So, spring is finally here in Massachusetts which means that the bears are back out of hibernation. I've had several bears of the last few years destroying our bird feeders and tearing up our chicken coop.
Last night one came up on my deck and did a little damage while it was checking out some empty bird feeders. We decided to stop feeding the birds in the hopes that the bears would leave, but so far it hasn't worked.
At first we didn't care. It was fun watching them hang around the yard and scratch up the seeds which had fallen from the feeders and we took a buch of pics and videos to add to our critter file. Then they started stealing the feeders or just destroying them.
So, we rigged up a clothes line high up on a tree and connected to my second floor deck. they can't reach them up there but pretty much every night they still show up looking for food and getting into the trash.
I have a 16 year old mutt that needs to go out every couple of hours. I used to just open the door and let her go on her own, but with the bears around and my dog's failing eye sight I escort her out now.
I don't want to lug a rifle or shot gun around along with a flashlight and the leash, so I've been bringing my .357.
But now I want to step up the power a bit, so I decided on a .44 magnum. I know there are more powerful cartridges out there now a days but the guns are not in my budget, so a single action .44 is my choice. However, as I began shopping I ran into a bunch of revolvers chambered in .45 lc, mostly Vaqueros. Most were a bit cheaper that the .44's I was looking at.
So, to make a long story a bit longer, would any of you handgun hunters out there feel that a .45 LC handloaded with a fairly stiff load would do an adequate job?
When bear season rolls around I'll take out my 30-06 and do some actual hunting, but in the mean time I just want something on my hip with a bit more bite than my.357.
Last night one came up on my deck and did a little damage while it was checking out some empty bird feeders. We decided to stop feeding the birds in the hopes that the bears would leave, but so far it hasn't worked.
At first we didn't care. It was fun watching them hang around the yard and scratch up the seeds which had fallen from the feeders and we took a buch of pics and videos to add to our critter file. Then they started stealing the feeders or just destroying them.
So, we rigged up a clothes line high up on a tree and connected to my second floor deck. they can't reach them up there but pretty much every night they still show up looking for food and getting into the trash.
I have a 16 year old mutt that needs to go out every couple of hours. I used to just open the door and let her go on her own, but with the bears around and my dog's failing eye sight I escort her out now.
I don't want to lug a rifle or shot gun around along with a flashlight and the leash, so I've been bringing my .357.
But now I want to step up the power a bit, so I decided on a .44 magnum. I know there are more powerful cartridges out there now a days but the guns are not in my budget, so a single action .44 is my choice. However, as I began shopping I ran into a bunch of revolvers chambered in .45 lc, mostly Vaqueros. Most were a bit cheaper that the .44's I was looking at.
So, to make a long story a bit longer, would any of you handgun hunters out there feel that a .45 LC handloaded with a fairly stiff load would do an adequate job?
When bear season rolls around I'll take out my 30-06 and do some actual hunting, but in the mean time I just want something on my hip with a bit more bite than my.357.
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