FROW - Black Bear - Modern Firearm

By Paul Zuch

The spring bear hunt the last week of May 1996, I was at my log cabin in the Parry Sound District, where I have been hunting bear for over 20 years. I only hunt the spring hunt. Numerous bears have been taken including three hides over 6’ long by relatives and friends. 1996 was my turn for a big one. Bait consisted of fried belly slabs of pork in cheesecloth hung from branches. At approximately 8:00 pm the bear appeared from the right of the tree stand. I was able to check his fur for rubs, he then made a 180 degree turn around a tree which enabled me to check his other side. He tilted his head up to smell the bait which was still 20 yds away from him. I had the feeling he was looking at me, so I took aim at his shoulder angling through his body towards his hind. At the sound of the shot – a 7x57 Mauser 160 grain nosler partition handload, the bear rose up on his hind feet – roared – half turned and then fell over. I quickly put another cartridge in the chamber, the bear moaned three times and then all was quiet. The next day my friend and I started to skin the bear. The weight of 450 lbs is a guess as the two of us could not turn him over. After skinning and removing one hind quarter we were able to skin him completely. I knew it was a good bear, the skin was perfect, however I had no idea he was such a trophy. After one year the hide was done, the taxidermist told me I should get the skull measured (taxidermist Gunter Koch, Nobel, Ont.) the skull was measured by Don McVittie of Huntsville. Ont. On July 26, 1997, one year after the bear was shot, the skull measured 21 14/16 and to my surprise and joy it was a new Ontario record. The distance from the treestand to where the bear was shot was approximately 45-49 yds, the rug measures 7’6” long from tail to nose.