Going After Indian Bears With An American Client Braver Than A Lion

[gillettehunter]

Great stories. Thanks for relating them to us.
Bruce

 

[Nyati]

Another great story, thank you Mr. Rahman

 

[Mort Hill]

Mr Rahman,

In answer to your question regarding the American grizzly, I can only say I do not think there is a bear alive, save the polar bear, that is larger, more fierce, and more astute. Looking at your pictures, I would be more apt to compare your species with the North American black bear. Also a worthy adversary. The black bear boar can get average 300-500 lbs and 5-6ft nose to tail depending on the region of the US or Canada. The grizzly is much larger, at say 700-800+ lbs and as be 10’+.

Pictures are hard to judge, and having never personally encountered your bear, can only speak from what I have experienced. This is not said in any way to diminish your own bear, nor the grand hunt you shared, but for one point of view only.

I am spell bound by your stories and only wish I could read a book of your life as it is truly fascinating and worthy of recall.

Thank you again.

 

[Kawshik Rahman]

Kawshik Rahman,
Fantastic reports on hunting Indian big game in a bygone era. You are truly a testament to a period that is now sadly only found in history books.

I am curious though why where you so surprised by a head shot killing a bear?? An example below is the head/skull of a 10+ foot polar bear, the weight was probably over a 1000 pounds, that was shot in the head with a .270 instantly dropped dead like a stone. Its not an ideal target on a bear given its small size especially relative to a body shot but a head shot from a mid sized caliber will certainly kill even the biggest of bears...

Dragan N
You are correct that it is possible . However , you are also correct that the target is incredibly small. The head of the bear with it's small brain make the head shot difficult , but not impossible. I am an advocate for safety and l prefer safer shots which have a lower chance of not working. Of course , an expert , such as my client , can master it , but to my old views , it is a risky method.

 

[Kawshik Rahman]

Mr Rahman,

In answer to your question regarding the American grizzly, I can only say I do not think there is a bear alive, save the polar bear, that is larger, more fierce, and more astute. Looking at your pictures, I would be more apt to compare your species with the North American black bear. Also a worthy adversary. The black bear boar can get average 300-500 lbs and 5-6ft nose to tail depending on the region of the US or Canada. The grizzly is much larger, at say 700-800+ lbs and as be 10’+.

Pictures are hard to judge, and having never personally encountered your bear, can only speak from what I have experienced. This is not said in any way to diminish your own bear, nor the grand hunt you shared, but for one point of view only.

I am spell bound by your stories and only wish I could read a book of your life as it is truly fascinating and worthy of recall.

Thank you again.

Mort Hill
Thank you for your appreciation. We are all sportsmen here and l never feel that anyone is diminishing me.
Your estimation of the bear weight is remarkably accurate. The male bear shot by my client weighed 536 pounds , while the female bear stopped by me weighed 497 pounds . Judging from what you said about the American Grizzly species , l do not think an SG cartridge would work .

 

[Kawshik Rahman]

Great stories. Thanks for relating them to us.
Bruce

Bruce
I am grateful for your appreciation.

 

[BenKK]

Thank you, Mr Rahman, for another fine narrative.

 

[Kawshik Rahman]

A very interesting story of days past...

Rum Runner
I appreciate your enthusiasm

 

[Kawshik Rahman]

Another great story Mr Rahman, your client is as a client should always be in my view.

It is also completely unreasonable that your friend be hung for the foolishnes of his client. In fact I had to read that section of your story twice to make sure I had not misread it.

JPbowhunter
I agree completely . The client believed in the theory of light , high velocity bullets for dangerous animals. Unfortunately , his attempt to prove this theory , not only cost him his life , but also resulted in Rongon Daas getting hanged. Rongon's mother was an elderly widow and she used to depend on her son's wages. Karim and l would try to help her out as much as we could. She passed away in 1968.

 

[Kawshik Rahman]

Thank you, Mr Rahman, for another fine narrative.

BenKK , thank you for being so appreciative.

 

[Newboomer]

Mr. Rahman,
Absolutely fascinating, especially the references to things American that you didn't understand. Keep the stories coming.

 

[Kawshik Rahman]

Mr. Rahman,
Absolutely fascinating, especially the references to things American that you didn't understand. Keep the stories coming.

Newboomer
Thank you so much. It was an American client who had introduced me to the art of hand loading cartridges and using wax from bees to treat SG pellets.

 

[Kawshik Rahman]

Excellent! Looking forward to more

Wyatt Smith , thank you for your appreciation

 

[Kawshik Rahman]

Another great story, thank you Mr. Rahman

Nyati ,
I am glad that you enjoyed.

 

[WAB]

Fantastic adventure. Please write a book of your experiences!

 

[Red Leg]

The northern hemisphere brown bear, whether a coastal brown, and interior grizzly, Romanian brown bear, Russian brown bear, or Kamchatka brown are all essentially the same basic species. The coastal bears tend to be larger - often much larger - due to diet. All can be quite aggressive. Looking at the markings, this pair of bears seem to be what we call the Asian Honey bear? There is a video making the rounds recently of one of these bears attacking and severely injuring a man in India.

As a proud Southerner, I have taken a great deal of interest in the outraged class’s recent attacks on the South and its history. My signature quote by L.P. Hardly captures the insanity of it pretty well - “the past is a foreign country, they do things differently there.” In other words, judging the past by the standards of the present is folly. One of my ancestors, William Barksdale, commanded a Confederate Brigade at Gettysburg and died breaking a Federal Corps on the second day. He occupies the seat of highest honor in my family’s and my personal Valhalla. I am glad my friend that you met one of those old school gentlemen of a fast vanishing culture.

I am appalled at the fate of your poor colleague and friend. I am trying to imagine the reaction of our African PH friends were they sent out after dangerous game with a load of buckshot for backup and a capital crime hanging over their heads should a client prove to be a idiot and get himself killed.

Do please find a friendly editor to help you put these memories together and write that book. It will be a classic.

 

[cagkt3]

Another fascinating tale, thank you sir!

 

[mark-hunter]

Dear mr Rahman,
Thank you again, for fantastic story!
I do, also encourage you to write your memoirs! Your stories and narrative fascinate!

 

[cls]

Great stories of a different place and time. I have enjoyed them all and thank you for sharing them with us.

 

[Kawshik Rahman]

The northern hemisphere brown bear, whether a coastal brown, and interior grizzly, Romanian brown bear, Russian brown bear, or Kamchatka brown are all essentially the same basic species. The coastal bears tend to be larger - often much larger - due to diet. All can be quite aggressive. Looking at the markings, this pair of bears seem to be what we call the Asian Honey bear? There is a video making the rounds recently of one of these bears attacking and severely injuring a man in India.

As a proud Southerner, I have taken a great deal of interest in the outraged class’s recent attacks on the South and its history. My signature quote by L.P. Hardly captures the insanity of it pretty well - “the past is a foreign country, they do things differently there.” In other words, judging the past by the standards of the present is folly. One of my ancestors, William Barksdale, commanded a Confederate Brigade at Gettysburg and died breaking a Federal Corps on the second day. He occupies the seat of highest honor in my family’s and my personal Valhalla. I am glad my friend that you met one of those old school gentlemen of a fast vanishing culture.

I am appalled at the fate of your poor colleague and friend. I am trying to imagine the reaction of our African PH friends were they sent out after dangerous game with a load of buckshot for backup and a capital crime hanging over their heads should a client prove to be a idiot and get himself killed.

Do please find a friendly editor to help you put these memories together and write that book. It will be a classic.

Red Leg
Your knowledge is most remarkable. I have done a search on internet right now about Asian Honey Bear and you are correct. This creature is exactly the species in my 1965 photograph. While l do not recommend shot of any form on dangerous animals , based on photographs of the American Grizzly species , l do not think that it would be possible to kill them with SG cartridge at all. What remarkably large and imposing creatures these are .
In regards to my client , l do not believe that one should ever trust everything that they read. My client was was an absolute gentleman . While all clients are gentlemen , this client was certainly the most convenient for me to guide.
Based on my travels in the American south , people there are very hospitable and l have never seen anyone be condescending ( My niece's boy friend is born and raised in Alabama ) . They have excellent food , with a particular dish called chicken fried steak ( which is interestingly enough , made with beef ) and cream gravy being a particular favorite of mine.
Regarding Confederacy , l share your view. we should only judge somebody by the laws of their time. Infact , l do not want to judge anybody at all as those people are long dead before l was even born . If we judge Alexander the Great by the laws of today , then he would not be a conqueror , but would be called a mass murderer. But that would not be fair to him .
A person can support or be proud of a Confederate , without being bigotted in his personality . This client , for instance , ate with us, discussed about a lot of topics with me and did not show any anger even when the superstitious coolies were too afraid to go forward , due to fear of silly spectral entities. He even tipped all of us handsomely and did not try to deviate from our safety instructions. Rather , he educated me about the Korean war and hand loading.
With regard to Rongon ( may he rest in peace ) , it was very unfortunate. However , back in those days Shikaris could get hanged if their clients were killed during their Shikar in India , based on the orders of the Nilgiri Wildlife Association , which was a little unreasonable . I do not mean to belittle the client who unfortunately lost his life , but he could have tried his .220 Swift calibre rifle on some less dangerous animal to test his theory , like a boar or a Nilgai ( even then , this calibre is far too small for them and l would only recommend it for mouse deer ) .If he did not try to prove his theory on a 400 pound Royal Bengal tiger , then neither he nor Rongon would have lost their life.