So a little background. On youth day this year my son shot his second deer ever, a doe. She ran off, and after he stopped shaking, we started tracking. She was bleeding very well, and the blood was getting heavier and heavier. I could see ahead a log with blood all down the side going to a steep ravine. I walked to it, looked down, and there is the biggest bear I have ever seen, about 25 yds away. I scramble back up to my son behind me, as he has the gun. we are watching this thing and it's huge. I am guessing over 300# easy. I text a game biologist buddy, and he states I'm screwed at this point, can't shoot the bear. after I get off the phone, another bear comes in behind us that scared the shit out of my son. I yelled at it and it ran off. The other big bear just watched. I tried to run it off by shooting the rifle off down the hill behind it. The bear wasn't too scared. it ran 10 feet, looked back, and just looked at us. we left. now this weekend is youth bear day here in VA, and my son wants revenge. I have a 6mm rem, shooting 100sbt bullets. It is cut off to fit him (he's 8.5 yrs old). Do you guys think this is enough gun? He has shot my full length stocked varmint rifle, but only off bi-pods or bench. Should I let him shoot one of my bigger caliber guns that doesn't fit him properly, that he might not be the best shot with, or is the 6mm enough for a larger bear? I know it sounds like a stupid question when I have bigger guns, but I also don't want him to make a questionable shot that is worse than a well placed one. I plan on taking him to the range to see if he can manage one of my adult sized guns this week sometime.
bear hunting-gun advice
- Thread starter FryeGuy
- Start date
Mulligan
Silver $$ Contributor
Black bears are not any more difficult to take down that deer of equal size.
They can have a bit bigger bone structure and their hide can be thicker if they are big bears.
I would not hesitate to shoot a 250-300 pound bear with a good bullet from a 6mm.
CW
Edit
I would take a well placed shot with a 6mm over a crap shoot with something bigger.
Might also be a good time to explain to the lad, the food chain....... some times we are not at the top........ lots of friends in WY deal with griz each year and lose elk. Sometimes you just have to walk away.
CW
They can have a bit bigger bone structure and their hide can be thicker if they are big bears.
I would not hesitate to shoot a 250-300 pound bear with a good bullet from a 6mm.
CW
Edit
I would take a well placed shot with a 6mm over a crap shoot with something bigger.
Might also be a good time to explain to the lad, the food chain....... some times we are not at the top........ lots of friends in WY deal with griz each year and lose elk. Sometimes you just have to walk away.
CW
What happened to the deer?
just remember that the chest cavity of a bear is tiny compared to a deer. the shot needs to be right behind the shoulder and pretty low. their lungs are small compared to a deer or elk.
I've killed several bears mostly with archery gear and they die easier and much faster than deer do. Very easy to kill if an arrow or bullet is placed properly. I've lung and heart shot deer that can make it half a mile after being shot. Yes they are dead on their feet but can make up ground very fast. Typically if an animal is at ease and unaware of your presence, the after shot recovery is quick if shot placement is precise. It's the animal that's alert to human presence before the shot that the adrenaline dump will take him hundreds of yards from the site of impact. Bears in general die very quickly.
okie
Gold $$ Contributor
yeah--go along with him
helmut in the bush, to answer your question, the bear ate it. It happens. it was just a matter of time before it happened to me. A friend of mine shot a really nice buck a few years back, bear drug it off.
Thanks Gents. I will be along, he is only 8. on youth days, the adult has to be directly beside the youth, and not allowed to carry firearms. I will have my bow thou, and a pistol since I am a concealed carry permit holder. He shot my .308 today at the range, and hit really well with it, but hated the recoil. I would rather him make an accurate shot than me tracking a wounded pissed off 300# bear. Hopefully we'll see one Saturday, just hung up some stands this morning so we are off the ground. I think the 6mm will do.
thanks for the advice on shot placement. I will pull up some pics and diagrams to go over with him on shot placement.
last year was easier. it was during regular bear season. It was a straight on shot, and I was already getting my gun ready it was so close. he dropped it, but it was only 125#
Thanks Gents. I will be along, he is only 8. on youth days, the adult has to be directly beside the youth, and not allowed to carry firearms. I will have my bow thou, and a pistol since I am a concealed carry permit holder. He shot my .308 today at the range, and hit really well with it, but hated the recoil. I would rather him make an accurate shot than me tracking a wounded pissed off 300# bear. Hopefully we'll see one Saturday, just hung up some stands this morning so we are off the ground. I think the 6mm will do.
thanks for the advice on shot placement. I will pull up some pics and diagrams to go over with him on shot placement.
last year was easier. it was during regular bear season. It was a straight on shot, and I was already getting my gun ready it was so close. he dropped it, but it was only 125#
Buy a limbsaver airtech pad for your .308 for him. They really help with the recoil , they sell slip on pads if you don't want a permanent option plus you can use the slip on on different rifles and shotguns... Alot of Walmarts sell them way cheaper than ordering or academy , the mediums seem to fit alot of different rifles and shotguns...
I have a 6mm remington and it's great for the small white tails down here in S. Texas but for a bear , uhmmm.? Seems to me a little bigger might be better , my wife will shoot my .308 with a good recoil pad of course it's a heavier barrel than a hunting rifle and she doesn't like heavy recoil , 168gr gameking seems like it would be great... But I am no bear hunter , have never seen a bear in the wild and would have probably pooped myself so much after reading your OP the bear wouldn't have wanted me....
I have a 6mm remington and it's great for the small white tails down here in S. Texas but for a bear , uhmmm.? Seems to me a little bigger might be better , my wife will shoot my .308 with a good recoil pad of course it's a heavier barrel than a hunting rifle and she doesn't like heavy recoil , 168gr gameking seems like it would be great... But I am no bear hunter , have never seen a bear in the wild and would have probably pooped myself so much after reading your OP the bear wouldn't have wanted me....
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I bet that was exciting, glad you got out of there safely
I was talking to a guy once that had taken his son who was around 10 IIRC, along with him to Africa. The guy had 2 rifles that were set-up the same but different calibers and had the kid practicing with a 270 or whatever it was. Basically something he could get comfortable shooting. On the actual hunt he handed the boy the other rifle in 300 win mag to make the shot and said in the heat of moment he didn't feel the recoil and never knew it was a different gun.
That's a pretty extreme situation but something similar could be done for next season. Put together say a 308 for him and let him only shoot reduced loads to get comfortable with it. Rezero and put in normal ammo for the hunt and he may not notice the switch either.
That's a pretty extreme situation but something similar could be done for next season. Put together say a 308 for him and let him only shoot reduced loads to get comfortable with it. Rezero and put in normal ammo for the hunt and he may not notice the switch either.
Liven The Dream
Gold $$ Contributor
There once was a Great Gunsmith from Carpenterville Illinois.
He was known for being also a Big BC Black Bear Hunter ....
This was His Bear Rifle Special. 8mm/06 Built on 8mm Mauser Barreled Actions
His Ammo was 200 gr . RWS Blood Groove Bullets. May have been 210 gr. ?
As I remember He said “ one shot Anchor “ .
I would say 30.06 with 180 gr. Would be the best of Two Worlds .
He was known for being also a Big BC Black Bear Hunter ....
This was His Bear Rifle Special. 8mm/06 Built on 8mm Mauser Barreled Actions
His Ammo was 200 gr . RWS Blood Groove Bullets. May have been 210 gr. ?
As I remember He said “ one shot Anchor “ .
I would say 30.06 with 180 gr. Would be the best of Two Worlds .
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nmkid,
I agree with you to some degree. It will be more of a bow hunt for pops, if a bear happens by like it did last week then so be it. He was with me when he was 7 when I took my first bear, and last year he took his first bear. We don't use dogs, and don't bait, etc., so if they come by during season, we get them. So to some degree, they amble by calm, etc. last week was an exception. I will say he is a bear magnet. I can hunt for 6-8 weeks and never see a bear, take him and they come by. otherwise he isn't hunting again until late November/early December.
I agree with you to some degree. It will be more of a bow hunt for pops, if a bear happens by like it did last week then so be it. He was with me when he was 7 when I took my first bear, and last year he took his first bear. We don't use dogs, and don't bait, etc., so if they come by during season, we get them. So to some degree, they amble by calm, etc. last week was an exception. I will say he is a bear magnet. I can hunt for 6-8 weeks and never see a bear, take him and they come by. otherwise he isn't hunting again until late November/early December.
I understand that concern. Not sure if you are a bear hunter or not but black bears are not man eaters. Hunted over bait is virtually the same as hunting deer the same way. In Virginia baiting may not be allowed. Your hunting from a blind either up or on the ground and black bears are not hunting you. There's much more danger of an 8 year old riding a dirt bike than bear hunting. Especially when hunting bears with and experienced adult.
Perhaps, lets look at just facts.
According to you, your boy is shaking badly on a deer shot( which sounds like it was not in the boiler room).
What, exactly should we assume his composure would be now, pointing at dangerous game (especially in the eyes of an 8 year old) compounded by the fact that you seem to be leaning towards making it less certain by trying it with a marginal caliber for the task.
Sounds like Darwin award material.
According to you, your boy is shaking badly on a deer shot( which sounds like it was not in the boiler room).
What, exactly should we assume his composure would be now, pointing at dangerous game (especially in the eyes of an 8 year old) compounded by the fact that you seem to be leaning towards making it less certain by trying it with a marginal caliber for the task.
Sounds like Darwin award material.
Dad carry a BMF rifle
( dangerous game ) maybe if you get between him and his next dozen of jelly donuts. 
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