Bear hunting

[MuskratMike]

Starting to think about my upcoming bear hunt in Idaho. Yesterday I broke out my large paper bear target to see how the Sharon Rifle Works Hawken I inherited from my late friends family would shoot. As 'ya all know I am a flintlock only shooter, but I have to admit this rifle really shoots. Thinking about taking it along with my favorite rife a Don Bruton .54 caliber as that's the same caliber as this cap lock. Set up the target at 60 yards and fired 10 shots. Two were slightly off to the left but right in the vitals. The other 8 basically made a large ragged hole a couple of inches high. This gun was put together by the late Joe Williams of The Gun Works in the late 70's or very early 80's.

[rich pierce]

Sharon barrels were very good, so I’m not surprised.

[hanshi]

I'd say you're going to be dragging a bear out of the woods!

[smylee grouch]

A min. of bear group.

[MuskratMike]

I sure hope so. I have never shot a bear as I kind of like them, they are not easy to hunt in Oregon and I don't have a good location to hunt here. Idaho in the lower pan handle (McCall area) seems to be loaded with them. Will take lots of photos and of course I have the outline started for a Muzzle Blast article. Probably going to buy a wolf tag as they have an over population of them and the tags are cheap.

[Gtrubicon]

Bear meat is actually really good. I’ve never cooked it in its own grease, a wood fired bbq is the only way I’ll cook it. We actually prefer it to the venison we have around here.

[Jeff Murray]

I've hunted almost exclusively with flint but used my .58 caliber Hawken for buffalo.  It is a fun gun to shoot and I wanted the greater energy from the .58.  We hunted black bear in Colorado a few years ago and only saw one.  My friend had the shot but was fixed on a nice bull elk at the water hole we were watching.  The bear took off like a bulldozer through the brush when he realized we were there.  Still had fun.  Good luck on your hunt.

[Daryl]

This time of year around here, just driving logging roads and picking the bear you want to shoot for pot or trophy is the normal venture for them.
I stopped shooting them decades ago and though maybe if I saw a huge one in the 7' range, but when I saw a lovely brown phase black bear in
that weight/length range, we (Brad and I) just watched him waddle around, then walk into the bush. He literally shook all over as he walked. Yes
this was in the late fall. In the spring, they carry very little extra fat.
This is not to say people shouldn't shoot them, just a personal choice of mine. Best wishes for your hunt, Mike.

[MuskratMike]

Daryl: I have hunted all my adult life. Have only seen 8 or 9 bears my entire life, none during bear season. I have no desire to shoot lots of them but want to harvest one while I am still above ground.