Carry shotgun while filling feeders?

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Originally Posted by werner.reiche

Didn't know they had quantified it that precisely and I sure wouldn't wait until he go that close. If he knows I am there and starts to approach me, that's all I'd need.

When I see the videos of guys in tree stands that the bear climbs up to...that's just nuts.

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Didn't know that either Werner!!
But if a yell and or a warning shot doesn't persuade him to leave and he is still charging, my 7 feet would be more like 7 yards!!
I am not going to wait and shake hands with him before I take the safety off!

I would sooner pay a fine than be bear bait, and likely most folks would be on the same page??

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Originally Posted by bushman

Didn't know that either Werner!!
But if a yell and or a warning shot doesn't persuade him to leave and he is still charging, my 7 feet would be more like 7 yards!!
I am not going to wait and shake hands with him before I take the safety off!

I would sooner pay a fine than be bear bait, and likely most folks would be on the same page??

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Likely fire one high first as a warning, after that it's game on

I'd rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
7 feet is way to close for me , if I yell at the bear and stand up and he comes toward me . Then I will empty any gun I have at the time.
Chances of this happening are very rare though so I would not concern myself to much with it ever happening.

Still rather wrestle with a bear then touch a snake

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Originally Posted by werner.reiche

Didn't know they had quantified it that precisely and I sure wouldn't wait until he go that close. If he knows I am there and starts to approach me, that's all I'd need.

When I see the videos of guys in tree stands that the bear climbs up to...that's just nuts.

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I have had one bear climb the tree I was in. When he stuck his head over the foot rest of the treestand I kicked him in the nose. Surprised him.

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Originally Posted by JeffBondar

Likely fire one high first as a warning, after that it's game on

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According to the CFO responsible for licensing for Wilderness carry the first shot is into the ground in front of the bear. The second is when they are within approx. 5-7 feet and the third shot is into the mouth of the bear.

Thanks for all the responses. I have been back to fill the feeders and again went without my gun.
My first feeder I can see clearly and wasn't as worried it was the one that was in the thick stuff I was more concerned about as there was is really no escape route.
I'll be filling again this weekend and this time I'll probably bring my shotgun. For me I'll have a round of birdshot then two slugs. I just hope I don't need to use one until Sept!

Thanks again for the responses.

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Originally Posted by Bearhunter

According to the CFO responsible for licensing for Wilderness carry the first shot is into the ground in front of the bear. The second is when they are within approx. 5-7 feet and the third shot is into the mouth of the bear.

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Thanks for the tip. That is safer...

I agree with JeffBondar snakes are scarier.

I've hunted bear but never been charged. Despite this I would expect it to occur very fast, more comparable to wing shooting, then bear hunting. I don't think the shot or calibre would be as fundamental as having the skill under pressure to hit your target. Even at close range.

I guess whatever you are more comfortable with. I am a believer in the bear spray.

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Originally Posted by trimmer21

I don't know what this CO was thinking,but,he was mistaken. Small game seasons for varmint/predators is open all year. He couldn't have charged you with "hunting out of season" as long as you had a small game license. It's legal to be using slugs or buckshot until the big game season opens in September.



That's correct,BUT,after the big game season for Bear opens,if you carry slugs or shot greater than #2 or steel shot greater than BBB OR a rifle of greater muzzle energy than 400ft.lbs. (.22),you need to have a Black Bear license and be wearing blaze orange.

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Did you notice the phrase referring to the rifle does not state "a rifle capable of greater muzzle energy than 400 ft-lbs. I've been trying for sometime to have the MNRF change the regulation to insert the word 'capable' otherwise any firearm that you can load down to below 400 ft-lbs should be legal to carry. In using the 400 ft-lb criteria they were attempting to include all rim-fire rifles up to and including the 5 mm RRFM. However any person that reloads can easily load a 30-30 Win, 303 British, 308 Win, 30-06 Sprg, or even a 45 calibers down to under 400 ft-lbs. I have a cast bullet for a 32 caliber pistol, which I load in front of 6 grains of Unique which can be loaded for most .30 caliber firearms, which falls with the guideline. Failing that you can load a number 1 buckshot pellet in front of a simpler charge, and have some great small game shooting. I queried this regulation with one of the heads of enforcement for the MNRF, and when he sent the 400 ft-lb statement back to me, in his mind he inserted the word 'capable' in spite of the fact it is not there in print. He chooses to rely on industrial standard to eliminate firearms. However, when you reload ammunition there is no requirements that you adhere to industrial standards. So its a flawed piece of legislation that needs to be re-evaluated and amended. Another suggestion that would work is limit the use of firearms, that can be used for small game, during the open big game seasons, to rim-fire firearms only. This was apparently what they were attempting to do but they overlooked the versatility of center-fire firearms when it comes to people reloading. In my mind the way that the regulation is currently written could use a court challenge.

You don't stop hunting because you grow old. You grow old because you stop hunting.
- Gun Nut