Shot four times with a .444, 320-pound black bear bites, claws hunter

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Originally posted by: Gibsons
On a less flame filled note....

the article said he was using a .444 ... isn't that sort of on the wimpy side for bears?

According to this site Text, a .444 Marlin doesn't really compare will to a 30-06 (particularly with any distance - are their other kinds of .444s?), and I most most knowledgable people would say a 30-06 isn't really adequate for big game. I guess the fact that he shot it four times and still got mauled supports this. Maybe if he'd had a .300 win mag instead...

.444 Marlin does 3200 ft lbs with 240gr. A 30-06 does 2800 ft lbs with a 150gr.

The .444 is rated to take down almost any large game in North America.

 

[waggy]

I have no problem with hunting as long as they actually eat what they kill (or donate it to food shelters)

I do have a problem when people hunt just to shoot a animal. I have seen guys that just shoot the animal and leave the deer. WTF? thats some great meat! hmm venision.

2 deer a winter give me a LOT of meat. saves me a bunch of money hmm yumm vinision burgers.

 

[feelingshorter]

Sucks to be the bear...

 

[her209]

Originally posted by: waggy
I have no problem with hunting as long as they actually eat what they kill (or donate it to food shelters)

Isn't that what happened to the bisons?

 

[Future Shock]

Anyone defending the bears in this really must live in a wildlife denuded area. On the East Coast, we have so much wild animal overpopulation it has become dangerous, especially with the burguning deer population. We CRITICALLY need hunting (even if the meat is not taken, nor the hide) to control rampant overpopulation of physically large and dangerous wild animals, especially deer and bears. I've had two friends that have almost been killed in suburban areas by deer crashing through their windshields in the past year. And the last thing that you want to see is a 350 lb black bear coming towards your children who are playing in their own back yard.

Overpopulation brings a movement of animals towards new territory - usually the suburban landscape that they originally fled for more remote areas. But we can't mix these wild species safely into modern civilization - we aren't prepared for THEM (and in the case of deer ticks, their diseases, i.e., Lyme disease), and they aren't prepared for us. These are not Bambi and Yogi - these are physically large, and very dangerous, wild animals...

Future Shock

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: her209

Originally posted by: waggy
I have no problem with hunting as long as they actually eat what they kill (or donate it to food shelters)

Isn't that what happened to the bisons?

Uh, no. It was for the fur and hide. The carcas was left to rot.

Originally posted by: Future Shock
Anyone defending the bears in this really must live in a wildlife denuded area. On the East Coast, we have so much wild animal overpopulation it has become dangerous, especially with the burguning deer population. We CRITICALLY need hunting (even if the meat is not taken, nor the hide) to control rampant overpopulation of physically large and dangerous wild animals, especially deer and bears. I've had two friends that have almost been killed in suburban areas by deer crashing through their windshields in the past year. And the last thing that you want to see is a 350 lb black bear coming towards your children who are playing in their own back yard.

Overpopulation brings a movement of animals towards new territory - usually the suburban landscape that they originally fled for more remote areas. But we can't mix these wild species safely into modern civilization - we aren't prepared for THEM (and in the case of deer ticks, their diseases, i.e., Lyme disease), and they aren't prepared for us. These are not Bambi and Yogi - these are physically large, and very dangerous, wild animals...

Future Shock

It sounds like humans are the ones who are overpopulating. Alright, so all we need to do is arm Bambi & Friends.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Agnostos Insania
We're not hunters anymore, we live in a civilization. Killing wild animals is not necessary.

...

Why are the bears overpopulated in the first place?

Killing wild animals is necessary and has always been necessary.
1. Rodents (mice, rats) unless you're suggesting we adopt all the sewer rats as pets, and being responsible pet owners, we get them "fixed" so there aren't unwanted babies.
2. Many animals lack natural predators (deer) While you may not mind viewing deer while you live in the suburb, having wolves and cougars running around the suburbs may be a little unpleasant. Deer breed quite quickly, with each doe having two fawns each spring, and those fawns breeding that same year. (But, usually only 1 fawn the first year for them)

Bears are overpopulated because, basically, there is less space for the population that exists, leading to more human-bear conflicts. (getting into the garbage, car accidents, etc.) Although, I'm still not sure I'd call them "over-populated."

For the headshot crowd: there's a good chance the bullet would be deflected from the skull. Always shoot for the vitals. A good hunter is a trained hunter. A trained hunter knows better than to take head shots.

Wow, I forgot bear season started Saturday (NY) - I might have chosen a different area to hunt than I did. (for deer.) Plus, I'd have switched from shotgun back to bow. My friend already harvested one bear with my bow; I want to make it two. LOTS of meat 🙂 For what it's worth, for the "be a long ways away" - with a bow, I'm not confident shooting a bear from any more than 30 yards.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: Agnostos Insania
It's a shame the hunter wasn't killed.

It's a shame the mod who banned someone else for such opinions - wishing death on someone for participating in a reasonable and lawful activity - isn't here tonight 🙂

 

[SilentZero]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: Agnostos Insania
It's a shame the hunter wasn't killed.

It's a shame the mod who banned someone else for such opinions - wishing death on someone for participating in a reasonable and lawful activity - isn't here tonight 🙂

Or maybe he is...

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones

Originally posted by: Gibsons
On a less flame filled note....

the article said he was using a .444 ... isn't that sort of on the wimpy side for bears?

According to this site Text, a .444 Marlin doesn't really compare will to a 30-06 (particularly with any distance - are their other kinds of .444s?), and I most most knowledgable people would say a 30-06 isn't really adequate for big game. I guess the fact that he shot it four times and still got mauled supports this. Maybe if he'd had a .300 win mag instead...

.444 Marlin does 3200 ft lbs with 240gr. A 30-06 does 2800 ft lbs with a 150gr.

The .444 is rated to take down almost any large game in North America.

He shot it 4 times and ran right up to it? Or did he wait a couple of minutes before approaching downed game (wisest decision) My friend who shot a bear with a bow (my bow now), had the bear drop right where he shot him. He sat in his tree stand for 2 hours before he dared approach the bear.

 

[K1052]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: BrunoPuntzJones

Originally posted by: Gibsons
On a less flame filled note....

the article said he was using a .444 ... isn't that sort of on the wimpy side for bears?

According to this site Text, a .444 Marlin doesn't really compare will to a 30-06 (particularly with any distance - are their other kinds of .444s?), and I most most knowledgable people would say a 30-06 isn't really adequate for big game. I guess the fact that he shot it four times and still got mauled supports this. Maybe if he'd had a .300 win mag instead...

.444 Marlin does 3200 ft lbs with 240gr. A 30-06 does 2800 ft lbs with a 150gr.

The .444 is rated to take down almost any large game in North America.

He shot it 4 times and ran right up to it? Or did he wait a couple of minutes before approaching downed game (wisest decision) My friend who shot a bear with a bow (my bow now), had the bear drop right where he shot him. He sat in his tree stand for 2 hours before he dared approach the bear.

My thinking is that he didn't wait.

Also, if I ever ended up living in bear country I'd have a Marlin 1895 Guide rifle loaded with heavy .45-70 rounds that develop 3600+ ft lbs.

Having a tad too much rifle is far better than too little.

 

[KK]

This coulda probably prevented the bear biting him. It just would have broken his wrist instead.