A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
#173819
10/11/2016 12:56 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,374
cmnash
OP
veteran
|
OP
veteran
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,374 |
The state of Georgia has a huntable bear population in three zones; the northern, central, and southern. I live in the northern. Baiting is not allowed in any zone and dogs are only allowed in the southern. The northern season is liberal and open throughout deer season, the central is open for a single day each year, and the southern is open for three 3 day hunts. I have been fortunate enough to kill two bears still hunting in the northern zone, but hunting with hounds has always interested me. This year I had the opportunity to join a dog hunting club in deep southeast Georgia. I headed south to Fargo despite the ominous weather forecast including hurricane Matthew. Day one would be good, but the hurricane would arrive Friday and possibly wash out the hunt. In camp the night before the hunt I broke the news to the club members that I would be shooting a revolver. I met a good bit of resistance and distrust. In fact , the leadman informed me another member would follow up and shoot my bear with a rifle. I assured him it would not be necessary, but he was adament that I would not be the reason a dog was injured. I agreed. I am going skip over a lot of the intricacies of the hunt to keep it short . Everyone heads out at first light to find fresh bear tracks in the sand roads of the hunting club. When a worthwhile track is found, a trailing dog confirms and starts the chase. As the race heats up, more dogs are added and men and trucks race the two track roads to get in front of the bear. At some point enough dogs are in pursuit to tree or bay the bear. One bear was cought on day one and the chase ended with a ground fight, some dicey shooting by others, and some cut up dogs. Once again, I was asked to use a borrowed rifle. I declined. Despite some hard hunting another bear for me could not be found that day and the hurricane would arrive the next day. Day two dawned with a drizzling rain and a stroke of good fortune. A big bear was spotted while riding the roads and the dogs were HOT! After a short race and blitz in the truck it was time to beat the bush to the treed bear. Once again I was offered a rifle. A short walk in the pines led to a thicket and a big bear in a tree. It was chaos as at least 18 dogs barked, bellowed, and wore the bark off the tree. The dogs were collected and tied to leads as the moment of truth arrived. The bear was just a big black blob of fur with no landmarks of shoulder or ribs to place my bullet. I asked the lead houndsman where he wanted the bear shot. He was blunt- " Shoot that son of a b*+?# in the head. Dont let that bear out of the tree alive". The only shot I could make out was the head and despite my reservations on head shots I was not going to put dogs or men in danger. I raised my sixgun and settled my front sight. One more time I was offered a long gun. I broke the trigger and the 44 roared. The bear slumped- stone cold dead- his head dropping and blood raining down like a faucet. I knew it was over but houndsmen behind me barked SHOOT SHOOT SHOOT! I obliged and ran another 320 hardcast through the bear from onside elbow to offside ribs. The bear hung in the tree for a few tense seconds before the limbs gave way and the bear crashed at my feet with a tremendous thud ,coming so close that I pushed it away as I stepped back. A lot of celebration and work later the bear was checked by the DNR and weighed 491 pounds on the scale. The rain and wind of hurricane Matthew arrived while we were at the check station. It was a wet skinning and cleaning job but I didn't mind. I was enjoying the high of a successful handgun hunt.
could somebody be a pal and post the pictures from the Bragging Board?
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: cmnash]
#173821
10/11/2016 1:20 AM
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963
KRal
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,963 |
Great story and exciting hunt! Congrats again! Are they still disbelievers?
It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: KRal]
#173822
10/11/2016 1:25 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512
Ernie
Distinguished Master
|
Distinguished Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512 |
Ernie the Un-Tactical
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: Ernie]
#173823
10/11/2016 1:38 AM
|
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,378
Darrell H
veteran
|
veteran
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,378 |
Wow, what an adventure! Huge congrats Matthew!!! That's a big bear!
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: Ernie]
#173824
10/11/2016 1:41 AM
|
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596
racksmasher1
veteran
|
veteran
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,596 |
You stood your ground, awesome job & trophy, well done!
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: Darrell H]
#173825
10/11/2016 1:41 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 730
Mark Hampton
old hand
|
old hand
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 730 |
Congrats on a dandy bear! Well done
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: Mark Hampton]
#173828
10/11/2016 1:59 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669
Chance Weldon
Distinguished Expert
|
Distinguished Expert
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 4,669 |
That's an awesome bear! Congrats on the trophy, and good job representing all of us handgunners in a positive manner.
Formerly TN Lone Wolf
"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: Chance Weldon]
#173832
10/11/2016 2:04 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006
Zee
Shooting Expert
|
Shooting Expert
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 3,006 |
"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: Zee]
#173834
10/11/2016 2:18 AM
|
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 463
Boot
addict
|
addict
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 463 |
Congratulations. Nice bear!
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: Boot]
#173835
10/11/2016 2:28 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,556
junebug
Gun Slinger
|
Gun Slinger
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,556 |
Nice bear, what were the outfitter's remarks after you showed him you could shoot under pressure?
junebug
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: junebug]
#173837
10/11/2016 6:02 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,461
pab1
Distinguished Expert
|
Distinguished Expert
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,461 |
Congrats! That's a nice Bear!
Experience is the best teacher, hunger good sauce. Osborne Russell Journal of a Trapper
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: junebug]
#173842
10/11/2016 10:31 AM
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,359
SChunter
Shooting Expert
|
Shooting Expert
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,359 |
Congratulations Matthew! Great bear and great shooting!
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: SChunter]
#173846
10/11/2016 11:16 AM
|
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 526
sw282
addict
|
addict
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 526 |
Having shot with 'Hurricane Matthew' twice now at our IHMSA Field Pistol Matches in Gainesville l am doubly PROUD to CONGRATULATE Him.
While most of us come to the line with somewhat less than Full Power Loads in Revolver Class, Matthew is the Exception...He and his big Polished Stainless Ruger SBH shoot the Big Stuff. Factory PMC 240gr Bronze...
Wishfully he give us a taste of some BEAR Meat @ lunch on our last Match of the season Sat Nov5 Gainesville Ga.
Again, Well Done...
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: sw282]
#173849
10/11/2016 1:48 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512
Ernie
Distinguished Master
|
Distinguished Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 5,512 |
The boy is a good shooter!
Ernie the Un-Tactical
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: cmnash]
#173857
10/11/2016 3:48 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608
s4s4u
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,608 |
Nice bruin. And great shootin!!!
Rod, too.
Short cuts often lead to long recoveries.
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: s4s4u]
#173862
10/11/2016 8:12 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715
jamesfromjersey
Shootist
|
Shootist
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 9,715 |
great bear........................
Life member-NRA-SCI Member-HHI #2900-HHASA #067 Colt-Ruger-Freedom Arms-and S&W Collector Assoc.s "I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: jamesfromjersey]
#173863
10/11/2016 8:20 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 89
SGalan
journeyman
|
journeyman
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 89 |
Big bear! Great story...outfitter seemed a bit pushy though.
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: junebug]
#173868
10/11/2016 11:46 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 543
ruger4570
addict
|
addict
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 543 |
Great story and great shooting on a really super nice bear. Congrats. Lots of good eating there.
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: ruger4570]
#173871
10/12/2016 1:16 AM
|
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,374
cmnash
OP
veteran
|
OP
veteran
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,374 |
Thanks for all the kind words guys! I just want to clarify these guys were not outfitters or guides ,but a hunting club full of members who are serious about killing bears. They have had bad experiences with guest shooters (once with a handgunner) and have strong opinions on guns and shooting. They weren't jerks about it but it was clear they had no confidence in me. I doubt their minds have changed after one success but at least that night around camp we talked handguns, bullets, and scopes. SW282, I will not make the match Nov 5 . I will be on another hunting adventure.
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: cmnash]
#173877
10/12/2016 10:33 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,556
junebug
Gun Slinger
|
Gun Slinger
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,556 |
Glad you cleared that up for us.If they have doubts about new members shooting abilities they could've just asked you to shoot a few rounds at the distance they expected the shot opportunities to be at.I can understand them not wanting a dog or themselves cut up or killed by a wounded bear. If I ran a hunt club I would want to have a couple of weekends, where members were required to show up and sight in what they were going to hunt with.Maybe a planned work weekend or something like that.Sure some would complain but you would know if they could shoot or not.It wouldn't hurt my feelings to be asked to shoot and I would really expect it.Now they know you can shoot under pressure though.
Last edited by junebug; 10/12/2016 10:35 AM.
junebug
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: junebug]
#173880
10/12/2016 1:23 PM
|
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,502
reflex264
Gun Slinger
|
Gun Slinger
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,502 |
Great bear and handgunning it makes it that much sweeter.
"A quiet hit in the right place is better than a loud miss in the wrong place followed by 10 more shots on the run"
I was a handgun hunter, when handgun wasn't cool.....
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: reflex264]
#173883
10/12/2016 3:00 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 97
Dekker
journeyman
|
journeyman
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 97 |
Congrats! on a successful hunt and a great bear.
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: Dekker]
#173887
10/12/2016 5:56 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,020
tradmark
Shooting Expert
|
Shooting Expert
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 3,020 |
Nice and bear and a nice shot under what seems to be a fairly high stress situation!!!
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: tradmark]
#174898
11/02/2016 2:08 PM
|
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 246
Spencer
enthusiast
|
enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 246 |
Hound hunting, handgun....life doesn't get much better than that!!!
NRA life member Let's go make some memories
|
|
|
Re: A hurricane , a handgun , and a huge bear.
[Re: Spencer]
#174907
11/02/2016 5:52 PM
|
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,757
cottonstalk
Pooh-Bah
|
Pooh-Bah
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,757 |
Congratulations on a nice bear.
I've been on both sides as a houndsman and a handgun hunter. Not everyone is up to the task under pressure. Great job. Must of been some nice hounds to put him up. Them bears just don't climb for the fun of it.
"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence,try orderin' someone else's dog around" unknown cowboy
|
|
|
|
0 registered members (),
49
guests, and 0
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|