Bear Hunt Questions

Ltsheets · Aug 4, 2017

So I just found out that, assuming the transfer goes smoothly, I'll be doing one of the bear hunts on the Mescalero next weekend! This will be my first bear specific hunt. I spoke with the guide/baitman yesterday and he said the baits were all 40-100 yds or so from the stands/blinds and that some were in some pretty rough areas. I originally wanted to go archery but those are some potentially long shots on an animal you really don't want to wound haha. I'm probably still taking my bow just in case but am leaning rifle now and will be taking 2 with me. For those of you that have hunted bear before, I wanted some opinions on which ones to take. Here are the options...

300wsm shooting 190vlds at 2600
28 Nosler with factory 160ABs
6.5x284 shooting 140vlds at 3020
270win shooting factory 130ttsx
260ai with 127lrx that I have to shoot and chrono

Thanks!

tomvern85 · Aug 4, 2017

No baiting in New Mexico......

Ltsheets · Aug 4, 2017

There is on the reservation.....

>No baiting in New Mexico......

DoeNob · Aug 4, 2017

300 wsm 190 vlds - biggest bullets

RioHuntNutt · Aug 4, 2017

Id say keep that hot shooting 28 , lets see how it performs....Man you do have some really nice options/rifles.....

Ltsheets · Aug 4, 2017

I can only imagine what that 28 will do when a 160AB hits one inside 100 yds going over 3100fps!

Thanks man. It's nice to have them but leads to the first world problem of which to use haha. I'm actually toying with the idea of selling that 300wsm but I'm having trouble posting it on here. I have what I've come to call G.A.S. Gun Acquisition Syndrome.

>Id say keep that hot shooting
>28 , lets see how
>it performs....Man you do have
>some really nice options/rifles.....

Cahunter805 · Aug 4, 2017

I'd say the 28nosler also. Hope you kill a great bear!

NMPaul · Aug 4, 2017

I think any of those are fine. Are bears are not to big, and I think any good deer gun would be adequate. Good luck and have fun.

NMhunter4life · Aug 4, 2017

I agree with NMPaul, any of those are fine.
My grandpa has killed 8 or so with a .243 and only one shot on all of them.

Ltsheets · Aug 8, 2017

Thanks gents. I think I have it sorted out. Going to pack tonight and tomorrow and leave straight from work Thurs. Def not ideal as I'll get there late but better that than not hunting!!

BigDaddyL · Aug 9, 2017

Any of those will work fine.

Heck, I knocked down a female last year with a pistol! 9mm at that, lol.

mozey · Aug 11, 2017

I dropped mine in its tracks with one shot from my 300 WSM. I think it was 150-grain bullet, but I don't remember for sure. The boar was on all fours facing towards me at 80 yards. Bullet struck just inside the left shoulder and traveled the entire length of the bear's body before being stopped by its hide on the opposite hind quarter. It went down like a sack of bricks before I'd even recovered from the recoil.

I don't think black bears are that hard to kill, so probably any of the guns you mentioned will be more than adequate. Pick the one that you most enjoy shooting.

Ltsheets · Aug 12, 2017

Mine went 10 yds after a 190vld from my 300wsm. Small bear though so any of them would've probably worked haha

joesikora · Aug 15, 2017

NMpaul, I seen an all black color black bear on The Sargents back in 08 and this thing would have rivaled any bear in Canada or anywhere else for that matter. I know there few and far between but this thing was a stud

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora

Ltsheets · Aug 16, 2017

I believe it Joe. There was a 380lb bear killed the same day I got mine and the black bear that gave me the slip moments before mine, was 300 plus and SOLID.