Black bear 3, me 0. Soooooo close!!

[Ognennyy]

Saturday 9/15 was the bear season opener in New York's northern zone. I was busy with family so couldn't make it but went out yesterday with my .308. I headed to a location I'd scouted earlier in the year that I knew had several active dropping beeches spread out over a roughly 300 x 300 yard area; a real rarity in the area I hunt. I'd seen bear sign all over the place and knew I'd eventually see the bear - I suspected a big boar - if I put in the hours on site.

Had a slight wind (which of course was swirling) but mostly coming from the West. Plan was to take my time and slowly work my way in from the East, scouting as I went, and eventually post up somewhere on the Eastern edge of the beech stands.

On my way in I periodically heard sounds off in the distance I couldn't quite place. At one point I heard what I figured to be a single shot from either a suppressed AR-15 or a .223 bolty, off about a half mile away maybe. I silently prayed that it wasn't another hunting shooting the boar I was hunting and moved on.

As I got within 100 yards of the area that was heavy with bear sign I found a fresh deer scrape. Only second one I've ever found up in the Adirondacks. I got excited; it just confirmed that I knew I was in the right area. I slowed way down and was now effectively still-hunting, just looking for a good place to post up for the evening hunt.

As I took a step I heard a large animal go crashing off about 70-80 yards away. I never saw any flash of movement at all because the area was so thick with beeches and vegetation, but by the sound I knew it had to be a moose or a bear. Took a knee, waited 20 min, didn't see anything so pressed on still-hunting with a goal of making it onto a flat / knob in front of me that was slightly higher and more open than the surrounding area through which I was moving at the time. I decided that was my destination for the evening if I could get to where I could see a bit through a more open section of forest.

15 minutes later I was stopped behind a tree on the crest of the small flat, looking for a comfortable spot to prone out. I scanned left, scanned right, scanned back left past a large yellow birch at about 90 yards and wtf.... I didn't notice that huge chaga last time I scanned left. Then the huge chaga started moving left to right.

Through brush and beech leaves I could just see the large silhouette and unmistakable waddle of a black bear. He was big, bigger than I thought and I knew it was a big one. The oddest thought passed instantly through my head; that wasn't a suppressed rifle shot a mile away I heard 30 minutes ago. It was this bear knocking down a dead tree likely within 200 yards.

He was down ever so slightly below the crest on the opposite side of the little flat that we were on, to the point where I could see his upper 2/3 but even without brush in the way I wouldn't have seen his lower legs and paws. My instincts told me to take a knee for a stabilized shooting platform (makes sense) and drop my pack (does not make sense). I did both, and held my rifle at low ready while looking and trying to hear where he was going.

It took about 1 full second for the adrenaline rush to slam into me. It hit so hard I knew I could no longer rely on my hearing to locate the bear over the sound of blood rushing through my ears and my rapid breathing which I struggled to control.

And I never saw him again. After 10 minutes I moved a few fight and got into a prone position rested on my pack, and waited another 45-60 minutes. But never saw him again.

When I dropped my pack I didn't send it crashing to the forest floor, though neither was it super quiet, and I feel like I remember the bear responding to the noise. I don't know if he heard it and ran down into the draw on a bee-line away from the noise or what. I also now question the wisdom of dropping to a knee since when I did that I think I might have instantly cut off my line of sight to the bear.

So many things have been going through my head since this, my third black bear encounter now in the Adirondacks through nine seasons without sealing the deal. I'm second guessing everything I did. I have no idea why my gut said to drop my pack; there's zero reason for that and it's very possible he heard me and ran away.

But what upsets me the most is that I didn't shoot immediately. All the other "what ifs" and "was it this or was it that?" wouldn't even be factors if I had just shot right away when I realized it was a bear. I mean a 150 grain .308 bolt rifle is not what I would call for if I had to choose specifically a brush gun, but I think it's safe to say it would've gotten the job done if I had shot. As soon as I saw movement I shouldered my rifle I think. Or did I drop first? I can't remember.

My point is that after years of hunting in the Adirondacks I know that opportunities are few and far between. It's not like hunting farm country, plains, or mountains where you can see the animals for a long time and take your time about making a decision. You have to be quick on the draw if you want to succeed, and take what you can get. But for whatever reason my instinct is always to get into a favorable shooting position, and hope the animal comes out into the clear and offers me a perfect shot.

I just wish my first instinct could be to shoot as soon as possible, so in this case as soon as I knew it was a bear, even right through the leaves. I dunno, I'm beating myself up over it quite a bit I know. I suppose if I did that though and the big black silhouette had turned out to be a moose this post would've been very different in nature. In fact, the post wouldn't be here ha.

All I can do is pray that black bears are not like deer, and that he won't vanish now, as he's most certainly come across my scent trail by this point. I'm not sure what to expect as this is my first time truly hunting a black bear and not just having an incidental encounter while out deer hunting. I've never been in a position before in my hunting career when I saw concentrated bear sign and knew I could specifically hunt one. Do they bug out if they know a human has been there? My gut tells me no, that a bear will stay wherever there is food for as long as that food is there.

I also feel like it would be prudent for me to bring my dying rabbit predator call that I bought two seasons ago, then promptly stashed in a drawer where it's remained, after my last black bear encounter. Instinct to take a stabilized shooting position and wait for a clear shot be the right or wrong inclination, it's my instinct and I'm not going to break it in 24 or 48 hours. So probably I'll bring my call and if I get in a similar situation with any luck I can get him in the open for a shot.

Long I know, but apparently I had some emotions bottled up over this topic.

[Bonecrusher101]

thanks for posting. good luck going forward. i’m not a bear hunter, but if i were you i’d think about picking up or making a shooting stick and practice with it while standing at least once before heading back out.

[Chuck B]

Thanks for the write up. Bummer about the encounter. I tell you what, don’t try to beat yourself up about missing the opportunity. For one, it is very important to make sure of your target. It seems as though you weren’t 100 percent sure on a bear versus a moose. Point number two, it’s important to make sure you can take a high quality shot. I, for one, do not feel very comfortable on a 90 yard free standing free hand shot. I much prefer to drop to a knee, use a tree, etc. With your hunting style you are using, you could consider a one stick shooting stick to bring with you.

I am by no means a bear expert. But it sounds like he might not have been sure about you. I would head back in the general area he was in and do it quickly if you can.

[Ognennyy]

thanks for posting. good luck going forward. i’m not a bear hunter, but if i were you i’d think about picking up or making a shooting stick and practice with it while standing at least once before heading back out.

I've never been a fan of shooting sticks or full-sized tripods, but I do practice various rests and free-hand shooting. But why do you feel strongly about shooting sticks?

[Ognennyy]

I am by no means a bear expert. But it sounds like he might not have been sure about you. I would head back in the general area he was in and do it quickly if you can.

I really struggled with whether to email the boss and tell him sorry but need a last-minute vacation day, precisely because my scent is already all over the area.

Ok I need to focus, get work done, and leave early to get back up there :p It's raining but whatever.

[Chuck B]

I am by no means a bear expert. But it sounds like he might not have been sure about you. I would head back in the general area he was in and do it quickly if you can.

I really struggled with whether to email the boss and tell him sorry but need a last-minute vacation day, precisely because my scent is already all over the area.

Ok I need to focus, get work done, and leave early to get back up there :p It's raining but whatever.

I can hear you coughing from here in WI. You better leave work early and get some rest….

[Ognennyy]

I am by no means a bear expert. But it sounds like he might not have been sure about you. I would head back in the general area he was in and do it quickly if you can.

I really struggled with whether to email the boss and tell him sorry but need a last-minute vacation day, precisely because my scent is already all over the area.

Ok I need to focus, get work done, and leave early to get back up there :p It's raining but whatever.

I can hear you coughing from here in WI. You better leave work early and get some rest….

hahahah that's what I'm saying! Oh man, the body aches... it hurts to laugh...

[Woodsy211]

Sounds like u were taken by suprise when u initially saw the bear. U made the right call by not taking the shot . I had that happen to me 10 or so years ago. A buddy drove off a small brush lot to me, probably about the size of the beech stand that u described. The last thing I expected to see was a bear. And he was a monster, a bear all the locals had been chasing around. I knew what I was looking at, but at first I thought it was a cow that got out. It just took me by suprise.

I’d go right back in there. They love beeches when they are producing. If that same bear isn’t right back in there, others will be without a doubt. If u look around, u will see where they’ve climbed up the beech trees too, u will see the claw marks.

[Stretch]

Good write up, great hunt! It's these kind of things that keep you going back for more. I'd say better to not have shot than to rush and make a poor shot. Get back out there and good luck!

[Ryan549]

Just a matter of time

[Huntress13]

You are getting them figured out!!

[Chuck B]

I am by no means a bear expert. But it sounds like he might not have been sure about you. I would head back in the general area he was in and do it quickly if you can.

I really struggled with whether to email the boss and tell him sorry but need a last-minute vacation day, precisely because my scent is already all over the area.

Ok I need to focus, get work done, and leave early to get back up there :p It's raining but whatever.

I can hear you coughing from here in WI. You better leave work early and get some rest….

hahahah that's what I'm saying! Oh man, the body aches... it hurts to laugh...

Well, did you go back out yesterday evening?

[Ognennyy]

Thanks for the support on the decision to not snap shoot. Maybe it's just me but after an encounter where I don't seal the deal I tend to get very emotional and second-guess everything. I appreciate the back up.

I did not go out yesterday afternoon. I wanted to so bad, and figured it would stop raining eventually. Negative ghost rider, the weather pattern was full. It rained from 0400 yesterday through when I went to bed, non-stop. I want to kill a bear but.... not in that hard of a rain no thanks.

Went back up this evening, just got home. There's a high pressure front blowing in and the wind was typical for the Adirondacks in a pressure change; gusty from fully calm, up to 15mph, and switching directions non-stop. I didn't dare get close to where I figured he'd be and instead scouted an adjacent ridge across a small stream and up the draw. I found what looks to be his travel routes through the area, but I didn't find anything that looks like bedding or feeding area. Generally not an area where he's spending a lot of time. But I can be sure there's something further west beyond the ridge I just scouted where he is indeed spending a lot of time.

I'm not very familiar with bear behavior. I'm guessing they're less spooky than white tail, but I saw no good reason to go into the core area where I know he's spending time, where I encountered him on Sunday. Those areas are thick with beech sapplings. With the wind swirling and gusting and without my tree saddle to elevate, I'd never see him until he was almost on top of me and no chance I'd hear him coming. I figured all I could've done was educate him so I stayed out.

Next time though. I think I'll get him this weekend.

[Ognennyy]

Follow up question / poll here; how many of you hunt black bears using a bolt action rifle? Any time I'm on the ground with the intent of killing a bear I find myself considering getting a 12 gauge short barrel shotgun. And to clarify; the on the ground part is not related to my safety, it's got more to do with the effectiveness of the weapon platform.

If I'm in a saddle or a stand I always feel good about my lethality because I can see and shoot over the beech wips that choke the areas where I find bear sign, so no problem for a 7.62x51 or a .270. But I don't feel so hot about shooting those same rounds through brush.

Maybe a 12 gauge, or like a 45-70 gov lever action, if I know I'm likely to have to shoot through beech saplings? Any thoughts here?

[KRONIIK]

Follow up question / poll here; how many of you hunt black bears using a bolt action rifle? Any time I'm on the ground with the intent of killing a bear I find myself considering getting a 12 gauge short barrel shotgun. And to clarify; the on the ground part is not related to my safety, it's got more to do with the effectiveness of the weapon platform.

If I'm in a saddle or a stand I always feel good about my lethality because I can see and shoot over the beech wips that choke the areas where I find bear sign, so no problem for a 7.62x51 or a .270. But I don't feel so hot about shooting those same rounds through brush.

Maybe a 12 gauge, or like a 45-70 gov lever action, if I know I'm likely to have to shoot through beech saplings? Any thoughts here?

Big, slow, blunt and heavy bullets are long-proven to be somewhat less likely to deflect off any brush they may strike, than are small, light, and fast spitzer-(pointy-tipped) bullets.

The downside to that is that because they are bigger, they are also a bit more likely to HIT a twig than a smaller-diameter bullet that might have slipped right past the same twig!
Twist rate also factors in to some degree. The faster the twist rate, the greater the angle of deflection upon twig contact. (GENERALLY.)

Regardless, nothing short of light artillery will defeat brush reliably except possibly, to some extent, buckshot.

The best strategy is probably disciplined and accurate shooting, trying the best you can to avoid [b]any [/b significant ]brush, except really light stuff if it's near the animal.
The closer any twig is to the animal, the less likely that any bullet contact will be to result in a miss.

But if you know that your shots will be close enough, you're still PROBABLY best to go bigger and heavier.

What bullets do you have available to you in 45-70?