Tips for 1st time bear hunt?

[MARINE DIVISION TWO]

Lets not forget that we almost had a world record bear takin in Covington/Gouldsboro area, missed by 1 inch. My neighbor just had a bear feast with the bear I shot up in New Brunswick in the spring, hot sausage, sweet sausage, breakfast sausage, sausage and peppers, bear stew, 2 different roasts, lots of cold beer and if you weren't told it was bear, you would have sworn it was beef and pork. To MDT point, my bear weighed 280, bigger isn't always better.

I am so envious that your bear turned out very tasty ! I could not even give away bear roasts from the big one ! Will only go with your recommendations of 300 lbs and smaller ! TY

[tarzan]

Make sure your in a food area. If you can find an area where bear cross areas, you will likely see one. Getting a shot is another story.
Get out very early and settle in, use cover scent and sit like a statue. Their smell and hearing is amazing, their quietness and speed is more amazing. Line up friends to help drag if you down one, they gain weight( it seems ) after they die.
Make sure Mama ain't around even if it's a two hundred pounder.
Make sure someone knows where you are. Be alert and enjoy the time in the woods.
I have mine made into hot sausage and smoke the hind quarters, it's very good.
Good luck with your hunt.

[tollster]

Wear your walking shoes, and pack light as you can... cover a lot of ground, and try not to sit too long...

[streaker69]

All I know about bear hunting I learned from this sign.

[A-5]

What kind of beer are you hunting?

[Clark Kent]

Not the one that craps pepper scented crap full of bells.

[Qtrborecrazy]

What kind of beer are you hunting?

Land Shark, surf and turf.

[Clark Kent]

Milestone for me. Found that my accuracy wasn't the greatest and after 2-3 rounds I would develop a bad flinch firing full house loads. Since this thread I've dropped nearly 3 grains off the powder charge and practice every other week only shooting 15-20 rounds each session. Happy to report decent (for me) groupings and no flinch even after back to back rounds. Still sporting the open sights and I'm not that happy with the wide front blade pinned on the barrel so I'm looking for a better option (fiber optic maybe?).

Here's the last group from this weeks 20 rounds. Roughly a 2" group at 25 yards. The rear sight is nearly bottomed out so appears I could use a taller front sight anyhow. Need to shoot it this weekend at 50 yards first though, check the POI at that range. For hunting, I'll probably will keep my shots within 50 or so yards.

[Qtrborecrazy]

I don't want you to feel bad but I had a bear in my backyard last night. I can't wait until Nov to get even with one of the trash can, garbage throwing bastards.

[Frenchy]

First rule of bear hunting smell like food, Bears love free food
second rule of bear hunting, do not fall asleep while smelling like food!