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General discussion => Black Powder Shooting => Topic started by: MuskratMike on June 16, 2024, 03:55:10 PM

Title: Bear down
Post by: MuskratMike on June 16, 2024, 03:55:10 PM
Just leaving Idaho after a successful bear hunt. We got 6 bears in 4 1/2 days. Planned on shooting it with my Don Bruton .54 flintlock. Due to the terrain I elected to take the Hawken 54.
(https://i.ibb.co/6bq8XCf/bear.jpg) (https://ibb.co/q92CJQP)
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: wattlebuster on June 16, 2024, 05:18:16 PM
Bear grease galore. Congrats to you
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: okawbow on June 16, 2024, 05:44:16 PM
Congrats on a nice bear!
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: Daryl on June 16, 2024, 06:49:13 PM
Well done on your bear, Mike.
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: alacran on June 17, 2024, 03:50:38 PM
Congratulations Mike! I expect the details of the hunt will be in your article. I do have one question, what about the terrain made you chose the Hawken over the Bruton rifle?
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: MuskratMike on June 17, 2024, 04:16:39 PM
The steepness, dense brush, ease of carry. Actually split the time.
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: smylee grouch on June 17, 2024, 11:23:14 PM
Looks like a nice spring hide. What did it weigh?
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: old george on June 18, 2024, 12:09:33 AM
ah  that one won't maul no lil ole lady. Well done! nice bear indeed.

george
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: MuskratMike on June 18, 2024, 12:48:33 AM
We didn't take the time to weigh it (live weight or after field dressed). Not real good guesser. Enough I didn't want to drag it and let the guides do it.
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: ScottH on June 20, 2024, 12:13:03 AM
Congrats Mike!
Good looking bear.
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: Penske on June 20, 2024, 03:45:57 PM
Any bear taken with a flintlock is alright by me. As they say pure bragging rights. I can taste the bacon hamburger as we speak! Nice Job?
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: Robby on June 20, 2024, 08:02:41 PM

(https://i.ibb.co/cL3f3BK/0-4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0t2427p)
A bear left its calling card on my deck last night! Not too surprised, out back I have probably five acres of black berry's, eight feet tall and loaded with berry's. I even mow paths around them so my wife and friends have easy access to them.
Robby
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: alacran on June 21, 2024, 03:47:37 PM
Any bear taken with a flintlock is alright by me. As they say pure bragging rights. I can taste the bacon hamburger as we speak! Nice Job?
It appears that this one was taken with a caplock.
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: MuskratMike on June 21, 2024, 06:20:50 PM
Alacran: you are correct. I took two rifles for a reason. Depending on the steepness of the terrain and the amount of brush I would be going through I wanted to have the right weapon. The day I shot my bear I knew there was a high probability of very steep hikes and the brush was dense and thick. Therefore I chose the Hawken over the Don Bruton flintlock. Last i checked they are both muzzleloaders.
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: smylee grouch on June 21, 2024, 06:38:48 PM
It might be interesting to some if you would share your load particulars, shot distance, bullet placement and performance. ;)
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: MuskratMike on June 22, 2024, 03:35:44 AM
Glad to. 75 grains of Goex 3F, .530 round ball .018 ticking patch with a 50/50 mix of mink grease and pure neatsfoot oil. The bear was treed in a pine tree so let's say 12-15 yards. Shot it right behind the front leg taking out both lungs. The shot literally blew it out of the tree hitting the ground very dead.
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: snapper on June 22, 2024, 03:45:55 AM
Hunting with dogs?

Fleener
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: MuskratMike on June 22, 2024, 06:53:29 AM
Yes in the mornings we hunt in rigs each with 6 hounds. In the evenings over bait. For more details you'll have to wait for the article.
Title: Re: Bear down
Post by: Tim Crosby on June 27, 2024, 11:32:47 PM
 WOW! That thing looks huge, way to go.

   Tim