I misplaced my teddy bear..

std7mag · November 20, 2018, 09:02 PM

Well, truck fixed, drove up to Moshannon State Forest this morning.
Walked in 2 miles in 12" of snow. Trail brought us in where i wanted to hunt from downwind.
Came out into a field between the power line and the gas line.
Looking around trying to figure out where to go, happened to look towards one section of trees, and saw bear cruising along the edge of the field about 200 yards away.

He stopped, cross hairs settled center/center and 140gr Ballistic Tip from my 280 sent.
Knocked him down. Rolled around briefly, got up and ran away. Great!! Chasing a wounded bear.
Heavy blood trail. Followed it about 500 yards or so. Then he went down the side of the mountain.
Search resumes in the morning.

While searching for the bear i hit, we came across 3 other sets of tracks.

FrankenMauser · November 20, 2018, 09:30 PM

Congrats!
(?? It feels odd congratulating a paused tracking effort. But still seems reasonable and right... ??)

Be safe when you head back out.
Walk softly but carry a big (boom)stick.

reynolds357 · November 20, 2018, 10:44 PM

Hopefully you find him in the morning.

sako2 · November 21, 2018, 05:29 AM

good luck in your search today. hope you find him.

Tallest · November 21, 2018, 01:18 PM

Best of luck!

May I ask why the Ballistic Tip was your bullet of choice for bear? No incriminations intended! Just curious

reynolds357 · November 21, 2018, 03:07 PM

Quote:

May I ask why the Ballistic Tip was your bullet of choice for bear?

I am assuming it's Black Bear. That Ballistic tip would be fine medicine for Blacks at 284 Win. Velocity.

std7mag · November 21, 2018, 04:19 PM

Thanks!
I used the Ballistic Tip due to lack of bullets on hand right now. It was that, or a 140gr. Berger VLD Hunting. I chose the Ballistic Tip.

Well, we parked the truck at first light. Went in from bottom of the mountain, along the creek bed. Found his tracks, and into the pines along the creek bottom. 45 in hand.
Crossed the creek, and i spied a flat faced "rock"? 15' high by 50 ft long.
Tracks right up to the base. Den found.
Got the headlights out and shined them in. Saw eyes looking back. He gave us kind of a growl/grunt..

We backed out, and as cliche as it sounds, tossed a couple glazed donuts over and walked away.
I wasn't about to shoot him in his den. Seemed alert, so i don't think i hit him anywhere near as bad as i thought.

buck460XVR · November 21, 2018, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by std7mag

I wasn't about to shoot him in his den. Seemed alert, so i don't think i hit him anywhere near as bad as i thought.

Sounds like the ethical way to hunt. As for the hit, when I read this I had my doubts....

Quote:

Originally Posted by std7mag

Heavy blood trail. Followed it about 500 yards or so.

While I've only blood trailed a few bear, every whitetail I bloodtrailed like you described, turn out to be a non-lethal muscle hit. Amazing how much blood one can lose and not bleed to death. Heavy blood in a lethal hit means one finds the animal long before 500 yards. Blood on snow can be very deceiving. Unless it's really cold the warm blood melts the snow it lands on and dilutes making it look like 2-3 times as much.

Good luck in your quest for another one!

ShooterScott1 · November 21, 2018, 11:56 PM

That's really a show of great mercy and ethics on your part.

std7mag · November 22, 2018, 10:38 AM

I should point out that the blood trail stopped some 50+ yards before he got into the pines.
So he wasn't bleeding the whole way to his den.

Rachen · November 22, 2018, 11:24 PM

In Soviet Russia, teddy bear finds YOU.

That account really got some adrenaline going though, I was wondering if you guys did locate the bear, and most importantly, safely? Wounded bears are angry and merciless and it was good that it did not storm out of it's den right at you. I've read enough Gary Paulsen stories to know that if you are going after bears, better be fully committed and dedicated to that task, otherwise it is a one-way trip. Better luck on the next hunt

November 20, 2018, 09:02 PM	#1
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	I misplaced my teddy bear.. Well, truck fixed, drove up to Moshannon State Forest this morning. Walked in 2 miles in 12" of snow. Trail brought us in where i wanted to hunt from downwind. Came out into a field between the power line and the gas line. Looking around trying to figure out where to go, happened to look towards one section of trees, and saw bear cruising along the edge of the field about 200 yards away. He stopped, cross hairs settled center/center and 140gr Ballistic Tip from my 280 sent. Knocked him down. Rolled around briefly, got up and ran away. Great!! Chasing a wounded bear. Heavy blood trail. Followed it about 500 yards or so. Then he went down the side of the mountain. Search resumes in the morning. While searching for the bear i hit, we came across 3 other sets of tracks. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

November 20, 2018, 09:30 PM	#2
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	Congrats! (?? It feels odd congratulating a paused tracking effort. But still seems reasonable and right... ??) Be safe when you head back out. Walk softly but carry a big (boom)stick. __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

November 21, 2018, 01:18 PM	#5
Tallest Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2016 Location: West of the Atlantic Posts: 418	Best of luck! May I ask why the Ballistic Tip was your bullet of choice for bear? No incriminations intended! Just curious __________________ Matthew "All men are ignorant. The topics of our ignorance may vary, but the nature of the world is that no man may know everything." ~ R Jordan

November 21, 2018, 04:19 PM	#7
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Thanks! I used the Ballistic Tip due to lack of bullets on hand right now. It was that, or a 140gr. Berger VLD Hunting. I chose the Ballistic Tip. Well, we parked the truck at first light. Went in from bottom of the mountain, along the creek bed. Found his tracks, and into the pines along the creek bottom. 45 in hand. Crossed the creek, and i spied a flat faced "rock"? 15' high by 50 ft long. Tracks right up to the base. Den found. Got the headlights out and shined them in. Saw eyes looking back. He gave us kind of a growl/grunt.. We backed out, and as cliche as it sounds, tossed a couple glazed donuts over and walked away. I wasn't about to shoot him in his den. Seemed alert, so i don't think i hit him anywhere near as bad as i thought. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

November 21, 2018, 11:56 PM	#9
ShooterScott1 Member Join Date: November 11, 2016 Posts: 15	That's really a show of great mercy and ethics on your part. __________________ Avid hunter and outdoorsman, and full time construction worker. I also dabble in blogging.

November 20, 2018, 10:44 PM	#3
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Hopefully you find him in the morning.

November 21, 2018, 05:29 AM	#4
sako2 Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2009 Posts: 739	good luck in your search today. hope you find him.

November 22, 2018, 10:38 AM	#10
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	I should point out that the blood trail stopped some 50+ yards before he got into the pines. So he wasn't bleeding the whole way to his den. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

November 22, 2018, 11:24 PM	#11
Rachen Senior Member Join Date: May 10, 2006 Location: Weekend cowboy Posts: 542	In Soviet Russia, teddy bear finds YOU. That account really got some adrenaline going though, I was wondering if you guys did locate the bear, and most importantly, safely? Wounded bears are angry and merciless and it was good that it did not storm out of it's den right at you. I've read enough Gary Paulsen stories to know that if you are going after bears, better be fully committed and dedicated to that task, otherwise it is a one-way trip. Better luck on the next hunt