[Eska]

Had 3 friends walk up on a moose kill 2 years back. No sooner smelled it than a young bear stood up dropped and charged them. They all started shooting and soon as the bear felt the lead, turned and run off to their side. Bear went over 100 feet before collapsing. They found 6-7 holes in him. Just figure if he had rather decided to tear them up. Happens all the time. Every hunting season, they find dead hunter and dead bear side by side.

I have killed 9 moose with my 7mm mag, none run off; go down easy and the boy always finds that nosler on the back inside of hide when we take hide off. I would never use anything lighter than a 375 mag, for bear, sometimes carry the 45-70 when hiking up high, short & light. My friends all had 300's and 338's.

I sneak in on blk bear in devils club berries all the time in moose season, get within 10 yards of them then sneak back off, so satisfying too. I would never attempt that with grizz, around where I live they only get up 600-800 lbs, small interior bear; but they all still look quite big to me just they same. Don't piss with them and wish there were fewer of them around. They really hammer the moose calves.

[headsonpikes]

Thanks for your reports from bear country. Since I left the bush 23 years ago, I no longer get to enjoy fresh bear encounters and yarns each year. ;^)