Bear encounter of the 1st kind

[deadeye]

So this morning I am mowing trails in the far reaches of my land and stop at what will be the beginning of a new trail going about 150 yards through relatively thick brush and timber.  We had marked this trail late last fall so I could follow the orange flagging tape even if I couldn't see vary far.  First pass on foot empty handed to throw off down timber and dead stuff.  Second pass with chain saw to cut the bigger trees and anything that could be hard to cut with the brush mower.  Third pass was with the nippers to cut some of the stuff so I have a chance to follow the "trail".  Also, this pass I laid trees I cut across places where I might head off in the wrong direction.  Now time for the fun part.  Forth pass was with the brush mower.  Nothing like plowing through 10 foot high brush with the wheeler pulling a brush mower.  About half way back, I saw what I first though was a person through the brush.  When it got past some low brush I found myself 20 yards from a big black bear.  He was coming down the trail I just mowed minutes before.  He just stood there trying to determine just what the hell he was seeing and hearing.  I just sat there hoping he would just get the hell out of there.  My first though was "cubs" but that was fleeting because he was huge, with a very large head.  Boar for sure.  I though of unhooking the brush mower to give me a chance to out run him if I had to.  I started hollering "get out of here bear" "beat it bear" plus a few things I can't put in here (mostly because I can't remember). He just winked (yes I could easily see his eyes moving) and stood his ground while is did the same because there is no backing up with a brush mower.  Because this wasn't getting anywhere, I decided to stand up and whistle loudly.  This must have been his queue to also stand up to show me just how you do it.  I worked, I sat down, or maybe my legs gave out but at any rate, I was now looking a bear standing on his hind legs blocking the trail in front of me.  I don't know why but for some reason I looked at the tree beside him to determine just tall he was.  He seemed to be enjoying himself because he was now clearly taller than me.  To break the stale mate, I started hollering and hit the gas lurching towards him.  I guess that was enough for him as he went back to all 4's and headed back up the trail.  I continued mowing towards him and he finally turned off the trail.  I could see him in the brush as I went by.  I was now in a bit of a pickle.  How do I continue mowing in brush tryin to dodge big trees all while looking backwords.  I made it out to the start where I had left some gas, my chain saw and the flannel shirt I had taken off.  Only thing is the shirt was gone.  I looked around and found it about 20 yards away.  Needless to say the net half mile of trail was cut pretty fast. 

[Leech~~]

How fun!      May be time to get that 44 mag in a shoulder holster.  I loved mine for Bear baiting which I almost had to use one day.
Same kind of deal, stand off with a standing Bear at a bait site when we were going in to bait. After much yelling and stomping and getting no where.  I reached out and broke a branch off a tree and the loud dry crack seemed to send him wheeling. If the season had been open I may have had my first Bear with the old 44. 

[mike89]

WOW!!!  good story glad all turned out well!!

[Jerkbiat]

WOW! Cool encounter in a kind of scary way. I have a 44 mag also for the same reason as leech. I should maybe start carrying it more when i am baiting. I will be wearing it this weekend since i plan to use my bow.

[Lee Borgersen]

Good ting it wasn't one a da Chicago Bears or he would a flattened ya and yer equipment.

Great story bro.......

[Rebel SS]

Holy crap!!! That would  leave a mess in yer pantaloons! What a story! You are purty lucky, IMO. Thanks for sharing! Love it!!!   
I don't think I'd carry a .44 with me for just a bear, though. After that, what I would do is...
carry my .45, both 40.s, the .357 mag, and the .38's and both 9mm's...

[deadeye]

I have a 40 caliber hand gun but I may just have to break out the 44 mag. 

[Rebel SS]

OOOH!!! A Scout V2!!!  LOVE IT!!!!!  *BOOM* Let's go shootin' sometime!!     

[deadeye]

Only problem is it's a single shot so you better be damn sure you will hit him. 

[Rebel SS]

What? you don't wear one on each side in a holster? Probably need suspenders then to keep the pants up, too. 

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Steve-o]

Only thing is the shirt was gone.  I looked around and found it about 20 yards away.

Oh-oh, now this bear can figure out where you live...

[Rebel SS]

Only thing is the shirt was gone.  I looked around and found it about 20 yards away.

Oh-oh, now this bear can figure out where you live...

Ya, and he'll have yer shirt, too......

[attachment deleted by admin]

[LPS]

Great story DE.  What a brave bear.  That will keep you on your toes.

[Steve-o]

I have a 40 caliber hand gun but I may just have to break out the 44 mag. 

If you prefer to have a full mag of .40 vs a single shot of .44, you might want to consider this ammo...

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=347

It is the same stuff that guide used in Alaska to drop a griz at close range with a 9mm.

https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2016/8/10/alaska-outfitter-defends-fishermen-from-raging-grizzly-with-9mm-pistol/

[Rebel SS]

Debatable. Best check and make sure yer gun can handle those +P loads. But I won't get into that. I'll go with the .44 mag idea. I know that works. 
Just hope that bear doesn't think that he now has a new home with easy walkin' trails...

[Steve-o]

Debatable?  Sure is!  But I'm not the one argue the finer points.

The first question to ask is why that guide was out in grizzly territory with only a 9mm.  At the end of the article he says he tested similar loads with .357 and .44, he was convinced that 9mm would work as well.  Given that the bear took most every round in his mag, I'd say he was equal parts experienced, skilled, and lucky.

I think the big advantage is the hard cast bullets vs. lead or hollow point and Buffalo Bore .40 is available in standard pressure.

Personally - and I can only speak for myself - I would have little confidence in my ability to draw and fire a long Contender-style .44 with any speed or precision.  I'd be better off with bear spray.

[glenn57]

Good ting it wasn't one a da Chicago Bears or he would a flattened ya and yer equipment.

Great story bro.......

[glenn57]

cool story !!!!!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

Debatable?  Sure is!  But I'm not the one argue the finer points.

The first question to ask is why that guide was out in grizzly territory with only a 9mm.  At the end of the article he says he tested similar loads with .357 and .44, he was convinced that 9mm would work as well.  Given that the bear took most every round in his mag, I'd say he was equal parts experienced, skilled, and lucky.

I think the big advantage is the hard cast bullets vs. lead or hollow point and Buffalo Bore .40 is available in standard pressure.

Personally - and I can only speak for myself - I would have little confidence in my ability to draw and fire a long Contender-style .44 with any speed or precision.  I'd be better off with bear spray.

True. I have my own idea of what I would prefer in that situation. 

[attachment deleted by admin]

[Rebel SS]

Lets just hope we never see this mow job on Deadeye's land...  

[attachment deleted by admin]

[deadeye]

Nice bear but way too small.  I did say it was a "big" black bear.  By big I mean I would be looking up at his head when he stood on his hind legs. 

[Rebel SS]

No thanks! I wouldn't want any part of it!!!!! 

[deadeye]

This was taken a couple days ago near my bait station.  This was not the bear I encountered yesterday.
I would have given this one a hug and sent him on his way.

[deadeye]

I got this trail camera picture one year ago.  This looks a lot like the bear I ran into Wednesday.

[LPS]

Good luck with the hunt today all of you!  I am taking a break this year.  I have enough things to do.

[Rebel SS]

Good luck with the hunt today all of you!  I am taking a break this year.  I have enough things to do.

And there's the first "I'm too busy" from the just-retired guy!!   

[mike89]

Good luck with the hunt today all of you!  I am taking a break this year.  I have enough things to do.

And there's the first "I'm too busy" from the just-retired guy!!   

dat funny!!!

[Gunner55]

 

[LPS]

 

[mike89]

dats funny too!!!!