Replenish frequently

Then following that will be:

Blind or Treestand?

Rifle

Retrieving

Value: is it worth it?

Till the next: About bear hunting – P2

Shalom

BOB MITCHELL