A memorable Levergun Hunt

[TedH]

I spent last week outside of Swan River, Manitoba on a quest to take a Black Bear with my Savage 99-375 Win.
On the first day of hunting I was positioned overlooking a large Alfalfa field. Only about 3 hours in, a bear appeared on the edge of the field and was making his way right towards me. It wasn't a monster, but it had a beautiful thick shiny coat. Just a gorgeous Bear. I made the decision to let him pass by in hopes of finding a bigger Bear since I had 5 more days to hunt.
My decision proved to be wise when just before dark a big bear appeared farther out in the field, about 200 yards. I got my crosshairs on him and there was no doubt he was a shooter, but he was on a mission and would not stop.
I tried to whistle, but in my excitement, I could hardly make a sound. Apparently, it was enough because he stopped and looked my direction. I adjusted for the range with a little Kentucky elevation and squeezed the trigger. The shot felt good, and I heard the echo of the 255 gr Barnes strike. It sounded like hitting the water with an oar, I had never heard a bullet hit with such a report. The bear lurched and took off like a top fuel dragster, covering the 30-40 yard to the bush in just a couple of strides. My buddy and I gave him about 20 minutes and went to the place where he was standing at the shot. We looked and found no blood at all. There were a couple of trails visible, so I focused on that area where he entered the bush. No blood anywhere. I continued to search the edge of the field while my buddy started in the bush, looking for blood on any of the 3 or 4 separate trails we could see. After about 20 minutes, searching for the smallest speck of blood with nothing found, my excitement was turning to despair. Did I miss it? Was that loud smack just my bullet hitting a rock? I admit that was a stretch for the 375, maybe too far.
With zero blood to follow, I decided to just go down one of the trails for a ways since that seemed the most likely path with some of the trail more like a tunnel in the thick bush.
My sinking feeling of desperation instantly turned to exhilaration when I found a mountain of black about 30 yards down the trail. It was clear he was running all out when he just couldnt go any more and skid to a stop.
We called back to camp for help, and it took 5 men on a long rope to drag him out of the woods and lift him onto the side by side. Once back at camp we winched him up and he tipped the scale at 502 pounds.
Truly once in a lifetime bear for me.

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[Ray]

Wow !

Bravo Zulu ! as they used to say......

and such a unique and thoughtful choice of firearm, cartridge and traditional projectile......

Wow again !

[2ndovc]

Very cool, Amigo!

I've never seen one that big. The couple of times I've been out for black bear in PA, didn't see a one. Although on the way back to the cabin,
I almost got one with the F-150! Just wouldn't have been the same though.

jb

[Drawdown]

Well done, thanks for sharing!

[Walt]

Man, what a wonderful hunt! Just the suspense prior to finding him made it a more memorable hunt. Congratulations!!

[t.r.]

Good shooting! That bear is a giant! TR

[GunnyMack]

Congratulations! Very nice bear, story and rug!!

[ollogger]

That is a big sping bear! happy for your sucess, so where was the hit & did you recover the bullet?






Brad

[.45colt]

Awesome All Around! Congrats. .

[TedH]

That is a big sping bear! happy for your sucess, so where was the hit & did you recover the bullet?

I hit him through the upper part of both lungs. That Barnes Original plowed through, leaving a quarter size exit. No bullet recovery. Lungs were soup. He covered about 70-80 yards total after the shot, but that was only 5-10 seconds I imagine at the pace he took off

[Paladin]

Well done.

[JBowen]

Memorable for sure! Great score!

JBowen

[OldWin]

Congratulations sir! That's a fantastic bear. What a great rifle and cartridge for the occasion. A win all the way around.

[Bill in Oregon]

That's a bruiser all right Ted -- and even more special thanks to the rifle you used.

[Eddie Southgate]

Awesome !!

[Rimfire McNutjob]

Nice writeup. And great pictures.

[horsesoldier03]

Looks like a great hunt!

[ikocher]

Thanks for sharing. I like a good hunt story.

[High Desert Hunter]

Congratulations! Beautiful bear.