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Bear happy #203161 11/04/2019 10:10 PM
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cmnash Offline OP
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This morning I headed to a favorite spot on public land, hoping favorable weather would bring me some luck. And did it...

I was fortunate enough to take this bear at first light when we crossed paths on a ridge top


I used my Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 with Federal Fusion factory loads on a hasty shot at about 20 yards. The bear reacted immediately and made a short run into the laurels. I heard him moan, but waited for the sky to brighten a couple of minutes before I followed the trail. There was no reason to worry. The 240 grain bonded hollow point was well placed, and had absolutely hammered him, leaving a copious blood trail.

Possibly the best part of the morning was that he was only a half mile from the truck, and even better, the drag was downhill.

I enjoy bear meat, and I am confident this guy will be good eating.


It has been a goal of mine to take a bear off of public land with my revolver for a while now. It feels good stalking these mountain ridges with just a sixgun on my hip, and my daypack.

This mornings hunt has left me genuinely happy.

Re: Bear happy [Re: cmnash] #203163 11/04/2019 10:41 PM
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Randy M Offline
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Way to go buddy. A good hunt most certainly doesn't have to be a long painful one.


The meat won't fry if the lead don't fly.
Re: Bear happy [Re: Randy M] #203164 11/04/2019 10:53 PM
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wheelguns Offline
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Love it when things work out. Congratulations on a nice bear.

Re: Bear happy [Re: wheelguns] #203165 11/04/2019 10:56 PM
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Mark Hampton Offline
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Very well done - Congrats!

Re: Bear happy [Re: Mark Hampton] #203168 11/04/2019 11:22 PM
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KRal Offline
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Great hunt, Matt! To get it with an iron sighted six shooter makes it even better - congrats!

I?m ready to go on another bear hunt, it just gets in your blood.


It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but only 3 for proper trigger squeeze.
Re: Bear happy [Re: KRal] #203170 11/04/2019 11:53 PM
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Awesome hunt, and thanks for sharing.

Re: Bear happy [Re: BRASF0311] #203187 11/05/2019 2:17 AM
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This is so cool Matthew! I wish that we had a huntable population of bears in my county. Obviously, the Fusion bullets work well


The Eyes are Useless, When The Mind Is Blind
Re: Bear happy [Re: Franchise] #203188 11/05/2019 2:23 AM
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jamesfromjersey Offline
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Wat to go Matty? The Fusion bullet did its job....


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"I have more guns then I need but not as many as I want" "Handgun hunters HAVE to be good"
Re: Bear happy [Re: Franchise] #203189 11/05/2019 2:27 AM
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Okie Hunter Offline
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Congrats. Black bear is on my bucket list.


With God all things are possible. Matt.19:26
Re: Bear happy [Re: Okie Hunter] #203190 11/05/2019 2:34 AM
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WiseGuy Offline
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Nicely done Matt!


Bigger ain't always better....according to who???
Re: Bear happy [Re: WiseGuy] #203193 11/05/2019 3:18 AM
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Brenden Offline
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Congratulations Matt! The old 44 has claimed another victim.

Re: Bear happy [Re: Brenden] #203196 11/05/2019 3:29 AM
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Ernie Offline
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Outstanding!


Ernie the Un-Tactical
Re: Bear happy [Re: WiseGuy] #203199 11/05/2019 3:37 AM
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junebug Offline
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Well done Matt.


junebug
Re: Bear happy [Re: junebug] #203208 11/05/2019 9:38 AM
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jmoore429 Offline
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Nice looking bear! So far this season it's just been squirrels for me. Will have to relay the news to LisaG.

Re: Bear happy [Re: cmnash] #203210 11/05/2019 10:38 AM
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billa Offline
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Congratulations ! Nice bear. A great revolver trophy!


"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,... "
Matthew 28:19

Handgun hunter since 1979 - haven't used a rifle since!
HHI member #992, NRA, SCI.
Re: Bear happy [Re: billa] #203211 11/05/2019 11:27 AM
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500WE Offline
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Congratulations on a great bear! Congratulations, too, on getting him to hang upside down on that log!

Re: Bear happy [Re: 500WE] #203212 11/05/2019 12:49 PM
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Randy M Offline
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I've never had a huge interest in chasing bear until this recent trip to New Mexico. I saw two over the course of the week - a small cinnamon and a nice size black. They are really cool critters to watch - almost human like. Anyways, I was really wishing I had bought an over-the-counter bear tag before packing in.

What is your favorite way to cook bear meat?


The meat won't fry if the lead don't fly.
Re: Bear happy [Re: WiseGuy] #203213 11/05/2019 1:03 PM
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Congrats matt.well done.

Re: Bear happy [Re: popo] #203215 11/05/2019 2:40 PM
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Whitworth Offline
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Matthew, very nicely done! Congratulations! I too love bear meat and that one will likely eat very well!


Max Prasac

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BIG IRON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6aXjMH5C30

Gun Digest TV's Modern Shooter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGo-KMpXPpA&t=7s

Re: Bear happy [Re: Randy M] #203224 11/05/2019 5:40 PM
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cmnash Offline OP
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I love bears. I love watching bears just do bear stuff. I love walking in the country bears call home.

...and I love grilled bear chops. Montreal steak seasoning and a charcoal grill makes it happen.


A bear the size of my most recent or similar makes great steaks and chops. The trimmings make stew chunks and the ground makes fantastic tacos. The largest bears are too marbled with fat to make table cuts. I chill them to firmness and trim fat, trim fat, and then trim fat, before grinding them. Please remember that bear meat is subject to the same parasites and illnesses as pork, so cook thoroughly. Unlike lean venison, I can blacken the bone without burning the steaks.

Re: Bear happy [Re: cmnash] #203226 11/05/2019 5:54 PM
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jcp161 Offline
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Great hunt!

Congratulations and glad to hear the Fusion round did what it should.

Re: Bear happy [Re: WiseGuy] #203228 11/05/2019 7:52 PM
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Public land solo hunt, one shot with a favorite 44, close to the truck, and downhill. Does not get any better than that. Well done! Congratulations.


Good Shooting Makes Good Hunting
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Re: Bear happy [Re: Sawfish] #203229 11/05/2019 8:12 PM
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Whitworth Offline
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 Originally Posted By: Sawfish
Public land solo hunt, one shot with a favorite 44, close to the truck, and downhill. Does not get any better than that. Well done! Congratulations.


You've got that right!


Max Prasac

Semper Fidelis

BIG IRON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6aXjMH5C30

Gun Digest TV's Modern Shooter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGo-KMpXPpA&t=7s

Re: Bear happy [Re: Whitworth] #203231 11/05/2019 8:16 PM
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cmnash Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: Whitworth
 Originally Posted By: Sawfish
Public land solo hunt, one shot with a favorite 44, close to the truck, and downhill. Does not get any better than that. Well done! Congratulations.


You've got that right!


AMEN!

Re: Bear happy [Re: WiseGuy] #203232 11/05/2019 8:43 PM
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Steve in PA Offline
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Congrats!!! Here in PA, our general firearms bear season starts in about 3 weeks, can't wait!

I have my Super Blackhawk sighted in with a Burris Fastfire 3. It's my short range deer/bear gun where the farthest I can see is about 50 yards (thick stuff).

I also have a T/C Contender with a scope, sighted in at 100 yards. It's my longer range hunting handgun.

Re: Bear happy [Re: Steve in PA] #203240 11/06/2019 1:59 AM
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Chance Weldon Offline
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Great job! Congrats!


Formerly TN Lone Wolf

"We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided." - J.K. Rowling
Re: Bear happy [Re: Chance Weldon] #203250 11/06/2019 10:11 AM
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sw282 Offline
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l can see it now. A hundred yrs in the future a deep carving

spotted in a great 0ak Tree-- ''C M NASH kilt a BAR 2019''

Matthew is a 21st Century Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett..

A true Mountain Man!!

Re: Bear happy [Re: WiseGuy] #203252 11/06/2019 11:55 AM
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racksmasher1 Offline
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Well done Matt!

Re: Bear happy [Re: cmnash] #203255 11/06/2019 2:00 PM
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That is very cool!


"To Hell with efficiency, it's performance we want!" - Elmer Keith
Re: Bear happy [Re: sw282] #203268 11/06/2019 5:24 PM
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cmnash Offline OP
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 Originally Posted By: sw282


Matthew is a 21st Century Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett..

A true Mountain Man!!


HARDLY

I am just a guy who is called to climb these ridges, watch the sky change colors when the sun rises, and for a fleeting moment, share the ground with the beautiful animals that call the mountains home.

Re: Bear happy [Re: cmnash] #203276 11/06/2019 9:39 PM
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Vance in AK. Offline
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Congrats on a BEAUTIFUL bear!
I too love bear meat. Enjoy


Vance in AK.

Matthew 6:33
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
Re: Bear happy [Re: WiseGuy] #203306 11/08/2019 12:40 AM
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Willicd76 Offline
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That is absolutely OUTSTANDING! way to go...

Re: Bear happy [Re: Willicd76] #203311 11/08/2019 2:34 AM
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sixshot Offline
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Congratulations on a fine bear with a six gun. That's not easy to do & you made it happen, outstanding!

Dick

Re: Bear happy [Re: sixshot] #203437 11/11/2019 1:00 PM
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ruger4570 Offline
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Nice job, congrats. I love bear meat. Almost tastes like sweet beef.

Re: Bear happy [Re: ruger4570] #203440 11/11/2019 2:51 PM
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cmnash Offline OP
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Thanks again guys!

I grilled some steaks and chops from this bear yesterday, and it is GREAT.

Re: Bear happy [Re: WiseGuy] #203442 11/11/2019 3:33 PM
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reflex264 Offline
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Huge congrats!!!!!


"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: Bear happy [Re: reflex264] #203469 11/12/2019 10:17 PM
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Cool report especially since it went so well. Job well done.

Re: Bear happy [Re: cherokeetracker] #203483 11/14/2019 3:35 PM
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RH Custom Guns Offline
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Wow! What a cool goal to be able to check off your list. I also LOVE eating what I kill, so it's really neat to hear you relate the recipes and feedback on the meat. Thanks for sharing!

Re: Bear happy [Re: WiseGuy] #203975 12/02/2019 9:31 PM
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Congratulations, 20yards is a collision ot crossing paths, good shooting


"If you get to thinkin' you're a person of some influence,try orderin' someone else's dog around" unknown cowboy

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