Grizzly with a bow?

[willyqbc]

How many of you would attempt a grizzly bear with your bow?....given that you had adequate back-up. I have been lucky enough to pull a tag for this fall and am thus far undecided whether to go gun or bow.

Chris

[Gumby]

You must have cahones of steel to even be thinking about using a bow on grizzlies. I'd play it safe and use a gun...a really big gun.
:shock: :shock: :shock:

[jethrobuddy]

where did you get your tag for? A guy could always get into bow range using a gun. This should make for an exciting hunt.

[willyqbc]

jethro, the draw is for 7-28 around McKenzie. If I do attempt it I will have 2 buddies for back-up as well as a 338 mag semi-auto that is close to hand! :twisted:

Chris

[jethrobuddy]

Good plan. I had a draw for grizzly 6-17 this spring. I found a bear and he looked to be big enough for me, Got pretty close too(35 yards) He quartered away and I saw he was rubbed bad. Serves me right for going so late in the season. Anyway, I had my .338 mag, and let me tell you, I am glad I had it. If you use your bow, I bet it will be the best hunt of your life.

[grizzly]

If you use your bow, I bet it will be the best hunt of your life.

Or your last! :lol:

Just kidding, with good backup it should be a blast. My buddy and I were just talking about taking a grizzly the other night and he thought I was a little shy of smarts to even consider taking a grizzly with a bow.

Enjoy your hunt, and make sure to keep your backup guys happy and sober! :thumbsup:

Grizzly

[willyqbc]

Enjoy your hunt, and make sure to keep your backup guys happy and sober!


That could be more of a challenge than bowhunting grizzly!! :wink: :lol:

Chris

[lostbowman]

The frist thing i would do is have a race with you buddys your are hunting with and if you win then the hunt will go all ok for you this may not be so for your buddys have funny wish it was me going :lol:

[Mikey]

jethro, the draw is for 7-28 around McKenzie. If I do attempt it I will have 2 buddies for back-up as well as a 338 mag semi-auto that is close to hand! :twisted:

Chris
that is some sweet country Willy ... I spent alot of time in that Zone when I lived in BC

that and up near Chetwynd and Hudson Hope area all the way up the Alaska to Ft Nelson

you should have a great hunt

[willyqbc]

Hey Mikey, you see lots of grizz back when you hunted 7-28? Any opinions on a mid october time frame for grizz? I figure they should be up pretty high by then, but as I am not real familiar with the area, I'm not sure.

Chris

[grandmapatty]

Have you ever killed a big black bear and did you track him or hunt from a tree stand over bait? Just trying to get a feel of the kind of stress you have been under with a bow. I have never killed or hunted anything that could kill or maul me. I would probably start out on a black bear hunt with some good advice on a great guide and the hunt. Then I would probably hunt with a gun and then work myself up to a bow. If that went ok then I would hunt with a rifle on a grizzly, and then if that went ok, I then would use a bow. But being from the states I would have to have alot of money to get in a grizzly hunt. So if you can shoot under pressur and you life depending on it, and your backup a super shot under pressure then I would say go for it. Make sure your will is up to date, and kiss your family before you leave. Have a great huntk..........grandma patty :-) :-)

[willyqbc]

Hi GrammaPatty, as far as your question goes....yes I have been under pressure with my life at stake while bowhunting. A black bear I was stalking this spring was VERY VERY AGGRESSIVE!! He kept moving back a bit then coming forward to thrash a bush, or snap off saplings with his mouth, then he would snarl and growl at me and stand up to rake the crap out of a big spruce tree. My back-up was 300 yds away back at the truck so it was just me, this pissed off bear and my bow. Long story short....I'm enjoying the sausage as we speak!! :wink: Now i know that blackies and grizz are two totally different situations, but the fellow backing me up I trust with my life....literally!!! I guess what is making the decision tough is more the reduced odds of success, rather than fear of the bear. Its very tough to get drawn for Grizzly here and may be a LOOOONG time before I get this opportunity again. I guess I just have to figure out if it will be a fullfilling hunt if I take the rifle! :?: :?: :?:

Thanks for you input!

Chris

[Mikey]

what do you call alot ?.......

I know of 2 grizzes with in a 25 kms ...some say thats alot .... some dont


I personally wouldnt say alot of grizz but they are there ...whole lotta blacks and browns though ....

I used to know that up right south of a ski resort that way there was quite a few grizz ...... cant recall what zone however

you should have a good hunt .....

stop by our place at Nationals and we will talk some more

[grandmapatty]

I say that you have had the pressure and the skill to kill the bear, and make your first shot count. I want to hear how the hunt went. So go for the gold, or should I say hump,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,what type of bow are you using, arrow, broadhead, and any thing else. Grandma Patty

[willyqbc]

my hunting set-up is a

2003 Bowtech Extreme VFT
73 #'s, 31" draw
was using steelforce BH's, but was not impressed with them so I have switched to Montec G5's
Carbon Force 400's - total weight 410grns
297 ft/sec
somewhere around 85ft/lbs of KE I think.... would have to do the math to be sure! :wink: .

As far as the story on the bear Grandma, after all the posturing, the bears fatal decision was to climb about ten feet up the tree rather than charge me.....truth be told I missed the first shot. He was kinda a 1/4 of the way on the backside of the tree and I was trying to ensure that I did not hit the tree he was clinging to and just gave er a little too much to the right. Adjusted my angle and drilled him on the second shot....up through 1 lung and into the spine. Put another into him on the ground to finish him off a little quicker. Its a good thing that bears ain't too smart, cause if he'd a decided to come after me rather than climbing the tree.....I'd probably be on his wall right now!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

P.S. thanks for the info Mikey!

Chris

[scooter]

somewhere around 85ft/lbs of KE I think.... would have to do the math to be sure!

80.33 ft/lbs of KE to be exact.

:wink: :wink: :wink:

[willyqbc]

Thanks Scott.... never was no good wit all dem new fangled gadgets.... like numbers and such! :lol:

Chris

[Tuffcity]

I've hunted 7-28 a few times and, with the exception of last year, have always seen griz. I think last year it was just too stinkin' hot when we were there as we didn't see a whole lot of moose either! (end of Sept/early Oct)

Depending on how the temp is, mid october might be alright. The bears that we saw were usually in the cuts feeding on berries. Saw a beautiful silvertip bear year before last, in a spot that was definitely stalkable. Plus calf and spike/fork moose are open then too! :-)

RC

[Bigbear]

Hey Cris Did you here of Ron from Wms Lake Little set to w :? :? :? ith a Grizz this Spring?

[Bigbear]

Hey Cris Did you here of Ron from Wms Lake Little set to w :? :? :? ith a Grizz this Spring?

[willyqbc]

That kinda rings a bell big bear.....refresh my memory :-)

Chris

[princess]

dude u gotta be crazy to even think about doin that... if i were you id use a big big gun :lol:

[willyqbc]

buddy of mine just offered to let me take along his 375 H&H.....with that thing on my shoulder I may just give er a go with the bow. I probably won't know for sure what I'm gonna use till I actually get up there and we actually see a bear. I will be stalking with both gun and bow and will let the situation dictate what to use.

Chris

[Hubbard]

Stalk with the bow and have a buddy using the 375 H&H as backup. If you decide to use the rifle you might have alot of doubts and whatifs later regarding how you would perform or what might have happened had you been using your stick and string.

[swamper]

Seeing as how I am one of the back-up boys, Chris better keep me happy. I am packing my 06 with handloaded 220 grain bullets. The other back-up man will be shooting either the defender or his 308 with some of my handloaded 190 grainers. That combined with the new gun Chris has lined up, 375 H & H, should keep him from becoming lunch for Mr. Griz. As for keeping us sober, he knows that should not be a problem because seeing a bear as big as the one I saw up ther this spring will sober anyone up in hurry. We will keep the wobbly pop consumption limited to the evenings.
Chris H.[/quote]

[willyqbc]

Hubbard, thanks for the input! And I have thought about how I would feel about the "what if" scenario if I do take one with the rifle instead. I'm not too concerned about becoming lunch, as I trust my back-up completely. My thought process is pretty simple as far as the decision goes....seeing as this is a pretty tough tag to get, I would be happier with a grizz with the gun than I would be with no grizz at all. We have a fellow that lives in the area checking into likelyhood of finding grizz ( he is the second back up man). If it looks like there may be lots to be had, I will definately make a try with the bow, but....if I think it's going to be slim pickins and I may only get 1 opportunity, I will not hesitate to use the gun if the stalk is going south on us. I'm sure I can be happy with whichever scenario unfolds! As far as keeping swamper sober goes, not a problem, I'm trusting him with my life and he knows it!! BUT.....if we manage to get one we'll be too hung-over to hunt for 3 days afterwards!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Thanks again for all the input guys, I'll be sure to keep y'all updated when the hunt happens in Oct.

Chris

[jessterbennett]

well if these guys throw back the lead anything like the brewskies i feel awfully sorry for that bear!!! :shock: :lol: either that or theyed talk the bear into pulling up a chair and tipping a bud back with them.... very hospitable crew those quesnel boys... :wink:

[swamper]

Thanks Jess. We always enjoy having a pop or two with our buddies from the Puddle. Hope you enjoyed the course last weekend. I know we had fun. Nothing like a bunch of hunting BS around the campfire.
Chris H.

[jessterbennett]

yes had a blast on the weekend.... :lol: playin the extreme game was great.. exept for losin 5 bucks,,, wonder where that went huh mr.wright????hmmmm?? :?: was well earned my friend..... good luck and safe hunting on your adventure lads.. :wink:

[willyqbc]

Well Jess, I have to say I felt JUST TERRIBLE depriving you boys of your hard earned dough on Sunday.....almost as bad as I felt taking it off Swamper and the boys on Saturday!!!! HEHEHEHE!!! I'll give you a ring late Sept when you get back from your trip and we'll line somethin up for week-end of senseless slaughter!

Chris

[scooter]

Well? Details :)

How much did you win? How bad did ya spank em?