Montana Outdoors: Hunters dealing with bolder bears

The Billings Gazette ^ | November 08, 2007 | MARK HENCKEL

[george76]

Advice from FWP not always applicable.

If you're on a sight-seeing trip through the mountains while carrying your hunting rifle, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks' advice regarding grizzly bears is great. But if you ever hope to actually fill a tag with an elk or deer, the advice has some problems.

Making noise

For example, one piece of advice to avoid bears is to make plenty of noise as you hike through bear country. Another is to hunt in pairs or groups. Yet another is to avoid cover that might hide a bear.

Unfortunately, most hunters would agree that the best way to spot an elk or deer before it spots you and runs off is to move quietly, hunt alone and, after opening day, to search through security cover where the animals are most likely to be hiding.

Grizzly bear numbers are on the rise and their range is spreading ...

Don Laubach... has hunted grizzly ...for the past 40 years. He has run into countless grizzly and black bears in all seasons during that time. But, he said, times have changed and so have the grizzlies.

"There weren't really that many back when I began hunting here," ... "Back when grizzlies were hunted, when you went into the backcountry, if you did see them and they saw you, they took off. They don't do that anymore. They weren't bold like they are now. I think it's from not hunting them."

Boldness among the bears...along with more bears in more places...

"I've always been alert to things going on around me, but I think you have to be more alert when you're traveling around the mountains now," ... "Most guys aren't thinking there's a possibility they'd jump a grizzly bear or a wolf.

I'm always on the lookout.

[Rick.Donaldson]

That’s a bloody big bear. (Pun intended). I have seen that picture before. Was supposed to be an Air Force guy in Alaska though.

Yep, just checked it. This was in Alaska (The picture, not the article!)

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/bearhunt.asp

[Myrddin]

Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70 govt.

I have one of those. It's a very nice rifle. It pairs nicely with my BFR revolver in 45-70 with 10" barrel. The downside is that the BFR is limited to loads of 31,000 PSI per the gunsmiths at Magnum Research. The Marlin rifle is rated for 40,000 CUP.

[xsrdx]

Smith and Wesson has been marketing a survival kit

Now that is cool...

[xsrdx]

My version has the 10 1/2 inch barrel with the Picatinny rail on top.

Your concealment rig then I guess?

[xsrdx]

If I was headed out to bear country for the purpose of hunting them,

Nothing wrong with big bore lever guns for protection, but 338WM or 375HH in a decent bolt gun would be a superior choice for hunting as both shoot flatter and retain a lot more energy past 100yd if you need to shoot that far..

I do like that stainless Marlin GG in 45-70 though.

[Myrddin]

Your concealment rig then I guess?

It conceals just fine when covered by a tarp and pulled on a trailer behind my F150. Standard procedure with a cannon.

[Myrddin]

I purchased the Marlin GG in 45-70 just as the last production runs were created with the muzzle brake. It's a real pleasant and accurate rifle. My BFR revolver is the 2nd generation with the longer cylinder so I'm not limited to 405 gr rounds. The BFR handloaders advise against having round in the chamber opposite the load gate with heavy loads...it can bend the gate.

[Inyo-Mono]

BTTT