What caliber would you carry in black bear country

[freekforge]

I asked the same thing in 2021 and since then I've spent quite a bit of time in bear country. With black bears I have at least a g43 with hard cast buffalo bore. Depending on what I'm doing it will be the g43, a 357 cattleman, or a 10mm 1911. Once I carried a vaquero in 44mag.

I talked to a usfs ranger that worked in brown bear country for years and he said he carried/carries a g17 full of buffalo bore and had a wml to use as a stand off so he could push the gun into the bear if it was mauling him without knocking the gun out of battery.

All that being said I stomped my foot and hollered "go on now get!" And ran one off that way.

 

[04FXSTS]

Don't plan to see any bears unless they take up residence in west central Indiana. If that happens I have two handguns that I would feel comforable with, Blackhawk in 41 Mag or a Super Redhawk in 454 Casull. Now if there was a real good chanceof seeing one I would take a 12 gage pump or a model 39 or model 44 Mosin. Jim.

 

[Noble Sniper]

Minimum for handgun would be Elmer Keith’s 41 or 44 magnum. My 7mm-08 will do anything I need in the lower 48.

 

[Lpherr]

A 5 shot snubby, it's all you need.

 

[snapping turtle]

Never seen an angry black bear. I have seen a hungry bear in the trash and a scared bear in a campground. Both were making trails after seeing me.

I would think about anything 38 special and above should do well.

 

[ditcherman]

Black bears aren't the threat that grizzlies are. The actual current advice is to chuck a rock at them.
But...10mm.

I'd carry a .44mag with hardcast, or even just .45acp with hardcast truncated cone. They're black bears, not grizzly, brown or polar; more like overgrown raccoons. Don't get betwixt a mama and her cubs and you won't have anything to worry about.

If it’s black, fight back,
if it’s brown, lie down,
if it’s white, good night.

 

[tcecil88]

Of the handguns I have I would carry either .44 Mag or 10mm. If practical, I would probably tote my 18" Mossy 500 12 gauge loaded with deer slugs as well, mainly for camp defense.

 

[manifest destiny]

Caliber specifics aside, I'd use fmj.

 

[planedriver]

Your chances of seeing a black bear in that neck of the woods are slim at best. That said. I would take a salt shaker and a switch. If you get close enough to put salt on his tail, thrash him with a switch and you’ll be fine.

 

[ditcherman]

I’ve often wondered about 5.7.
20 rounds of hollow point green tip penetrator in a very light package.

 

[TLF]

I have hunted black bear in Maine four times and have taken three bears. I would consider a .357 Mag loaded with a heavy bullet to be my minimum suggestion for black bear. I would feel confident carrying my S&W 681 loaded with either Garrett or Buffalo Bore ammo.

 

[Max Volume]

A 5 shot snubby, it's all you need.

It's all about shot placement. Purple?

 

[Lpherr]

It's all about shot placement. Purple?

If you prefer, but the INGO masses have me convinced.
So, I bought two, one for each hip. If one is good, two have to be gooder, right?

 

[Max Volume]

I have a 44 special snubbie that I suppose would work if loaded hot with hard cast bullets.

 

[Shadow01]

A stick big enough to break the knee of the buddy you’re with because you only have to outrun him not the bear.

 

[fullmetaljesus]

I asked the same thing in 2021 and since then I've spent quite a bit of time in bear country. With black bears I have at least a g43 with hard cast buffalo bore. Depending on what I'm doing it will be the g43, a 357 cattleman, or a 10mm 1911. Once I carried a vaquero in 44mag.

I talked to a usfs ranger that worked in brown bear country for years and he said he carried/carries a g17 full of buffalo bore and had a wml to use as a stand off so he could push the gun into the bear if it was mauling him without knocking the gun out of battery.

All that being said I stomped my foot and hollered "go on now get!" And ran one off that way.

What caliber is your foot?

 

[BigRed]

I have hunted black bear in Maine four times and have taken three bears. I would consider a .357 Mag loaded with a heavy bullet to be my minimum suggestion for black bear. I would feel confident carrying my S&W 681 loaded with either Garrett or Buffalo Bore ammo.

Recommendations on Maine hunting?

 

[TLF]

Like I said I have bear hunted Maine four times using three different outfitters. If you have ever wanted to hunt bear then Maine is a great place to hunt and the state is beautiful(looks like northern Michigan but with mountains). Lots of guides/outfitters, good bear population, and over the counter tags. I enjoyed Maine so much that I put in every year for the Moose Hunt Lottery.

 

[BigRed]

Like I said I have bear hunted Maine four times using three different outfitters. If you have ever wanted to hunt bear then Maine is a great place to hunt and the state is beautiful(looks like northern Michigan but with mountains). Lots of guides/outfitters, good bear population, and over the counter tags. I enjoyed Maine so much that I put in every year for the Moose Hunt Lottery.

Have not read the whole thread.

What are the three outfitters you used? What did you think of them and why? Are they canned hunts or wild hunts?

 

[TLF]

Have not read the whole thread.

What are the three outfitters you used? What did you think of them and why? Are they canned hunts or wild hunts?

Two of the guides are now retired, the first guide/ outfitter I used(back in 1998) is still in business North Country Lodge outside Patton Maine. The other two guides were better IMO. I did harvest a bear at North Country, their lodge is very nice and food was great, my only complaint is they do a volume business. I was one of 20+ hunters in camp for a week. That's too many hunters. Look for a smaller operation to get more personal service. It's a fair chase hunt on stand over bait or with hounds. I've killed three bears and each hunt was a challenge and I really enjoyed it. The farther North you go in Maine the better the hunting and experience seems to be.