I had about an hour to kill this evening before I went to pick up a daughter at a school function. It was 7pm & beautiful outside so I thought I'd seize the moment.
I've shot a couple of my defensive handguns over the winter, but I haven't shot a hunting handgun since probably the 1st of Sept.
I grabbed my mod 29 with the red dot, a double handful of 300 gr hardcast loads @ about 1360(20.5 grs H-110. Haven't chronographed it with the 300s, but wth 320s it does 1346 avg from my gun), a steel plate & the stand & headed for the woods. Threw up the stand & plate, put some new paint on the plate, stuck the earplugs in & let the 1st shot go at 50yds. Dead centered the plate. Fired another round & hit a couple inches higher. Backed up to about 64 yds & fired a couple cylinders. All on the plate, probably an 8-10" group. Not great, but offhand & the 1st time I've shot in 8-9 months, I can live with it. Also did a few of fairly slow double action shots at around 30 yds, with good results. Definetly feel good on bears to 60 yds.
Sure felt nice to shoot again.
Now I just need something furry.... (that AINT a brown bear)!

No, just a big squirrel in the moonlight....

Went for a little drive & a walk this morning. No bears, no bear tracks.
Hopefully I'll have my bait station out Monday morning.

glad your getting out and having some fun.

That I am.
Checked out my old bait site & may set up there again. Also found another site I like a couple hundred yards closer to the road & within 40 yds of old siesmic trail I go in on. It's nicer because I can get a bit of a view of the bait station from the trail before I wander into it. Nice with the brown bears around. Also a better chance of someone else noticing it & messing with it.
Not sure which one I'll set up.

I wish we could still bait here, we definitely have no shortage of bears but as you may remember this isn't real hospitable country for spot and stalk which is why I'm going to try the predator calls. Get a big one and try not to sneak up on any more brownies, that's a losing proposition.

cant you use "the Bear Bomb"?, I remember them saying its legal to use in states that dont allow bait because there no nutritional value...

heres a link:
http://www.buckbomb.com/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=22

Ive been looking into this myself as a backup idea, if Im not going with hounds this year.

I actually bought a couple of bear bombs and some other scents but then was informed by the state police fish and game einforcement that scents are considered bait and are illegal. They told me if I wanted to smear bacon grease on myself I could.

We have had this conversation before, something along the lines of Rupe smearing the bacon grease on him. Then who could run faster the two medded cripples or the squid on land? I still would love to participate in that!

Thats to funny (grin)

I think I remember that conversation, I must not have been to heavily medicated that day.

Vance,

Well now you mean you haven't been eaten by a bear yet?

WAIT A SECOND! I don't remember volunteering to rub bacon grease all over myself! I don't think I have ever been that hight on medication to get talked into being bait for a bear? I think that is something for a youngster not a couple of gimpy old guys. I remember volunteering to sitting in the brush and calling them in but I don't remember anything about smearing bacon grease all over me being part of the deal.

Nope!
How about you?

1 Mississippi, 2 Mississippi, 3 Mississippi, Have I waited long enough yet????

Got my bait put out Tuesday.
Checked the bait station today, & it had been hit. This is over 2 weeks earlier than last time. Also last time(2 yrs ago), I had a brown bear show up on the bait 1st & claim it which ruined the year. This year by the looks of the tracks it's black bear, so I'm hoping to get on one quick (even if it's a smaller one) before the brown bear find the bait station.
Might even see if I can get out this evening.