Things here and there - ramblings

I Peter 2:24 "By His stripes I am healed"
Exodus 15:26 "The Lord is my healer"
Exodus 23:25 "As I serve the Lord, sickness is taken from my midst"
Psalms 107:20 "God sent His word and healed me"

2007 Deer season totals in NYS were apprx 219,141 of which 104,451 were bucks, with 114,690 does. This is UP 16% over the previous year.

Muzzleloader take in NYS was approximately 17,207 taken by 232,000 hunters. This is the largest ML take on record. (See my articles on TC Encore 209/50 and TC Omega both in .50 cal by visiting: www.gunsandoptics.com)

Looking to book a baited bear hunt possibly for next spring 2009 somewhere in Canada or perhaps if I can afford it, the NEW spring hunt on the Passamaquoddy Indian tribe lands in Maine. That hunt at last look was around $1800 for the week and the chance of taking a sizeable bruin there is pretty darn good. If interested in this type of hunt contact by email:

williamnicholas@passamaquoddy.com

What are some calibers suitable for taking black bear over bait, where most shots would be 75 yards or LESS?

Can't list them all here, but they would start with your deer rifles in .270, .308 and 30:06 using heavy for caliber bullets such as the 150 grain in .270 and 180's in the .308 and 30:06.

If I were going to book this hunt, I would likely take either my Remington mdl 7400 in 30:06 with 180 grain round nose corelokts, my Marlin Mdl 1895 in 45-70 with 405 grain Buffalo Bore loads or perhaps my Ruger Hawkeye .338 Federal using 210 grain Nosler partitions.

I have always been fond of bigger bullets especially if going after bear over bait, Reason being, the forrest could swallow up a marginally hit bear quickly and the bigger diameter, heavier slug has the chance of producing a better blood trail, and breaking shoulder bones etc.

I like all three of thse rifles. I am fond of the Mueller red dot scope on the ought six, for pinpoint accuracy in fading light. The 45-70 wears a Swift premier scope which is very bright and the .338 wears a Bushnell 3200 Elite 3X9X40 with rainguard and firefly.

They are all nice rifles that will do the job and at 50 yards are tack drivers. Hundreds of black bears over bait have been taken with the 30-30 Winchester using either 150 or 170 grain factory corelokts.

On a fall hunt in Maine a couple of years ago, one hunter in camp took a 250 lb boar using a 30-30 with open sights and a 170 grain round nose corelokt. The bear would not have been more impresed if hit with the 45-70 and the 405 grain Buffalo Bore loads.

Since I have a choice, I would bring a bigger caliber rifle using a bright clear scope since the big boys normally come in right in the last fading light. The 3 rifles I listed above all fill that niche nicely.

Dan www.gunsandoptics.com