Brown bear size expectations

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

You can have three life size mounts next to each other and see which one attracts more attention. A lanky 9’, an 8.5’ tank and an 8’ toothless warrior. One will impress your penis, one will impress the masses, and one will impress bear hunters.

At the end of the day this is your hunt and you need to do what makes you happy.

 

[Jared8054]

You can have three life size mounts next to each other and see which one attracts more attention. A lanky 9’, an 8.5’ tank and an 8’ toothless warrior. One will impress your penis, one will impress the masses, and one will impress bear hunters.

At the end of the day this is your hunt and you need to do what makes you happy.

Talked with the guide and he said he will tell me what bear to shoot. Talked expectation and reality’s I’ll share pictures if successful or unsuccessful. Think I might retire the gun up on the wall because I bought if for this hunt with a couple of pictures if I’m unsuccessful for the hunting memory.

 

[Quandary]

What rifle did you buy for the hunt?

 

[Mojave]

I would kill the first mature legal bear I found.

The comment about house money is 100%.

A million things could screw the hunt up. Weather, weather, weather, weather, a predatory bear that kills all the sows and cubs within 100 miles (there is a video of this on YouTube somewhere, maybe a Billy Molls video).

Go get that bear and enjoy the house money part of it.

I went on a hunt years ago that I won on a raffle. The outfitter was cool as hell, the guide wanted to get me killed off so he could get rid of me. I ended up with a very average animal.

The odds are high that the team will be trying to get rid of you as quickly as possible. I'd respect that.

It isn't an auction hunt, but often auction hunts are treated the same.

 

[gonhunting247]

I have been lucky to shoot a few grizzlies (not on the penninsula) from 8'-9' and they are all awesome. They were all amazing and I felt blessed to have had the opportunity for each one of them! I didn't regret any of them and every one of them reminds me of a great adventure with family and great friends! The 9 footer isn't a better memory than the others, they are all great.
I'd go in with an open mind, listen to your guide ( I've never had one, but he knows what is there I would think) and in the end, shoot the one that you like and will be happy with (no measurement required ) ! Good luck and have a great adventure!

 

[Quandary]

The odds are high that the team will be trying to get rid of you as quickly as possible. I'd respect that.

I couldn't disagree with this statement more. Any guided hunt is expensive. A Brown bear hunt is particularly expensive. The hunter pulls the trigger and ultimately decides when and if to do so. Take the guides advice, follow their direction, shoot the bear where they tell you to put the bullet. But the hunter should always make the call on whether or not it is an animal they're happy with. Any guide that is worth a darn will give you their view on the animal, but will always leave the decision to you as long as it's a legal kill. You have 10 days, if it takes 10 days to find the bear you want to pull the trigger on take the 10 days.

 

[Mojave]

I couldn't disagree with this statement more. Any guided hunt is expensive. A Brown bear hunt is particularly expensive. The hunter pulls the trigger and ultimately decides when and if to do so. Take the guides advice, follow their direction, shoot the bear where they tell you to put the bullet. But the hunter should always make the call on whether or not it is an animal they're happy with. Any guide that is worth a darn will give you their view on the animal, but will always leave the decision to you as long as it's a legal kill. You have 10 days, if it takes 10 days to find the bear you want to pull the trigger on take the 10 days.

How many guided hunts have you been on?

How many of those guided hunts have been as auctions or raffles?

Don't F around, no one is there for that.

I have had bad experiences on raffle hunts with guides.

Auction hunts they seem to have more buy in, but not much.

 

[Mojave]

I have been lucky to shoot a few grizzlies (not on the penninsula) from 8'-9' and they are all awesome. They were all amazing and I felt blessed to have had the opportunity for each one of them! I didn't regret any of them and every one of them reminds me of a great adventure with family and great friends! The 9 footer isn't a better memory than the others, they are all great.
I'd go in with an open mind, listen to your guide ( I've never had one, but he knows what is there I would think) and in the end, shoot the one that you like and will be happy with (no measurement required ) ! Good luck and have a great adventure!

Yes.

I have taken two animals that were gold medal in SCI or Rowland Ward free range in Africa and Europe. Neither one of them was more special than anything else I have shot.

 

[gbflyer]

How many guided hunts have you been on?

How many of those guided hunts have been as auctions or raffles?

Don't F around, no one is there for that.

I have had bad experiences on raffle hunts with guides.

Auction hunts they seem to have more buy in, but not much.

The flip side of that is being the guide for a raffle winner that has no business being there physically, mentally, or financially. There I have been, and it ain’t much fun either.

 

[Mojave]

I will also say that if this is your first guided hunt, and you have delusions of grandeur you will be very sadly disappointed.

I try to be a good client, I shoot a lot, can shoot in a variety of positions and show up with good equipment, good clothing, in reasonable shape and know what I am after.

Guides in Africa and North American primarily guide in the off season. Some of them work on ranches, but most guys have 100% non-wild lives and they this to support their family.

No matter what they say, they like tips.

Rarely do they ever have more money than the dude they are guiding.

So commonly the money they make it important to them. Their time is also important to them, especially like the 8th or 10th client of the seasons when they have not seen their family in a while.

Tip what you can afford, shoot as much as you can, and be ready with the gear list they gave you.

I would leave the measuring tape at home. It will only lead to unhappiness.

 

[Quandary]

How many guided hunts have you been on?

How many of those guided hunts have been as auctions or raffles?

Don't F around, no one is there for that.

I have had bad experiences on raffle hunts with guides.

Auction hunts they seem to have more buy in, but not much.

7

None. Its irrelevant whether or not it was an auction or a raffle. The Outfitter was paid for the hunt by the organization. The outfitter may have given a discounted price but many times its not much of a discount. The guide should have an expectation of receiving a normal level of tip based on the regular cost of the hunt.

 

[Mojave]

If that is the case that is an entirely different situation than a donated raffle hunt.

If the opposite is true and the outfitter donated the hunt. Watch out!

Still tip as much as you can afford and leave the tape at home.

 

[Quandary]

A good friend of mine is a past national chairman of one of the major wildlife/hunting non-profits and his son is an employee of one of the others. They have told me very, very rarely are the auction and raffle outfitter hunts donated.

 

[Theringworm]

I met a young guy this past year at the Western Hunt Expo. He had won a Stone Sheep raffle tag in the NWT at the Expo a couple of years prior. I talked with him about the hunt and the outfitter. He said they worked their butts off. His last day of the hunt came and went and what did his outfitter do, asked him to stay at no additional cost as he wanted to get him a sheep. A couple of days later, several days after he was supposed to go home, he tagged out. He was playing with house money but treated like he was the biggest whale in camp. If the Outfitter is reputable, they will do you right. Negative publicity is not what they want. From what I have heard of yours you should need not worry. Yes, there may be those that may want to move on from you and get you out of camp for the paying clients however, not all will treat you that way. I can confirm, that even as a paying client, when a big whale shows up you may get treated like you are a “raffle tag winner”. The natural man is easily swayed by money. Plain and simple. All you can do is be prepared, be in the best shape possible, practice all shooting scenarios, and plan to tip like you paid regular price for your hunt. I would probably, though you shouldn’t have to, would tell my guide, “hey, I know I won a raffle tag and I am very grateful for it. but I want you to know my tip will be based on what the actual cost of the hunt is. Your efforts on my behalf will not be discounted like the hunt is.

 

[Jared8054]

If that is the case that is an entirely different situation than a donated raffle hunt.

If the opposite is true and the outfitter donated the hunt. Watch out!

Still tip as much as you can afford and leave the tape at home.

The hunt was bought by the company that raffled it. Big name company does lots of raffles. From what I can tell looks to be a very reputable guide has been excellent with communication so far.

 

[Jared8054]

What rifle did you buy for the hunt?

Custom 300 rum. Running a 200 grain accubond at 3105 it’s putting a .38” group out. 250 yard zero puts me on a 5” plate out to 300 with holding dead on. Tried Barnes tsx and nosler partions couldn’t get it to group under an inch. Has a custom muzzle brake that’s also ported on top to reduce muzzle flip. Put 2 shots within an inch of each other in 3.5 seconds at 200 yards. Very comfortable out to 400 with it.

 

[ALF]

Not much I can add that hasn't been said already. Enjoy the hunt and shoot any respectable bear. I wouldn't be fussy being in my 20's on my 1st hunt with the means to go again in the future.

I was pretty adamant when I went that I wanted to do all the shooting. I knew certain situations could arise that warranted otherwise, but had heard/read of guides shooting immediately after the client's 1st shot. I wanted to avoid that if at all possible, and I did.

Mine was anything I could have wished for, an old warrior, light blond, & squared 9'3". Shot him on the morning of the 12th day of an 11 day hunt. Put the sneak on him while he was laying on a moose kill, shot at 100 yards with a 358 STA & 250 Partitions.









Compared to an average black bear skull:

 

[Jared8054]

Not much I can add that hasn't been said already. Enjoy the hunt and shoot any respectable bear. I wouldn't be fussy being in my 20's on my 1st hunt with the means to go again in the future.

I was pretty adamant when I went that I wanted to do all the shooting. I knew certain situations could arise that warranted otherwise, but had heard/read of guides shooting immediately after the client's 1st shot. I wanted to avoid that if at all possible, and I did.

Mine was anything I could have wished for, an old warrior, light blond, & squared 9'3". Shot him on the morning of the 12th day of an 11 day hunt. Put the sneak on him while he was laying on a moose kill, shot at 100 yards with a 358 STA & 250 Partitions.

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Compared to an average black bear skull:

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Beautiful bear been practicing hard on being able to handle that bear without a guide backup shot. I know if conditions are bad I don’t want to have to send the guide in after a poorly shot wounded bear will definitely be something I discuss before I shoot.

 

[Mojave]

The hunt was bought by the company that raffled it. Big name company does lots of raffles. From what I can tell looks to be a very reputable guide has been excellent with communication so far.

Copy, I buy those raffle tickets as well. They are a totally different thing from a donation hunt.

 

[ALF]

Beautiful bear been practicing hard on being able to handle that bear without a guide backup shot. I know if conditions are bad I don’t want to have to send the guide in after a poorly shot wounded bear will definitely be something I discuss before I shoot.

Terrain plays a big role as well. As you can see from my pics, this bear was laying in the wide open. The guide stayed back while I made the stalk. He was laying down quartering at me, & the 1st shot entered at the collar bone. At the shot, he jumped up & spun around so fast I thought I missed. 2nd shot was a slight quartering away breaking his off shoulder. He dropped but immediately was back on his feet giving me the same angle for the 3rd shot. He was done at that point, but we moved in & gave him one more for good measure. The guide remarked afterwards, "Good shooting"!

Here's the picture perfect 250 Partition found under the hide from either the 2nd or 3rd shot after breaking the shoulder.