Black Bear Hunt North Central Pa.

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Hello friends and neighbors // I've been invited to Bear hunt in the Slate Run area of North Central Pa.

We do not have much of an opportunity to hunt Black Bear here in S.C. and this will be with family so their advice is mostly,, fun,, not to be repeated here.
I might have started it by asking how long a knife is legal to hunt bear in Pa.

I'm planning on taking my Remington 760, .30-06, Whitetail rifle with a Nikon Buckmaster 3X9X50 and see thru rings for primary and a 760 in 35 rem. with just irons as back up.

Any info NCPA hunters can provide is appreciated.

Good web site for hunting tips?

Planning on Corelock 220gr. JSP to do the job, good enough?

Still rattlers in mid Nov.? I read they have tagged hundreds in the area.

What are the Bears eating at this time (mid Nov.), Hawthorn berries to slow down for hibernation? Or is this too weather dependent, varying from year to year?

No dogs or baiting so I'm guessing a drive. Should I take a shotgun or handgun for use while driving? A machete like here?

Should be a hoot even if we don't see a Bear but I like to be prepared.

 

[JShirley]

A 760 in 06 or .35 Reminton should be a good setup. My "Pennsylvania Rifle" is a 7600 in .35 Whelen, with a ghost ring rear sight.

Can't speak to the rattlers, though. I would suggest that a 3x9 scope might be too much, unless you're hunting from a stand.

John

 

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I am used to this set up, dropping to see thru rings for closer shots, but a follow up shot might be quicker with open sights.

Thanks for the tip.
We will apparently be still hunting from the ground, 100 yards max.

 

[Sam1911]

Still rattlers in mid Nov.? I read they have tagged hundreds in the area.

Naaah, cool enough by then you should be fine. 'Course, I've only ever seen two and one of them was down here almost into MD.

 

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thanks Sam1911 ,
Same here I've spent months in the woods and tens of thousands of hours working outdoors only to have seen a dozen copper heads, two water moccasins and one mountain rattler.

None of them when growing up in S.E. Pa.

I hope for it to be cold enough in the mountains to put down the snakes but warm enough not to bundle up too much.

 

[bpl]

My experience with bear hunting in PA is that its usually cold, often there is snow, I have never seen a snake while bear hunting, and the only bears I've ever seen during bear season are dead ones shot by others. I take my 30-06 generally. My buddies dad has killed two of them with a .243.

I have seen a few big bears up in the Slate Run area in the spring/summer while fly fishing! Good luck!

 

[Steve in PA]

I've never taken a black bear yet, but I do hunt them in NE PA. Actually, I could have taken a bear last year with a handgun (.44 mag), but as soon as I saw she had some cubs following behind her, I put the gun down.

With my .30/06 rifle, I load it with handloaded 165gr BTSP. More than enough for bear. My handgun was loaded with 300gr XTP's.

I've never seen a rattler in November. As for what the bears are eating, depending on how cold is gets, most are thinking of heading to a den.

Google "Hunting PA" and join their forum. Lots of good hunting info on that site.

 

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Thanks for the tips,

bpl,, I might have seen the same bear and hope to get in some trout fishing on another trip.
I'm going with the .30-06 too, it has been a good" go to" rifle for white tail and I'm used to it.
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Steve in Pa,, most of the guys are using 150gr in their .30-06 due to the flatter trajectory over the 220.
I'm most familiar with the 180 gr. so will probably stick with them.

I'll check into Pa. hunting tonight, sounds perfect.

 

[Steve in PA]

I went with the 165gr because it is a nice balance between the 150gr and 180gr bullets normally used. I've never seen anyone use the heavier stuff, although I know it is out there. I get great accuracy, range and ballistics with the 165gr ammo.

 

[Hangingrock]

pa+game+commission

Good information under section for Black Bears.

 

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Hangingrock,,ty,, good site too.

It seems our biggest problem this year will be new roads/fences the state has added.
Hope our group finds some bear sign to know which side of the fences to hunt.