Last year it was pretty easy to call in and get two bears with a rifle, so this year I thought I'd make it a little more challenging and use a pistol. Decided on the Ruger Super Redhawk 7.5 inch in .454 Casull,open sights, with 300 gr. Hornadys.
As usual, I packed in by myself, on foot, with supplies for 4 days. I was calling the White Mountain wilderness in New Mexico, working a ridgeline at 9000 feet.
I made my calls down into the draws coming up to the main ridgeline, going down far enough to get into the thick of things so I could hopefully get a 20 yard shot, but planned on taking up to a 40 yard one if conditions were right. The easy way to ensure this was to keep visiblity down to below 40 yards.
I called on each stand for an hour, making each series between 3-4 minutes, with 4-5 minutes between them. I was using a Crit'R Call Magnum.
On the 6th call of the first day I set up in an ideal location. Intersection of a N-S ridgeline with an E-W one where there was a game trail coming off the side slope of the E-W ridge into a saddle on the N-S ridge. Water sources on two sides with the trail going through a super thick stand of scrub oaks.
It took some time to find a spot where I could see 20 yards from a sitting position, but I set up in a good location on the downwind side of the trail between two downed trees.
About 45 minutes into the call I thought I heard something stop running off to my right the same time I stopped calling. I waited 5 minutes and called again, this time for only about 15 seconds. Once again I heard something when I stopped. After waiting about 2 minutes, I pointed the call off to the left (I normally swing it back and forth)and give it just two short 2 second blasts, then cock the pistol.
Five minutes later there he is. He is stalking down the game trail off to my right with his attention keenly focused farther down the trail, where I pointed the call. He's stopped ten yards away and I bring the pistol up and put it on his head, as he is looking about 45 deg right. The brush next to me is not all that thick, but I decide not to chance a deflection and lower the gun. I'm thinking "He'll come closer", and that he does. Moving slowly and staying on the trail he comes forward till he is completely broadside of me at 5 yards. It is completely open between us and I drop him in place with one shot just behind and below his left eye.
So much for 4 days of supplies. I walk out and get the Game Toter, skin him out, quarter him up and have him back to the truck by 9 PM.
He wasn't too big, just under 200 lbs, but then again, who wants a 400 pounder 5 yards away from them?
As usual, I packed in by myself, on foot, with supplies for 4 days. I was calling the White Mountain wilderness in New Mexico, working a ridgeline at 9000 feet.
I made my calls down into the draws coming up to the main ridgeline, going down far enough to get into the thick of things so I could hopefully get a 20 yard shot, but planned on taking up to a 40 yard one if conditions were right. The easy way to ensure this was to keep visiblity down to below 40 yards.
I called on each stand for an hour, making each series between 3-4 minutes, with 4-5 minutes between them. I was using a Crit'R Call Magnum.
On the 6th call of the first day I set up in an ideal location. Intersection of a N-S ridgeline with an E-W one where there was a game trail coming off the side slope of the E-W ridge into a saddle on the N-S ridge. Water sources on two sides with the trail going through a super thick stand of scrub oaks.
It took some time to find a spot where I could see 20 yards from a sitting position, but I set up in a good location on the downwind side of the trail between two downed trees.
About 45 minutes into the call I thought I heard something stop running off to my right the same time I stopped calling. I waited 5 minutes and called again, this time for only about 15 seconds. Once again I heard something when I stopped. After waiting about 2 minutes, I pointed the call off to the left (I normally swing it back and forth)and give it just two short 2 second blasts, then cock the pistol.
Five minutes later there he is. He is stalking down the game trail off to my right with his attention keenly focused farther down the trail, where I pointed the call. He's stopped ten yards away and I bring the pistol up and put it on his head, as he is looking about 45 deg right. The brush next to me is not all that thick, but I decide not to chance a deflection and lower the gun. I'm thinking "He'll come closer", and that he does. Moving slowly and staying on the trail he comes forward till he is completely broadside of me at 5 yards. It is completely open between us and I drop him in place with one shot just behind and below his left eye.
So much for 4 days of supplies. I walk out and get the Game Toter, skin him out, quarter him up and have him back to the truck by 9 PM.
He wasn't too big, just under 200 lbs, but then again, who wants a 400 pounder 5 yards away from them?
