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1412 Yards Long Range Practice.....

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Once In A Lifetime Hunt .Beating The Odds.The Story about My 2015 B&C Mountain Goat Hunt.

Hunting Mountain Goat has Been a Dream of Mine Since i was a Young man.I have always been in Awe of How Majestic they are.In my Opinion They are The Pinnacle of Achievement in the Hunting world.You See a Mountain Goat Simply Can't be Bought.Even When one Goes on a Guided Hunt,They Are Most Certainly Earned.When Hunting DIY on Public land The Reward is Indescribable.Hunting Mountain Goat is a Physical and mental Challenge.They Live in some of the most Hostile terrain on Earth.Now These Animals are much bigger than one would think,Big Billies Can Weigh as Much as 350 Lbs.In the Case of Mine the Old Warrior Was a Great Example of What Old age and good Genetics Can Produce.My Billie had Made it to the Ripe Old Age of 11.5 Years.For A Mountain Goat to Make it this Long Is a Testament to The Fortitude they have.They live in The Harshest Conditions In Unbelievable Terrain.One can only Imagine the Life of A Mountain Goat,For One Wrong Step and It is All Over.I Can attest to this as several times on my Hunt My son and I Both Had some Close calls.For This Hunt We used a Kawasaki Teryx To Get around the Huge area we Had to Scout.We had A Very large area to scout and only 10 Days to get this hunt Done.My Son Had managed to Get 11 Days off from Work to Come and Help me on this Hunt.We covered at least 100 Miles on the first Day Scouting Using the Kawasaki.It allowed us to Check out Areas We Thought Goats would be and Move Quickly To another Area.With being Able to cover So Much Ground We Were able to locate 22 Mountain Goats on the First Day.We were using A Swarovski 95 MM Spotting Scope and a Kowa For Long Range Observation.Along With Minox and Swarovski Binos.Great glass Is of The Utmost Importance In Finding a Trophy Animal.It allows One to Look Over an Animal and Make A Decision On Rather to Pursue it or Keep looking.While the First Day was Very Productive,We had found Zero Shooter Goats.

Now Day 2 Was Rough.Here we were in the Middle of September In Idaho And Here comes A Big Snow Storm with 40-50 MPH Winds.Now I am Not Going to tell You it is Easy to Spot Mountain Goats in Fresh Snow,But It can Be done.We Kept at it and Eventually Found a Really Nice Billie.We were Not Positive He was a Booner in the Short time We had to look Him Over Before He Disappeared.We were Positive He was a Shooter with a Bow.With Bow In Hand We Climbed Nearly 2800 Vertical Feet as fast as we could in the Horrible weather.With Winds In Our Favor(If you Can Call 40-50 MPH Winds in Your Face In ones Favor} We worked our way to where we thought he was heading.When We got there He was Nowhere to be found (welcome to Mountain Goat hunting).We Stayed up there as Long as we could.Thanks to our Riverswest Gear we were For the Most part Pretty warm.At this point I was really wishing I had some googles.As Luck Would Have it the Wind Had Decided to Change Direction for Our Decent.It was Pretty Brutal But we had got Right on a Big Bull Elk.With all the wind we had managed to get within 50 yards of him without him or his cows knowing we were there.. He blew out of his Bed At 30 yards and Went down the Mountain To Our Right.I Know We were Asking Ourselves What in The World were they Doing Up In That God Awful Country.Well We Learned why the Next Day.The Wolves Were In the area and had everything hanging around the High Elevations.The Mountain Goats had lots of Company on our Trip

On Day 3 We could not locate the Big Billie in the morning so we cruised the Roads Looking for another Billie.About noon that Day We Ran into some of the Local Cattlemen.They were waiting for the Federal Trapper to Come in and trap some wolves that had killed some Cattle in the area.It seems the Wolves were Also Messing up all the Elk hunters in the area too. The Elk Were for the most part Silent.They had Cows But we only heard a Couple Bugles in the first 3 Days.We have hunted this area for years and I can Tell you The wolves have Changed the way the Elk Rut.They have become much less vocal.Even With Us Not Elk Hunting I Still like to See and Video them. They were in Short Supply This Trip though.When We Did Spot some they Were Competing with Mountain Goats for Real Estate.

Now Day 4 Has us Still dealing with Snow storms and Hunting was tough.My Son Had Managed to Spot a Goat in What looked to be a Pretty Easy Area to get too.Well Easy Turned out to Be a 200 foot Cliff Directly Below him ,And No way in hell I was Going to try and get on him from Above. We Decided to video this one for a bit and we ended up spotting 3 nannies with 3 kids.They Were making their way for cover as the wind was really howling.We continued to look for goats and found only one lone nanny.She Actually Had Long Horns but Not what I was looking for.We Came off the mountain a little bit disappointed.

Day 5 The weather started to break And the Sun was Shining.We Went and check out some other areas with the Kawasaki and found a Shooter Billie.I do I Mean a Shooter. I was 100% positive I wanted this Goat.He had Everything, Mass Length and a Very Noticeable Roman Nose. I Knew He was The "ONE". Due to the really Windy conditions we decided to wait until the next morning to go after him.We cruised over in the Teryx4i to Spot I had hunted Elk in for years.I wanted to do A little Sight seeing and allow for the fast Melting snow to disappear.We Did Manage to find some Elk ,but once again they were up with the goats.We Filmed a couple of Decent bulls with cows and Broke out lunch.We went back to camp and planned the ascent for the morning.

Day 6 We got our packs all prepared and headed out 2 hours before Light To Be in Position where we had found the goat.With The weather Now on our side and warming into the low 70's We were going make camp When we found a suitable spot . We reached a good spot shortly after light.With the sun starting to come up we headed quickly up the rest of the climb.This time my son had packed the Rifle with us and i brought the Bow.I really wanted to shoot one with a bow but If It were indeed a Booner I was fine with the rifle.We located a Goat but it was not the One I wanted. We went ahead and Made the Stalk anyway.He was a Mature Goat and if I could take with a Bow He would Work.We used what Cover we Could and Got within 90 Yards of Him. He was feeding our way and if all worked the way we hoped I would have a 25 yard shot.In What seemed like hours he decided to Lay down and sun himself.We sat pat and he Got up after a few hours and fed back where he came from.Oh this Goat hunting is Fun.When He made it around the corner we made our way toward where we last saw him.We made it over and he was straight down from us a 100 yards away.I could have easily shot him with the rifle but There was Simply no way to recover him.We sat there for awhile and Had lunch and surveyed the area.We spotted More goats but hey appeared to be a big group of nannies and kids.We got our camera out and took a few pics.We Decided to set camp up before Dark.Man those Pop Tarts and Ramen are good.We Packed a MSR Lightweight stove and Had enough water for 2 more days of cooking and Hydration and Energy from Our Mtn Ops Products.We were Excited for what would come the next day.

Day 7 We were up Early and decided to follow the ridge top to where we last saw the Big Boy.We Were heading that way when we spotted the Billie from the Day Before.Heading down for water. He gad No idea we were there so we watched him for a bit.We figured it was going to take hi awhile before he headed back up..We Meandered our way out the ridge and ran into Antelope. Now this Was a Crazy spot for Antelope to be.There was One 75" Buck with him He Grabbed his women and got out of there.We Broke out the Spotters and Looked over the adjacent Mountain range. We saw Elk ,Mule Deer, Moose,More Moose and More Moose.The Moose were In the Bottom Land and the rut was Surely On.We saw 9 Bull Moose from our Vantage point,With a Couple of studs.We went back to see if the Billie was heading back up yet and sure as can be he was napping.There was no way he was making it to where we were before dark.Man I could Shoot him ,but once again the recovery was sketchy.. I decided to pass .Off to camp.

Day 8 We were at it early again and spotted 3 Billies in the same area. One was Possibly a shooter so off we went.It took us about 4 hours to get into position to really check them out.We were About a 1000 yards from them and were checking them all out when Cody spotted the Big boy again.It was a tough decision but the wind was howling again and I did not like the thought of taking a Shot that far in that wind.We Headed back to camp and Decided to break camp and move closer to where they were located. We would move about a mile from where they were and make a move on My Last day Of hunting with my son. He had to head back the next morning.At this Point I was Just going to Take one with the Rifle as this Country was not a place to hunt bu yourself. I really wanted to end it with help to pack one out.

Day 9 We were in position at first light. We spotted the 3 Billies and the Big boy.He was still by himself.He was feeding our way and We had several draws between us.I decided that when he got to a Spot we had picked out I was going to take him.At one point we thought we would not see him again,he was out of site for hours.All of a sudden he appeared in the place we had hoped.He was in an area we could actually recover him.For this Hunt I was Using my Sons Savage 6.5x284 Norma .We Were using Handloads that Consisted of Lapua Brass,Federal 215 Primers,Retumbo powder and 142 gr Nosler long Range Accubonds.These Loads provided Sub 1/2 MOA groups and 3030 fps I am using a Bushnell XRS 4.5-30 x Scope.The Shot was a long one But I put a ton of Time into My Long Range Shooting I shoot Many thousands of rounds at long range every year, and Have all My Data perfect.Well My Son Had the Spotting scope set up and our Panasonic HD Camera with 90X Zoom.This Little Camera Is a Jewell For filming stuff.It has 50x optical with 90x Intelligent zoom. We have the So Called Fancy cams too but they have very limited zoom and are a bit heavy for packing.I got all set up and had all my data Ready thanks to My Kestrel 4500 with ballistics for the shot. I dialed My Elevation and would hold for wind.The Wind was Blowing About 15MPH . It was going to be a" LONG" shot.So with everything ready ,I told Cody to start Filming.I waited til he was in position and squeezed the trigger.Cody Said "Oh You Got him" I Could see through the scope that he was hit hard and his rear legs were not working as he fled downhill.He made it about 40 yards or so and Piled up.Wow it was over. Now the Work would start. We made it over to him like we had wings.Cody made it first of course being much younger,,I heard a" He Is Huge" Erupt from Cody.As Soon as I got there I Was amazed. There was certainly No Ground Shrinkage.Actually he was Even Bigger than we thought.I had spent quite a bit of time looking over Goats on the web and I knew I had something special here. I quickly taped him out at over 53" and that was conservatively. We Caped him for a Full Mount after taking a bunch of pictures and loaded him on Our Wilderness pack Specialties Packs.I am Telling you "Save your Backs and Buy the Right Pack" These Packs are amazingly Comfortable and Rugged.All I can Say Is I am Hooked on Mountain Goats. I am planning on another trip very soon. .I Can Not thank My Son Cody Wells Enough For his Help.We have had some great hunts in the past together but both agreed this was the best ever.We Use The Top Products on the Market for a reason.They Continue To Perform for us In All Conditions.

SCI Las Vegas

I have Attended many Industry Shows in my Time.This was Without a Doubt the Best Run Show I have Been too.The Show as A whole Has Quite a Different Feel to it. All of the Exhibitors seemed to Enjoy this Show.Some shows you attend are Not so Enjoyable .I have a Bunch Of Reviews to Do After this Show and look Forward To Getting those done soon.I Did However have to cut this show short due to illness. I came home Early and went Straight to the Doc. Wouldn't you know it I have Pneumonia......Oh Well We look Forward to next years show.

Bryce
Bad To The Bone Outdoors

Sig Sauer Kilo 2000 Review

Extreme accuracy is what we were after when we engineered the KILO2000.   Updating at 4X per second in HyperScan mode, the KILO2000 rangefinder with patented LightWave™ DSP technology is amazingly fast as well. Couple that with the ability to range reflective targets at 3400 yards, trees at 1500 yards, and deer at 1200 yards for simple, intuitive long distance ranging. The built in inclinometer calculates AMR™ Angle Modified Range for angled shots. Our proprietary Lumatic OLED Display™, automatically adjusts display intensity to match ambient light conditions, bright in bright conditions and dim in twilight to protect your eye. The KILO2000’s simplified user interface displays your system status and while ranging, only provides your necessary data.

In Our time Testing this Unit.It Quickly Became a Favorite among the testers.It's Compact size along with A Very Good Response time were very impressive.We were able to Consistently Out Range Other Range Finders Costing Up to 4 Times the Street Price of this Unit.Head to head With a Very Popular 1600 Yard model, The Kilo Simply Out Ranged it Convincingly.We Were Able to Get 2200 Yards out of Non Reflective targets Very Consistently.We Were also able to get Just shy of 2600 Yards to a Very Reflective target. This Combined with the Very Good price on this unit Make in a Best Buy In Range Finders. It Seems That Sig Sauer Is ready to Take on Some Heavy hitters in the Optics and Range Finder Markets.If This Range Finder is a Indication of the Quality Of their other Products Watch out.They are Going to Shake up the market pretty Good.This Unit is readily Available for $499 And Quite a Bit less if you Do a little Digging.Don't Hesitate to Pick one Up You Will be Very Impressed.

Out testing Optics

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Every year The team Scouts the West in Search Of The Biggest Animals out there.We Film and Shoot Some of the Biggest Animals in the West every year.
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#brycewells

When Bear Go Bad By Bryce Wells

Black bear can look oh so cute and cuddly to some. But when you come across a “bad” one, you’d better be prepared. Two years ago my son Cody, who was then 15 years old, came across one such bear. We were up hunting one of our favorite spots near beautiful Priest Lake, Idaho. We were elk hunting and were seeing quite a few bear. Now bear was not our top priority so we were only going to shoot a bear if it was a really nice boar. We loaded up our quads and headed up to look over a couple of our spots. We are always prepared for encounters with bear, but hope we never have to test our shooting skills in self-defense.

[When Bear Go Bad]

What happened next is the scariest moment I have ever experienced in my life. As we headed up to our spot, we came across a couple good sized downed trees. We were still a ways from where we needed to go so I sent Cody up to take a look to see if it was worth going any further. I was talking with Jeff Stearns and Scott Kambrich, who were hunting with us, about whether it looked like it was worth cutting the trees or trying somewhere else. We were talking away when I noticed my son taking his pistol out of its holster some 60-70 yards away. I was trying to figure out what he was doing when all hell broke loose. It all happened very suddenly. Cody opened fire on the big boar that was a mere 10 yards away and coming down the mountain toward him.

As we ran toward the commotion, the big bear was lying dead at young Cody’s feet. When we got to him moments later, Cody looked like a ghost. Upon inspection there was a visible entrance wound right in the front of the bear's skull. Cody, who was no doubt still checking his drawers, was quite calm for somebody who just shot a charging bear. After skinning the bear out we found that Cody had hit him four times. We all kind of joked about who was the best shot in the group after that. We decided it was for sure Cody. Scott said he was quite sure if he was in a gunfight he would pick Cody for his help.

This is what actually happened that day as told by young Cody Wells……

“I was walking just a short distance from where I left you guys and looked to my left and saw a bear walking parallel with me up the hill about 35-45 yards away. I decided to take my .44 mag out just in case. I was watching the big bear when he turned my way and came on a dead run at me. At about 10 yards I fired my first shot and the last one was at probably 10 feet. He was on me so quickly that if I had not had the pistol out already I am sure this would have ended very ugly.

I cannot help but wonder why he did it. Was I dinner that night? Did he think I was another bear? I will never know why, but I am certainly glad my dad had spent the time letting me practice with the 44 mag. We spent many days out practicing. We use solids for bear country and they had certainly did their job. I can tell you this: I am glad I was not using a smaller pistol. I have been around a lot of bear and this was my first encounter with a ‘bad’ bear.

[When Bear Go Bad]

There are many reasons a bear may charge--protecting a kill, or thinking you are another predator. And females will defend their young to the death. Or maybe they are looking for a meal. Whatever the reason you’d better be prepared. I am a firm believer in having at least a 44 mag topped with solids. While other smaller calibers may work, a 44 mag or bigger is much better. I myself use a .454 Cassul with Buffalo Bore bullets and it is one stout bear round. I am not a real believer in pepper spray. I think it is too risky to use because the bear needs to be close to make it effective. Having a charging bear really close and hoping it will work is just not for me. I would much rather hit him hard with a heavy bullet and help change his mind.

[When Bear Go Bad]

Bear can be a really beautiful animal to see in the woods, but never trust them. They are very unpredictable and anything can happen. One of the most dangerous animals in the wild is a mama bear with cubs, so be alert and be safe out there. The bear I shot I certainly would have shot anyway, but it sure does make for a good story to tell all the adults I meet. Needless to say I won’t even leave camp looking for firewood without my trusty 44 mag with me. My dad thinks bear are attracted to me, as this is not the first time I have taken out my 44 mag thinking I would have to use it. Fortunately for the other bear they decided to leave me alone those times.”

So happy hunting, and always be prepared for “Bad News Bear”.

#brycewells

Hunting My Pressured Elk By Bryce Wells

After a week of hunting bear with Ian Harford, a member of the Realtree U.K. Pro Staff, with no success, Ian told me to concentrate on elk. He wanted a good story when he got home. I had assured Ian to be careful as I would take him up on his offer to help pack elk out.

[Hunting My Pressured Elk]

It all started on Monday the 11th with my son and father. I had managed to locate at least 30 bulls in the month of September. I just needed to decide which one to shoot. My son Cody had found a spike bull that decided it was his time to die. After Cody spotted the bull, he and my dad got within 75 yards of him. With one shot of his .7MM Ultra Mag fitted with a March scope, it was over. I was thrilled that my father was with my son for his elk. This was the easiest elk I have ever got out. He was dead within 40 yards of a road. I went and got the ATV and we winched him out whole. It was great having a scope that could do it all from long range to reaching way out. The next day my adventure started. Now it was my turn.

This year was my hardest time to shoot a bull ever. I had injured my back and promised my wife no archery elk this year. September was incredibly hard for me to deal with. I spent my time keeping bear sites baited up and scouting bulls from afar. I had found a couple studs I was eager to shoot come rifle season.

One bull was very shy and was way off the main beaten path. This bull, like many elk of the west, had been pressured and had left the area it was usually seen in. Areas that have a lot of pressure cause you to change things up. I was getting worried about finding the big bull. There were vehicles everywhere. Elk will only tolerate so much before they leave an area. When they decide to leave, you’d better start looking in the most remote areas. This means lots of time behind your binocs and spotting scopes.
our paragraph here.

My choice for binocs includes the Minox series of binoculars. My favorite are the Apo series in 10X43. I also use a set of 15x56 for super long distance. I also pack a 62mm ED Minox spotting scope. I have found Minox to be some of the best glass available. Great glass can really help with finding animals that have disappeared from your area. Sometimes all you have to do is go a little deeper into your area to find the elk. Get your glass out and start looking for out of the ordinary places and be prepared to be in place well before light. Start by looking in areas where you think they will feed. Once you find them, you need to figure out where to set up.

[Hunting My Pressured Elk]

For my hunt this year there was simply no good place where you could get close to this bull. So I found the only location a solid shot could be taken from. My good friend Chris Trotter was hunting deer in the area and I had told him about the elk I was watching. He said he would also look out for him. I was watching another bull when I got a message from him saying he had spotted what appeared to be a giant bull with only a couple of cows with him. I was very tempted to shoot the bull I was on but it was only my 1st day hunting elk, so I was not really ready to end my season with this bull. Chris told me he looked huge so I left shortly thereafter and headed to where Chris was at.

As soon as I parked the ATV, I could see the huge bull feeding with its cows. He was over 1.5 miles away as the crow flies. My plan was to hustle out on the old skid road that was there and hook up with him. I got there as soon as I could. Now there was no missing Chris. He looked like an orange version of the Gorton’s fisherman. He was really easy to find out on the point. It was obvious the bull had spotted Chris and was keeping close tabs on him.

As soon as I saw the bull I knew I wanted him. Chris and I looked him over really good. I just needed to find the right place to take the shot. After trying a dozen places to shoot from, we finally found the right spot. I ranged the big bull at 905 yards. I looked at Chris and asked him what he thought. His response was all I needed: “If you get him, I will help you pack it out.”

Now, I know my equipment well and practice a lot. I knew I could make the shot, but I had to make sure it was perfect. I knew that my equipment and I were up to the task. I shoot a custom built 7mm ultra mag, shooting Berger 180 grain VLD bullets, and topped with a March Optics 5-32x52 scope with MTR-1 reticle. This scope’s repeatability is the best there is, and is so important in being able to make a long shot. The bull was not moving from where he was, and I had ample time to adjust and calculate the shot.

At this point, I reached into my pocket and got my phone out. Chris had watched me take the phone out and said, ”What the heck are you doing making a call now?” I had to break the news to him and calm him down. I told him I was looking at my ballistic charts and to hold on. At this point I was trying not to laugh. I adjusted the scope and got ready for the shot. I told Chris to plug his ear closest to me and to watch for the hit with his Minox binocs.

[Hunting My Pressured Elk]

The bull was hit HARD. Chris said in a very excited voice, “You nailed him.” I said back, “Hang on. I am going to put another in him just to be sure.”

A few seconds later the second shot rang out. The big bull fell to the ground and kicked a couple times. We had just started celebrating when all of a sudden he started rolling down the hill head over heels. After what seemed like forever, he stopped near the bottom of the clearing, now at least 300 yards from where he went down. Chris and I hoofed it back to the rigs and went to where I knew we had phone service. I rounded up the crew and we went to get the bull out.

When we arrived, we had a bit of trouble finding him. We knew where he was, but it was so steep that the further you went down the hill the steeper it got. My son was the first one to him and I heard a big, “HE’S HUGE!” erupt from the canyon. Upon closer inspection, both bullets had hit the bull right behind the shoulder 4 inches apart.

It was going to be a lot of work from here because it was very steep for the 1st 300 yards. My crew was up to the task and consisted of Ian Harford, who had come from the U.K. to try his hand at bear, my father, Bryce Sr., my son Cody, and my friend for 25 years, Chris Trotter. We had the pack frames with us and I had the best help you could find. So went to work quartering the elk up. After a bit we were ready for the first trip.

Ian Harford volunteered for the task at hand. Ian is a triathlete and as hardy a man as you would ever meet. He actually made it look easy. I have never seen anyone carry a quarter up a hill like that before. Needless to say, he is welcome in my camp anytime. My 16 year old son Cody took up the next quarter as I continued to work on the bull. We had to tie the bull off with rope for fear of him rolling further down the hill. The men returned for their second trips and boy, it was nice having all the great help. At this point we had decided to pack out everything to the old road, which was no small task.

After several hours we finally were at our rendezvous point. My dad had walked the game carrier in and we were ready for the first trip. Hours later we got to the truck. I am very glad to have made Ian’s acquaintance. This was his first trip to the states. I am sure he will be a lifelong friend. I would like to thank my crew for all the help. It was very special for me to have my family and friends with me to savor the moment. It is a trip I will not soon forget! My parting advice is to remember to look where others won’t…

Gear list:
7MM Ultra Mag
March Optics 5-32X52
Rivers West waterproof gear
Minox Optics
Rocky Mountain Packs
Berger Bullets
Nikon Monarch 1200 Range Finder
Wolverine boots
Harris bipod
.

#brycewells

Hunting Black Bear By Spot And StalkBy Bryce Wells

Hunting black bear can be a very rewarding experience. Some of my fondest memories have been from spot and stalking black bear out west. Black bear numbers are steady to increasing in all the western states. I myself like to kick off my spring with a spot and stalk bear hunt. There is way less competition in the spring and bear that are just out of hibernation are easier to find. My spring bear hunts start in the middle of April and will run until the 31st of May in most areas.

[Hunting Black Bear By Spot And Stalk]

I start the season out looking over both clear cuts and natural clearing that offer a southern exposure. Bear will only be able to eat tender grasses when they first emerge from the den until their system adjusts to more solid type food. Find fresh green grass and oftentimes there will be bear in the area.

[Hunting Black Bear By Spot And Stalk]

During this type of hunt binoculars and a good spotting scope will be your best friends and help you locate bear. I myself use Minox brand of optics. I find them to be of the highest quality and their weight is also pretty light. I use a 15x56 pair for long range work and a 10x52 or 10x43 pair for the closer stuff. For extreme distances I use a Minox ED 62 spotting scope which features ED glass, that rivals anything in its class and is still lightweight enough to pack with you. I like a spotting scope that is of a variable type. Anything that goes from 20X up to 40x will work fine and up to 60x if you don’t have to sacrifice too much in the way of weight. You will know when you are using great optics because your eyes do not tire as easily. Your eyes will thank you for buying quality glass.
Along with good glass you must invest in a quality tripod.

[Hunting Black Bear By Spot And Stalk]

You should also really carry a good rangefinder, not only to range your bear, but also to help with where you want to get to for a shot. I have used all of them and you get what you pay for. Swarovski and Leica lead the way in the under $1000 price range followed by Zeiss, Bushnell and Nikon. Of course there are others, but these are the best of what is currently available. I would buy the best one you can afford.

[Hunting Black Bear By Spot And Stalk]

Oftentimes I will range a place I would like to shoot from and then try and figure out how long it would take to get there and set up. I will give myself enough time to get there and set up and get relaxed. The last thing you want to do is get over to your chosen spot breathing hard and then try a shot. Give yourself time to calm down and make a good shot.

I will try to find an area that has quite a few clear cuts and climb as high as I can on an opposite hillside to look them over. The last 2.5 hours of light is the most productive time, so keep this in mind when you find a bear to stalk. Give yourself plenty of time to get over to where the bear is. Often I will spot a bear late in the evening and just watch him to see where he feeds. I will then plan on being there the next day within shooting distance of where I saw the bear come out to feed. This technique has netted me some monsters over the years.

[Hunting Black Bear By Spot And Stalk]

Bear will generally stay close to water and the grass they eat at this time of year. If you find southern exposure in the spring with nice green grass, most likely a bear will be working it. They tend to be a little lazy, so if they find grass to their liking, they will camp out on it. Bear tend to like the freshest shoots of grass and will often be found following the snow line up as it recedes.

I have a favorite spot in northern Idaho that I like to hunt that has everything big bear want. We have taken a number of bear that will go over 21 inches in the area, and it seems to always produce good bear for us. We will get to our area and walk any logging roads that are gated and start looking for fresh sign. If you find green scat you are in the right area. Once in an area that has sign it will work better if you have 2-4 people to help watch clear cuts and openings. Once set up, stay until dark. Some of the big boys will not come out of the dark timber until right before dark This is when my Minox shines. If you can see where a big bear has come out, go back the next day and set up on a good shot location. Most likely he will be there again the next day.

If you have access to Google Earth, you can really help yourself out. Google Earth is great for finding out of the way places bear may feel comfortable in. The more comfortable they are, the more likely you are to see them while there is still good shooting light. Many times in the spring I see as many as 5-10 bear in a day while driving around and looking clear cuts over. Just remember you need to have time to make a good stalk. If you don’t have ample time, wait and return the next day so you don’t blow them out of the area. We all have our favorite spots, but don’t be afraid to go and try out other areas. I have enjoyed great success with finding probable spots and getting out and working them over. I have found that when you are onto a good area it will continue to produce for years.

[Hunting Black Bear By Spot And Stalk]

For fall spot and stalk I change things up a bunch. Bear will be much more spread out and a little tougher to find, except that you will find them feeding almost all day. Bear getting ready to go into hibernation are eating everything they can find. Whereas they are more concentrated in the spring, they will be found everywhere in the fall. The fall is when you start hearing about nuisance bears that are at low elevations. In the fall you can find them almost anywhere. Once you find a spot where bears are, concentrate on that area.

[Hunting Black Bear By Spot And Stalk]

When it comes to good long range calibers, look for something flat shooting with good punch. My personal favorite is the 7mm Ultra Mag. Other great bear cartridges include .300 win mag, .30-.378 Weatherby, .300 wsm, 270wsm and 7mm Mag. Bullet selection will have a huge effect on the distance you will be able to make clean kills at. I love Berger Bullets myself and speak highly of their performance downrange.

[Hunting Black Bear By Spot And Stalk]

My favorite scopes are in the 4-16 range minimum, and I really prefer something in the 30 range on the top end. I have had great luck with the March scopes and also recommend Schmidt and Bender and Minox. Schmidt and Bender is about as well respected as they come, with March really shaking things up in the last couple of years. If you own either of these brand scopes you will be extremely happy. They are not cheap, but they offer the best in low light performance. Minox has a really nice scope in the new 6-30x56 30 mm tube that is quite good for the price. The March 2.5-25x42 is a fantastic choice for longer shots and I love the ED glass. There are also many others that will get the job done. I have the March 5-50 x56 on one of my custom guns and love it. I also have a Schmidt and Bender. I find comparing the two brands of scopes is like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini. They are just that good..

[Hunting Black Bear By Spot And Stalk]

Leupold, Bushnell, Nightforce, Swarovski, Zeiss, Burris, Valdada and Zeiss all offer fine products as well. Vortex and Huskemaw have also had success more recently. I would look for something in the 5-15 range at a minimum if you are looking at longer shots. Huskemaw has done a great job with their turrets and is becoming quite popular. There are a couple of them I have not had the honor to use yet, but have heard great things.

My family has used all of these with great success. Just remember to practice shooting from different angles. Know your caliber and your limits. Bear is one of my favorite animals to hunt and the reward is great. Contrary to some people’s opinions, bear meat can be quite good. Our favorite way to have bear done is in cheesy smokies. I have never given anyone one that did not enjoy it.

Put some time in and bear hunting will get under your skin. Besides, every bear you take saves quite a few elk and moose calves as well as deer fawns.

So shoot straight and reward yourself with a big bruin……….

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1412 Yards Long Range Practice.....

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