Category Archives: Big Game Hunting

Articles about Big Game Hunting.

Browning Speed 7mm Rem Mag with Hand Loaded 160g Nosler Partition on Black Bear

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The Nosler Partition bullet is renowned around the world for penetration. I used it exclusively on an African Plains game hunt thus my selection for bear hunting. My Browning Speed in 7mm Remington Magnum was my choice. 

 

On my Maine Foggy Mountain black bear hunt, I tried to get 175g Partition bullets for my bear adventure. Unfortunately, they were not available, luckily, the 160g Partition bullets were.

I have chronograped my new hand loaded 160g Nosler Partition at around 3050 fps using IMR 4831 powder. That is cookin’

As you can see below, I shot my bear in the slightly quartering toward front left shoulder.

The bullet exited the off side ribs wrecking the lungs. No death moan aka no lungs. I estimate the terminal energy at around 3400 ft-lbs. Wow! The boar went 25 yards and piled up. Funny, I never felt the recoil estimated to be near 28 ft-lbs.

On inspection during meat processing, the wound site had a 2 inch by 3 inch wide football-like cavity beginning at around an inch in after entering. I did not hit shoulder bone. 

The bullet continued through lungs, ribs and exited. Was that overkill? Many bear hunters use the 300 Win Mag with 180g bullets. delivering 3700 ft-lbs at 25 yards and hitting you with 35 pounds of felt recoil.

If I go on a trophy black bear hunt, where bears often exceed 300 to 400 pounds, I may opt for a 300 Win.

Big Canadian bears can be aggressive, like climbing into your treestand and popping their teeth. 

If you can handle heavy felt recoil… not a problem.

Good Hunting!

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Do You Want/Need Full Bullet Penetration On Black Bear? How did the Nosler Partition do?

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One of the biggest complaints I hear and read by “bear guides” during the recovery phase is “lack of a blood trail” on a supposedly lung shot bear.

Bear fat, experts suggest, can often plug the exit hole if the exit hole is small and dense bear hair can absorb blood as well. Exit hole size on exit can aid in blood flow if the hole is large enough. Energy to penetrate and exit is equally important. Bullet caliber?

Bigger bores work but you also need penetration. 

Are we missing more here? What about the bullets construction?

What about the sectional density of the bullet? Is the bullet monolithic copper, standard cup and core, is it bonded, or is it partition/A-Frame?

Terminal ballistics tell the story here. Both bonded, partition, and monolithic bullets lead-the-pack in penetration. Cup and core, jacketed lead works but tend to separate thus penetration is often less in big game such as elk, moose and bear but cost much less. I have used both monolithic copper, bonded and partition/a-frame more than typical cup and core styles. They do cost more but I’m a good, better, best kind of hunter. Often seeking the best in bullets. 

My recent Maine bear was hit with a 7mm 160g Nosler Partition In the shoulder at 3000 fps.

The internal damage was devastating and left a 2 inch wide tunnel on entering the shoulder, wrecked the lungs,exited and left an immediate blood trail for just 25 yards where we found the bear piled up. 

The bullet mushrooms extremely well and the rear core remains intact for deep penetration and often exits. 

The Nosler Accubond is one of the worlds best bonded and accurate bullets but Nosler says the Partition bullet is best on penetration for an exit wound. 

And they were right! The Nosler Partition did the job very well. Go Nosler!

Good Hunting!

 

Making Maine Black Bear – Bear Balm

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 Bear oil/grease below is the base of this easy-to-make bear balm recipe.

The many uses of bear fat is legendary in early America.

It is used for cooking, frying, pastry, lubricating, candle making, skin and hair care, waterproofing boots, shoes, and softening/protecting leather are but a few. 

It is an easy to make recipe which looks alot like mayonaise.

 

Ingredients:

1 cup black bear rendered oil/grease.

1/4 cup Jojoba Oil

1/4 cup cosmetic stearic acid beads heated to liquid.

Heat bear oil and organic stearic acid separately in a water bath below. The stearic acid  beads liquify at 180F. 

Combine hot bear oil and stearic acid liquid quickly in a glass mixing bowl while hot and mix. Then add the Jojoba oil and Essences and mix again by hand.

I used 50 drops of Bayberry Oil, 12 drops of Lavender Oil, and 12 drops of Sandalwood Oil to my basic recipe.

Scent essence oils are essential for calming aromatherapy too. 

Chill the balm in the fridge till stiff, then the whip the balm with a power mixer.

It looks like fluffy mayonnaise!

Place in small jars, label, and use small amount on hands and arms, rubbing it in.

The Bayberry oil etc. comes through as a very pleasing aroma. My next batch will be eucalyptus and peppermint scented. Enjoy!!!

Smooth Skin and Good Smells

Good Bear Hunting!!

 

Prep for Maine Bear Hunt

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In just 8 days I will be headed north on my Maine bear hunt with Foggy Mountain Guide Service. I am preparing my gear for the hunt. 

My Bear Hunt Check list

  • Hunt directions & Maps, Eye Glasses
  • License’s, Med’s
  • Payment and Tip money
  • Browning 7mm RM Rifle, Leupold VX6,Nosler Partition bullets and hard and soft gun case
  • 10mm 15 shot Glock 20 sidearm
  • Phone and charger
  • Garmin In-Reach gps/SOS
  • Buck Knife
  • Fishing Tackle ( trout fishing near lodge)
  • Worms
  • Backpack
  • Tripods/bipods
  • Cameras charged up and pen and paper
  • Binoculars
  • Soap and scent remover
  • Safety harness
  • Rain gear
  • Hats
  • Head lamps with new batteries.
  • Paracord
  • First aid kit
  • Pee Jug
  • Camo Pants and shirts, face camo
  • Underwear and socks
  • Bug repellent
  • Spray pants for ticks
  • Boots and sneakers
  • Tart Granny Smith apples for mouth/throat moisture on stand. Silences cough.
  • Food snack bars
  • Water bottles
  • 2 coolers for game meat

I am ready to go!

In the meantime enjoy Labor Day.

In my family we do lobsters, clams, corn on cob and cold beer. 

Have Fun!!

Wish You “Good Hunting!”

How confident are you Hunting Black Bear Over Bait?

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You can have all the confidence in the world to see bears if…

  • You have wind in your favor.
  • You have maximized scent removal from you and clothing.
  • Never walk into the baited area. 
  • Use a tree stand to keep scent above the site. 
  • Minimize movement. Use eyes before you turn your head. 
  • Eat foods that do not produce gas. 
  • Use a pee jug. 
  • Stay alert. Listen.
  • Shoot straight.

Hunters- North American Black Bear Populations Are Thriving

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There are official sources that estimate one million black bears (Ursus americanus) are living in North America. Not only are they thriving, they are growing and extending their ranges into towns that had few or none.

Range of the American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) #map #northamerica ...

Some hunters will simply not hunt them because they consider bear meat second to venison. The truth is, when venison is hard to get, bear meat begins to rise. And surprisingly, when dressed quickly and cooked properly, bear is first rate in a stew or roast, or as burger or sausage. 

In Maine, biologists estimate the population of 35,000 or more. In New Hampshire there are estimates of 5600 bears, Massachusetts estimates 5000 bears, Vermont estimates 8500 bears. And Growing! Thats, over 50,000 bears just in those 4 states.  A bears lifespan can be upwards of 15 to 20 years.  Old male bears will tip the scale over 400 pounds and upwards of over 600 pounds. Canada has perhaps very old black bears that exceed 400 pounds regularly.

Canada is still very wild. 

Bears are much like deer, they are crepuscular, meaning active in early morning and at dusk. Bears in wild away from humans often have diets of berries, grass, and insects but will eat meat and fish whenever available from carrion, fawns, moose, beaver and other wild young.

In the New England fall, bears are fat and if harvested at the end of Berry season, they have gorged on blueberries, raspberries and the like.

Bear meat at that time is quality to eat provided the meat reaches internal cooking temperatures of 160F or greater. Stewing bear meat at a slow boil both tenderizes the meat and kills bacteria and any parasites such as Trichinella (historically found in pork). 

And the fat is abundant to render for use in making pastry, soap, candles, waterproofing and lubrication.

In the spring, fat is gone but spring bears are lean and eat lots of grass.  Experts say bear fur is at its best in the spring. Canada hunts in spring. 

I am hoping my fall Maine black bear hunt this September brings me at least an opportunity if not a nice fat bear. I will be filming, photographing and writing too.

Hunting can be done with bow, pistol, rifle, muzzleloader and crossbow. Check regulations first. 

Good Hunting!

Bear Meat – Eliminate Trichinella?

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I have been using Sous Vide water baths for cooking  game meat to a specific internal temperature. Below is the Sous Vide tool to heat water and food to exact temperatures. 

 

For example; my venison can be SV’d to 125F then sear on a grill for perfect rare venison. But now cooking bear meat to medium rare? How is that possible? 

 Bear meat, like pork has the possibility of containing Trichinella, thus for years, federal guidelines for cooking are at much higher internal temperatures usually 160ºF and higher. 

I read an article in Bear Hunting Magazine where the author now eats his black bear meat at 140ºF after using a Sous Vide (time and temperature technique in a water bath) perfected by Federal Government Food Safety Guidelines below to kill parasites like wild game born trichinella. See Table A1 for time and temperature in the website below to kill Trich.. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7033995/

The bear recipe article from Bear Hunting Magazine below.

http://www.bear-hunting.com/recipes?ID=8F8AB0C2-9C1E-49E2-AC48-B79ACA718A2C

I have not tried the Sous Vide method for Bear meat.

When in doubt cook to at least 160ºF internal temp. like in a stew. I pressure cook my bear for stew. 

Note; Steve Rinella of Meateater fame made a serious field cooking mistake in 2011 with Alaskan black bear meat. He cooked it over an outdoor fire but was not sure of its internal temperature. He and his hunt party ate it and came down with Trichinosis infection and all had to take antibiotics. It was no fun!

I don’t know what Steve was thinking but he already knew of the parasite issue?

He continues his bear hunts and eating bear but perhaps learned a very important cooking survival lesson.

If you have no way to accurately measure internal grilled bear meat temperature in the field, don’t eat it.

Many Indigenous people of North America  boiled or stewed bear meat. A few tribes roasted it on a spit but boiling long enough to stew and tenderize will kill both bacteria and parasites. See website below.

http://traditionalanimalfoods.org/mammals/bears/

Good Lesson!

 

 

Black Bear Taxidermy Thoughts

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I learned years ago to check in with taxidermists before the hunt for costs and mounting options when I hunted Africa years back. Some of my Africa mounts below in my office.

Black Bear mounts today are better than ever. I like the half bear mounts because they have animation, rocks and shrubs around them. They look alive, don’t they!  Examples below at Sterling Taxidermy. 

Bear Taxidermy

Clete's Taxidermy Studio | Bear mounts, Taxidermy, Deer hunting decor

Other options include a bear rug or perhaps a skull mount below.

If you do some homework, you can get cost and mount styles before the hunt. Good Hunting!