Pennsylvania Black Bear

[Ed Pilkington]

Dan'l Boone says, "welcome to the club, now get one with your 'bear hands'"

 

[Sparks of Dutch Glory]

Pennsylvania has three bear seasons, a 3 day regular rifle season, a longer archery season and a concurrent (with archery) 3 day muzzleloader season.
I have been hunting with my flintlock for many years but have never shot a bear, in fact I’ve never seen a bear in season, out of season I’ve almost shook hands with a couple but never when I could have shot one. This has been a lifelong goal to take a flintlock bear.
This season I hunted all three days of the muzzleloader hunt and the woods were very inactive, low animal movement all three days. Yesterday the wind began to blow and blow hard making it almost dangerous with potential limbs falling, I was careful where I chose to sit.
About 2:30 I moved off the ridge into the creek bottom to get some new scenery and try to escape the wind. I sat for 2 hours and a black squirrel passed by, and I thought well at least it was something black!
About 5:00 I caught movement to my right and can you believe it, it was a bear! Gun pointed left, bear to the right made it impossible to get a shot. It didn’t take long and it moved forward to where I could see the head from behind a tree, then it stopped started smelling the air and I knew I was about to get busted. I leaned forward and canted the gun on an angle to get around the tree and when the front sight settled behind the shoulder, the gun barked instantly. The bear bit at its back, turned and ran about 20yds on top of a small burm and toppled over.
It was an amazing few moments and I could not believe that I actually shot a bear with my trusty flinter, goal complete.
Estimated 176#
.50 cal prb, 90g FFF Goex

Outstanding and congratulations
I also have never seen one during muzzle loader season
I am very happy for you quite the bucket list accomplishment!
Well done !!!

 

[Thingamajiggy]

Congrats! Sounds like a great hunt.

 

[chuck1956]

Well done!

 

[tunadawg]

My hat is off to you. I was hunting eastern Warren County in the ANF, no luck for me. A bear with the flintlock is definitely on my bucket list.

 

[TransYank]

Well done sir. I two had one on my bucket list. And 2017 got it done with muzzleloader. After 47 years Then killed another in 2020 with CF. Then had a big sow under my stand at 40 yards in 2021 didn't need the so left her pass. Most likely never kill another.

 

[GregK]

Very nice bear, congrats!

 

[Greg Selner]

Congratulations.
Great story.
That’s awesome taking a black bear with the flintlock.

 

[oldschoolhunter55]

Pennsylvania has three bear seasons, a 3 day regular rifle season, a longer archery season and a concurrent (with archery) 3 day muzzleloader season.
I have been hunting with my flintlock for many years but have never shot a bear, in fact I’ve never seen a bear in season, out of season I’ve almost shook hands with a couple but never when I could have shot one. This has been a lifelong goal to take a flintlock bear.
This season I hunted all three days of the muzzleloader hunt and the woods were very inactive, low animal movement all three days. Yesterday the wind began to blow and blow hard making it almost dangerous with potential limbs falling, I was careful where I chose to sit.
About 2:30 I moved off the ridge into the creek bottom to get some new scenery and try to escape the wind. I sat for 2 hours and a black squirrel passed by, and I thought well at least it was something black!
About 5:00 I caught movement to my right and can you believe it, it was a bear! Gun pointed left, bear to the right made it impossible to get a shot. It didn’t take long and it moved forward to where I could see the head from behind a tree, then it stopped started smelling the air and I knew I was about to get busted. I leaned forward and canted the gun on an angle to get around the tree and when the front sight settled behind the shoulder, the gun barked instantly. The bear bit at its back, turned and ran about 20yds on top of a small burm and toppled over.
It was an amazing few moments and I could not believe that I actually shot a bear with my trusty flinter, goal complete.
Estimated 176#
.50 cal prb, 90g FFF Goex

 

[oldschoolhunter55]

Pennsylvania has three bear seasons, a 3 day regular rifle season, a longer archery season and a concurrent (with archery) 3 day muzzleloader season.
I have been hunting with my flintlock for many years but have never shot a bear, in fact I’ve never seen a bear in season, out of season I’ve almost shook hands with a couple but never when I could have shot one. This has been a lifelong goal to take a flintlock bear.
This season I hunted all three days of the muzzleloader hunt and the woods were very inactive, low animal movement all three days. Yesterday the wind began to blow and blow hard making it almost dangerous with potential limbs falling, I was careful where I chose to sit.
About 2:30 I moved off the ridge into the creek bottom to get some new scenery and try to escape the wind. I sat for 2 hours and a black squirrel passed by, and I thought well at least it was something black!
About 5:00 I caught movement to my right and can you believe it, it was a bear! Gun pointed left, bear to the right made it impossible to get a shot. It didn’t take long and it moved forward to where I could see the head from behind a tree, then it stopped started smelling the air and I knew I was about to get busted. I leaned forward and canted the gun on an angle to get around the tree and when the front sight settled behind the shoulder, the gun barked instantly. The bear bit at its back, turned and ran about 20yds on top of a small burm and toppled over.
It was an amazing few moments and I could not believe that I actually shot a bear with my trusty flinter, goal complete.
Estimated 176#
.50 cal prb, 90g FFF Goex

congratulations to you. nice bear and good shooting. you had a great day.

 

[ETipp]

Congrats on a fine bear.

 

[Rebel bull]

around here their as thick as dogs hair in the spring come our hunting season (Sept 1 - Oct15 or so) you can't find one to save your soul

 

[FiremanBrad]

Congrats! I’ve killed 2 with my recurve but I’d love to kill one with the flinter!!!

 

[Waymoe1]

Congratulations ! That's a great bear.

 

[Mike in FL]

A good story and a nice bear. Me, I never could bring myself to kill a bear. Don't want the meat so I don't know what to do with a dead bear. Even when legal, I would feel bad. Weird, I know.

 

[brewyak]

Pennsylvania has three bear seasons, a 3 day regular rifle season, a longer archery season and a concurrent (with archery) 3 day muzzleloader season.
I have been hunting with my flintlock for many years but have never shot a bear, in fact I’ve never seen a bear in season, out of season I’ve almost shook hands with a couple but never when I could have shot one. This has been a lifelong goal to take a flintlock bear.
This season I hunted all three days of the muzzleloader hunt and the woods were very inactive, low animal movement all three days. Yesterday the wind began to blow and blow hard making it almost dangerous with potential limbs falling, I was careful where I chose to sit.
About 2:30 I moved off the ridge into the creek bottom to get some new scenery and try to escape the wind. I sat for 2 hours and a black squirrel passed by, and I thought well at least it was something black!
About 5:00 I caught movement to my right and can you believe it, it was a bear! Gun pointed left, bear to the right made it impossible to get a shot. It didn’t take long and it moved forward to where I could see the head from behind a tree, then it stopped started smelling the air and I knew I was about to get busted. I leaned forward and canted the gun on an angle to get around the tree and when the front sight settled behind the shoulder, the gun barked instantly. The bear bit at its back, turned and ran about 20yds on top of a small burm and toppled over.
It was an amazing few moments and I could not believe that I actually shot a bear with my trusty flinter, goal complete.
Estimated 176#
.50 cal prb, 90g FFF Goex

That’s awesome!! I went out but all I seen was a lot of deer. They must have known that I told myself I wasn’t going to shoot a deer