Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Muzzleloaders Finally got my bear

Not a huge bear but one I am very proud of. I had hunted them here in Colorado for about 14 total days over 3 different years and seasons and finally had one come in range for me. I was shooting 85 grains of 777 ffg and a discontinued 410 grain flatnose Hornady conical.

First day I had seen a few bears in the distance but other than some mulie does, song birds and tons of squirrels no bear came to the water hole I was sitting on. Second day, there were mulie does, elk, and of course all the little creatures running all over again in the morning. At about noon, after 6 hours of sitting, I had a big lunch of peanut butter and bagels. Getting a little sleepy, I stretched out in the 80 plus degree heat and thought a nap sounded like a good idea.

At 1 pm, I woke up to the sound of loud slurping very close. Raising my head there was my bear at 18 yards broadside with 2 feet in the pond. Managed to sit up and put a round right through her shoulder and she just settled right down in the mud and water with taking a step. Can't imagine I have much speed going with that load, but it was quite effective. DOW thinks she is 5 to 6 years old and was a dry sow for sure.

She yielded some fine roasts, bear lard and of course while not a monster hide, a very beautiful one. Closed mouth rug should be done next summer hopefully.




The light in that second pic doesn't really show how light the hide was. Of course saw 2 larger jet black bears after I got this one but completely happy with it and can't for next September. Got to run the Hawken in 54 with roundballs on my next muzzleloader tag.

Congrats 30!!! You are officially ahead of me. A bear is the one animal I've always wanted to take and have yet to score. Twice in Maine, two years when we lived in Wyoming and one year down in Arkansas and still no bear.

That's a nice color phase and looks like a representative animal. I'd take it!! Good doin's!

Good job. No baiting in Colorado makes you earn it.

I've read that there are no brown bear in CO, and I know that there are all sorts of variations of black bear. What is it as I've heard otherwise on there not being any brown bears there?

Very nice bear, I'm glad to see that you took her with a traditional smoke pole. Not many of us still shooting traditional.

Great Cinnamon Phase Black Bear you have there! I'd be grinning more than you are!

I've taken two Blackies with my .54 New Englander and it is a thrill!

Well done. BTW, bear bacon is great stuff, too!

Ed

Just black bears here.

i started today,va bow season opened tryin to kill my yearly bear.

i have one hangin around fairly close that will go 450-500lb,sure would like to get him with my crossbow or the triumph

Thanks for the comments guys. Lot of color phase bears here in Colorado. Probably less than half where I hunt are black. Good luck for those with tags in their pockets still.

That old Renegade has accounted for a lot punched tags over the years. Have a custom Hawken with a much faster lock and will try that one next, just wanted to hammer a bear with that 410 grain bullet first.

DAYUUM, congratulations 30338, that will make a beautiful mount or rug, spectacular colors.

Gunner

Noice!!!!!

Congrats again!
Elkhuntr

Thanks Elkhuntr! Good deer hunts for both of our families still to go this year.