USA: Black Bear At The Flying B Ranch - Idaho

[Throwback]

My son and I just spent a week at the Flying B Ranch in Idaho. Great place, the staff, guiding, hunting, food, accommodations, the whole package.

We sat bear bait each day from about 3:45 pm until dark, about 9pm. Sounds boring but we did not really find it to be. For me, it was very nice to disconnect. The fact I could get my 16 year old son to do it, with no cell signal, etc... was priceless. You have to sit pretty still and not really any talking.

The first night we saw nothing, not one bear. Heartbreaking, but a great way for my son to learn you have to earn it.

The second night a bear came in 530pm, awesome, but it smelled something and ran before it got to the bait. Also heartbreaking. Three hours later, what we think was the same bear came in at 830pm. You only have one shot for these guys due to the terrain, no follow ups. The bait was at 150 yards and my son let loose with a 180 grain Barnes TTSX which hit the bear broadside. Total pass through. We found the bear about 50 yards away, dead.

The third night at around 8pm a bear came in to the bait which was 78 yards away and I took my time studying it through the scope. I waited until quartering away and tucked a 7mmPRC 160 grain Hornady CX round right behind the shoulder. The guide was adamant about not shooting them in the shoulder due to their intense bone density. The bear ran 20 yards toward us and dropped.

Great time, great people and a different kind of hunt for us Texas boys, particularly terrain wise. Very steep and very thick terrain. Weather was great. Very good fishing too.

I highly recommend the Flying B and we will be back. I would love to cougar hunt with them and even attend their one week upland bird hunting guide school. Cheers

 

[Green Chile]

Congrats on taking both bears. Hopefully your son wants to go again. I’m surprised they didn’t want shoulder shots on the bears. That’s a deadly shot to take out both shoulders.

 

[BryceM]

Congrats, I'm glad you enjoyed our beautiful state. Beautiful bears.

As for where to shoot, I'd have shot on the shoulder. I know what my bullets do. If they're good enough for eland and elk, they're plenty good for black bear.

 

[Badjer]

Congratulations to both! LOVE Idaho!!!

 

[Altitude sickness]

Congrats to both of you. Nothing better than spending alone time with your kids. And both shooting bears in a beautiful setting.

I agree with Green Chile. Even the largest black bear has the bone structure of an adult human of the same weight. And your 7PRC with a 160 grain bullet would have anchored any black bear.

But why not keep the guide happy and shoot where he prefers.

Congrats again.

 

[Throwback]

Yep, I did as the guide asked and it all worked out fine. This was our first time to hunt black bear and I would definitely do it again. What I would like to do before though is their hunt for mountain lion. They run hounds and there is a lot more "action" than sitting on bait. Just a different kind of hunting, and in Dec - Feb. I believe. Whole different deal. That bear meat is damn good too. I have some snack sticks in the fridge and pastrami on the way along with beer bratwurst. Taxidermist is doing a rug and a half lifesize. Cant wait. Cheers

 

[Slaton]

That’s awesome. I love hunting with my 17 year old daughter.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Congratulations on both you and your son getting bears!

Can you share a few more details on the outfitter? Location? Where did you fly into? Thanks!

 

[buck wild]

I've only been bear hunting once myself, and the guide said same thing, shoot behind the shoulder, not on it. Later I checked a few references and found that at least the charts show all the good stuff a little further back than say deer and lots further back than Africa stuff.

Again, I'm no bear expert by any means. My bear went 15 yds.

Congrats to both of you !

 

[Throwback]

Congratulations on both you and your son getting bears!

Can you share a few more details on the outfitter? Location? Where did you fly into? Thanks!

Yes sir. We flew into Spokane, WA. The outfitter picked us up and it was about a 3 hour drive to lodge but an easy, beautiful one. You can fly into a few different towns though, e.g. Lewiston, etc. Kamiah, ID is the nearest little town I think to where the lodge sits.

I definitely recommend it. I call this place a 5 star set up. The lodge, food, service, etc... It is high end. Our guide was very down to earth, practical and knew his job backwards and forwards. Result was dead bears.

I have on my list to go back for mountain lion one winter. Happy to answer any other questions you may have. Flying B is at DSC every year if you attend that show, if you want to speak with them there. They are actually most famous for their upland bird hunting if you are into that. Cheers