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New world record black bear taken with bow

Fletch

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Shhhh... New Jersey has no bears.... Congrats to the hunter... Actually there have been bigger bears shot weight wise... This record was based on skull size... Truly a remarkable bear...
 

Wildlife

Denny
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Ross County, Ohio
Holy sh@t! That's a huge bear and congrats to the archery hunter!!

Not deter from the hunters success on Sgt's thread, but I have to ask - those of you that hunted bear country for whatever with a bow, do you also carry a sidearm and/or bear/pepper spray with you just in case of an unexpected mean bear encounter? I hope that wasn't a silly question...

I used to live in Montana and I've had a couple bear encounters, but from a safe distance while in a vehicle. I intend to hunt out west in the near future and I wish to receive advise on the matter.

Appreciate it, thanks!
 
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Quantum673

Black Hat Cajun
Supporting Member
Holy sh@t! That's a huge bear and congrats to the archery hunter!!

Not deter from the hunters success on Sgt's thread, but I have to ask - those of you that hunted bear country for whatever with a bow, do you also carry a sidearm and/or bear/pepper spray with you just in case of an unexpected mean bear encounter? I hope that wasn't a silly question...

I used to live in Montana and I've had a couple bear encounters, but from a safe distance while in a vehicle. I intend to hunt out west in the near future and I wish to receive advise on the matter.

Appreciate it, thanks!

The couple times I have hunted Yogi I had a sidearm. If nothing else it made me feel better. Was always a little unnerving walking out at dark with fresh bait only 30 yards away.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Holy sh@t! That's a huge bear and congrats to the archery hunter!!

Not deter from the hunters success on Sgt's thread, but I have to ask - those of you that hunted bear country for whatever with a bow, do you also carry a sidearm and/or bear/pepper spray with you just in case of an unexpected mean bear encounter? I hope that wasn't a silly question...

I used to live in Montana and I've had a couple bear encounters, but from a safe distance while in a vehicle. I intend to hunt out west in the near future and I wish to receive advise on the matter.

Appreciate it, thanks!
Yes. 44 mag Smith and Wesson 629 classic with the front sight filled off. No need to aim or worry about it catching on the holster.
 
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Wildlife

Denny
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Ross County, Ohio
Appreciate the responses fellas.

I also did a hog hunt down in the Ozarks in the early 2000's and when I finished up early after killing three hogs, I fished. While in a canoe on the river fishing with a friend, we had a sudden bear encounter that reached the river bank that acted quite aggressive and looking real hard at us. My friend totally freaked out when the bear continued to follow us along the river bank and almost turned the canoe over. Needless to say, we were able to get out of the area without incident, but it really shook up my buddy bad. Scared him sh@tless to be quite honest.

I'll be carrying something with me regardless, but I wanted to hear from some you guys that have hunted bear county regularly, thanks again!

Carry on...
 
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Fletch

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To answer your question Wildlife.... We are talking
NJ.... You are not allowed to carry a handgun in the state... PERIOD... NO IF ANDS OR BUTS.... Technically I believe bear spray is also illegal to carry, although it is sold in stores...So if you bump into one of these Giants and he's got a wild hair up his ass... Kiss your sweet ass good by... Chances of getting attacked are slim... But you have to respect them... I spend alot of time in woods that have a high density of bears and don't really worry about them and at times I'm baiting and carrying a fully pack of donuts and carrying a bag full... I'm sure I smell like a 250 lb donut... LOL I've had it cross my mind that I have to have a loose screw somewhere to be playing with these giants with just a small pocket knife in my pocket... But I love doing it... Here's a bear that is 800 lbs +.... Look at lenght of bear... Best of my knowledge this bear is alive....

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Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
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Ross County, Ohio
To answer your question Wildlife.... We are talking
NJ.... You are not allowed to carry a handgun in the state... PERIOD... NO IF ANDS OR BUTS.... Technically I believe bear spray is also illegal to carry, although it is sold in stores...So if you bump into one of these Giants and he's got a wild hair up his ass... Kiss your sweet ass good by... Chances of getting attacked are slim... But you have to respect them... I spend alot of time in woods that have a high density of bears and don't really worry about them and at times I'm baiting and carrying a fully pack of donuts and carrying a bag full... I'm sure I smell like a 250 lb donut... LOL I've had it cross my mind that I have to have a loose screw somewhere to be playing with these giants with just a small pocket knife in my pocket... But I love doing it... Here's a bear that is 800 lbs +.... Look at lenght of bear... Best of my knowledge this bear is alive....

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Damn that's a huge bear!

I have to believe that bears want nothing to do with humans, however I also would think that if cubs are in the area with momma, she'd see you as a serious threat I would imagine.

I had an unexpected cow elk encounter one time where she got within feet of me and her little ones were yards away that I didn't see. She made damn sure that I didn't get anywhere near her babies and I didn't. I believe bears would act much the same.

West NJ is absolutely beautiful and I wish you the best of luck chasing those black bears. Stay safe and thanks for sharing!
 

MoonLab

Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.
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Tooville
To answer your question Wildlife.... We are talking
NJ.... You are not allowed to carry a handgun in the state... PERIOD... NO IF ANDS OR BUTS.... Technically I believe bear spray is also illegal to carry, although it is sold in stores...So if you bump into one of these Giants and he's got a wild hair up his ass... Kiss your sweet ass good by... Chances of getting attacked are slim... But you have to respect them... I spend alot of time in woods that have a high density of bears and don't really worry about them and at times I'm baiting and carrying a fully pack of donuts and carrying a bag full... I'm sure I smell like a 250 lb donut... LOL I've had it cross my mind that I have to have a loose screw somewhere to be playing with these giants with just a small pocket knife in my pocket... But I love doing it... Here's a bear that is 800 lbs +.... Look at lenght of bear... Best of my knowledge this bear is alive....

View attachment 95798
Good luck , rich
 
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Fletch

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Denny... Your the first to say North West NJ was beautiful.. LOL. I gotta agree with you as where I live is gorgeous and one of areas I hunt bears at is Wilder that wild... As for sows with cubs, you are correct, mommy gets very protective... Here's a pic of a sow with cubs that felt very comfortable around me.. She was in a very remote wild area where most of my giants reside.. No matter what side of the ridge I put bait, she would find it and be on the camera... One day during the season she came in and I was throwing her donuts... Boy if only she knew I had the 50 Cal on my lap with an unfilled bear tag... But she was lucky as I would never shoot a cub or their Mom... Here's a few other bears that are in that spot... Check the ground clearance on the balls on the one... Truly giants in that spot...

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Wildlife

Denny
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Ross County, Ohio
Those are some real cool pics!

I've worked all throughout NJ during the 90's (Woodland Park area mainly though) and during 2012 thru 2014. In fact, I did last a projector conversion at the Delsea Drive-In Theatre, South Delsea Drive, Vineland, NJ in 2013. I believe it's the oldest and the only drive-in left in the state.
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I've even stayed in some ruff places where I would've rather been in NJ wooded bear county over the Newark hotels I've stayed in downtown. Night gun shots heard more than of few times during my stay in your friendly state :LOL:.

Like I said, best of luck in your bear hunting and thanks for sharing!
 
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Sgt Fury

Sgt. Spellchecker
Those are some real cool pics!

I've worked all throughout NJ during the 90's (Woodland Park area mainly though) and during 2012 thru 2014. In fact, I did last a projector conversion at the Delsea Drive-In Theatre, South Delsea Drive, Vineland, NJ in 2013. I believe it's the oldest and the only drive-in left in the state.
View attachment 95805View attachment 95806View attachment 95807View attachment 95808View attachment 95809View attachment 95810

I've even stayed in some ruff places where I would've rather been in NJ wooded bear county over the Newark hotels I've stayed in downtown. Night gun shots heard more than of few times during my stay in your friendly state :LOL:.

Like I said, best of luck in your bear hunting and thanks for sharing!
Small world...the Vineland drive-in is only about ten miles from my house.😊 most of the bears are in the northern part of the state but we do get an occasional sighting now and then. About five years ago there was one in the center of town in Vineland. The news crews were following it around the neighborhood. I’ve spent ALOT of time in the swamps around south jersey and have never seen a bear here.
 

Wildlife

Denny
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Ross County, Ohio
Small world...the Vineland drive-in is only about ten miles from my house.

Have you ever been to that drive-in and if so, was it after 2013? And if so again, was the picture quality decent? I haven't talked to the owner in a while so I'm assuming no news is good news.

I remember he had a special request when I did that job, which was to give him the ability to use a wireless mic through the theater audio system I installed so he could stop the film and make any kind of an announcement. I was able to set that up for him, which he seemed real thrilled at the time.
 

Sgt Fury

Sgt. Spellchecker
Have you ever been to that drive-in and if so, was it after 2013? And if so again, was the picture quality decent? I haven't talked to the owner in a while so I'm assuming no news is good news.

I remember he had a special request when I did that job, which was to give him the ability to use a wireless mic through the theater audio system I installed so he could stop the film and make any kind of an announcement. I was able to set that up for him, which he seemed real thrilled at the time.
Haven’t been there but pass by it often. It is still open so I guess business is good.
 
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Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
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Ross County, Ohio
Nice job on the drive-in Denny... Not many around.

Thank you!

Yes, you're right, not many around. I did another one in a remote area of West Virginia on one up in Michigan . I think I've done four or five in total and two of them were right here in Ohio.

I nearly converted every privately owned historical movie theater from 35mm film projectors to large and expensive automated networked digital projector/video/audio systems up & down the east coast and several others throughout the entire United States from about 2011 through 2015. I traveled quite a bit through the Appalachian Mountains to get to many of those destinations, which included visiting nearly every major city. I averaged roughly 1,800 miles every two or three days getting around the eastern part of the country.

These days, the wife appreciates my working from home.
 
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