Chaser Blackie

[BCbillies]

After a successful mountain grizzly hunt earlier in the week it just didn't feel right to go back to work early. After a couple of days relaxing at home I felt a calling to follow up on my partner's "hunt of a lifetime" with a chaser bear. Given it's been 12 years since I last cut a blackie tag and the new 375 Ruger was not yet called to action it was time to go for a drive. On Thursday gerrygoat and I head out and only see two bears and I mess up on the opportunities. The next night 6 k and I are into a new area and see just over a dozen bears. By 9:30 pm I've passed on a few bears and messed up a few stalks and the end of this day and potentially the spring season is drawing near. We get a better look at a bear we spotted earlier. It's a decent bear with a white patch on its chest and soon it presents a good shot at 70 yards. The 375 barks and the hit looks good but to my surprise he does not drop. A second shot rings out and misses the target. He does a few funky moves and makes it 20 yards to the edge of the clearing and disappears. The bear is down at the timber edge and I put one final shot in. The 260 Accubonds devastated the front shoulders and we managed to find the bullet on the far side. The far right bullet is the retrieved bullet and retained 69% of its weight. The diameter of the mushroom was 0.74". The middle bullet is from a jug test and retained 73% of its weight. The bear measures 6' 4". A great end to a wonderful week of hunting. Thanks to the boys for heading out with me.

BTW - I learned it's hard to spot and judge bears with only one contact in my eye! ;)

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/May_15_2009_BB.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14101&size=big&cat=500)

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/375_Ruger_-_260_Accubond.jpg (http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/showphoto.php?photo=14100&size=big&cat=recent&limit=recent)

[Ramshot]

Great week of bear hunting for you MK!!! Enjoyed your pictures. Should of had your ole 300 WM with 220 Nosler's and that blackie would have hit the ground on the spot:wink:! Ramshot>

[leadpillproductions]

great looking bear

[Gateholio]

Nice bear!:)

What is your velocity of that load?

[bearhunter338-06]

with a little bit of luck I might have the same picture lol I already have the rifle.

nice bear

[BCbillies]

Nice bear!:)

What is your velocity of that load?

2730 fps . . . and made a nice hole!

[islandarcher]

Heck of a nice cap off to the week. Wife and I took the Beagle for awalk up maroon mtn today and saw a pretty nice one, they are definetly on the move. Gonna have to put a side a little more time in the coming weeks to see if I can't tag one myself.

[Kitimat Killer]

hey nice bear BCbillies good to see a nice big blackie out of are area way to go on breaking in the new cannon

kk

[Sasquatch]

That is a nice looking bear. Sounds like you had a great week.

[Ambush]

One fine bear. Do all coastal bears get super thick necks like that from lifting huge springs out of the rivers.http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

[Seabass]

Proof you can never hunt with too much gun!! Great bear!!;-)

Cheers

Seabass

[SKYLINE]

I was wondering how long it would take to try out the new 375!!! Very nice.

[Maxx]

great bear, congrats!

[todbartell]

nice lookin' bear! congrats

[BCbillies]

One fine bear. Do all coastal bears get super thick necks like that from lifting huge springs out of the rivers.http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif

This one was a fatty unlike our grizz that was taken more inland. I don't think the winter and late spring had much affect on the coastal bears . . . they're all looking pretty healthy!

[6 K]

I was glad to be a part of the break in for the new cannon. Thanks!
Ya, judging dem bars can be trixy in best uf times. Did ya lost the cotact sows yar gert an extra challenge ors weres ya test mines jugin skills?:grin::roll:

[BCbillies]

I was glad to be a part of the break in for the new cannon. Thanks!
Ya, judging dem bars can be trixy in best uf times. Did ya lost the cotact sows yar gert an extra challenge ors weres ya test mines jugin skills?:grin::roll:

The extra challenge isn't worth the headache! Was there something in your water tonight? :-?

[hunter1947]

Very nice bear you hammered ,congrats.

I see the bullet did its job.

[gerrygoat]

That was a nice looking bear, hopefully you won't wait another 12 years to shoot another ;) Hopefully my 375 will see some action this next weekend.

[ThinAir]

Nice job breaking in the new weapon BCBillies!

I have a feeling that won't be the last bear going down with the ruger:grin:

[BCbillies]

That was a nice looking bear, hopefully you won't wait another 12 years to shoot another ;) Hopefully my 375 will see some action this next weekend.

Still looking for that 7 footer just like everyone else! Sounds like some hunters were a little too picky last night, especially the rookie! :confused: When you're shooting at them bears with the 375 you hardly feel a thing . . . much like shooting the 270. :shock:

[gerrygoat]

I was wondering how they made out there is still time to bag one :) If I find even a smallish bear close to home I'll nail him otherwise 7 + or a chocolate phase for me.

[BCbillies]

If I find even a smallish bear close to home I'll nail him otherwise 7 + or a chocolate phase for me.

If anyone can, you should be able to take one right from the living room . . . remember to put the muffs on and to compensate for the height of the house! :biggrin:

[BiG Boar]

Nice Bear BCBillies! You are one heck of a hunter! Good work on this one.