Hey guys, I'm trying to start a guiding business for black bears and thinking a reliable 12ga mite be a good gun for me to carry as a backup. But which one? I've mostly been going between 870 magnum, 500, and 835. Would like some input to help me decide. Also still open to other suggestions... shotgun vs. big bore lever? Thanks in advance,
If my life depended on it, I would choose the 870 out of the above 3 mentioned. Had a friend who lived in Alaska for 6 months then back home again in Indiana for the other 6. He told me when he was in bear country, he always carried a pump gun staggered with slug, 00, slug, 00. Good luck,
All my 5 bear kills were double lunged with a bow. I would choose a shotgun that your used to...reason, you don't want to be fumbling around with the safety or mounting the gun. As you know a bear can out run a race horse the first 35 or so yards. I've been up close and personal with many a bear, including one that did a predetory stalk on me complete with snapping her jaws, slapping the trees and frosting of the mouth. Had to wait untill she turned a quater turn so I would place arrow behind shoulder blade to hit both lungs. This was in the breeding season and she just got in fight with a large male which knocked one of her front teeth out and she was a little distraught to say the least. I would also carry a long knive on my side in a sheath but never had the strap around the handle snapped...again for speed. The blade needs to be long so you can penetrate the long under belly fur just in case the bear has you pinned down.
