Gary Reeder
There are several ways to go when bear hunting. The thing
Thursday, June 11, 2026, 18:22

you have to remember is either you are going to die or the bear is going to die. There is no wounding a big bear. That just pisses him off even more.
Years ago I was bear hunting in Washington with bear dogs. The dogs scented a bear and the race was on. The dogs chased the bear and backed the bear up against a big boulder. The guide and I were trying to get up to the bear but the brush was so thick all we could do was try to crawl on our hands and knees. When we got to where we could see the bear the guide told me to shoot the bear as it had already killed 2 of his dogs.
Back then the 44 Magnum was the big boy. No 475 or anything with more power than a hot loaded 44 Magnum. I took a shot while on my knees, then another. The bear had the adrenalin pumping and never felt those 2 rounds. I thought I needed to break the bear down so I went for a shoulder shot. The round was the Hornady 260 grain jacketed soft point. I was shooting a S&W model 29 with the hottest round that was safe in that gun. That shot got the bear's attention as he started biting at his shoulder. That also told him that we were what was hurting him. The bear started spinning at the next round but now he wanted to spend some time with us. He put his head down and came at us. The dogs were still biting at him so that slowed him down a bit. As he got within about 10 feet from us I hit him in the chest with my next to last shot. We were still on our knees and the guide had his strike dog on a leash connected to his belt. That is the important dog as he scents the bear from the truck and he didn't want to get the dog hurt.
Unfortunately the bear had other plans as he went right for the dog. In doing that he knocked the guide and me over on our backs. I had one round left and all I could think of was heart shot. I reached up and put the muzzle of the 44 in the bear's arm pit. At the shot I heard a second shot. The guide was carrying my Contender chambered in the 41 GNR#2 and had shoved the muzzle of the pistol in the bear's throat.The bear was nose to nose with the guide. The bear was dead but kept doing that spastic snapping of his teeth. The guide just kept muttering "shoot the bear" again and again.Unfortunately the strike dog was killed. But thank the Lord the bear was dead. I think it was the guide's shot that killed the bear.
The bear was a big Black Bear and took a lot of killing.