spltlim

just an FYI to you guys, NJ is also expanding the bear season starting next season, 2016. adding a six day early season starting in October. The first three days of the season will be archery equipment only, then the next three days will be archery or muzzleloader. Not sure on the dates yet, I believe starting the second Monday of October. Undoubtedly some of the highest bear densities per square mile in the US, along with outstanding bear habitat, can create some excellent hunting opportunities. do a google search of some of the bears that have been harvested over the last few years there, many bruins taken over the 600lb mark and even a few that were over 700lbs, as well as a beast of a bear that tipped the scales at 829lbs. Below is a link to the story on that huge bear http://www.ammoland.com/2011/12/829lb-black-bear-takes-record-in-nj-bear-hunt/#axzz3vcmnKW8h

ive seen that tree before !!!

During the 2013 season bear permits were sold to hunters from 30 different states. Not sure what the non-resident tally was for this year, but will find out shortly

In 2005 739 lb (Live weight) NJ Bear was harvested In 2010 David Price harvested a 875 lb (Live weight) ranked #1 in PA and # 2 in the world., this bear was captured several times by NJ Fish and Wildlife several times. So he spent a great deal of time in NJ In 2011 John Noon harvested a 776 lb (live weight) in NJ In 2011 Dennis Headly harvested a 829 (live weight) Just a day after Noon shot his bear 2014 Steven Polanish Harvested a 736 lb (live weight) bear in NJ How can you not say it is a bear hunting mecca ?

I shoot loose powder, only way to find the sweet spot your gun shoots the best. With pellets your restricted to either 50 , 100, or 150 grains. Loose powder you have more flexibility with your powder amount and can pull the most accuracy out of your rifle Some guys trade off the ease of loading pellets and sacrifice some accuracy for it. Loose powder you can get the most accuracy from your rifle but you trade off a little bit of the ease of loading, Not much difference using a speed loader and pre measuring your loose powder, but after the shot and when the adrenalin is flowing I've spilt powder all over the place pouring speed loaders down the barrel (shaking hands, LOL)

Love the 25/06, one sweet round. One thing to keep in mind with bullet selection is shot distance. Keep in mind the 25/06 is a fast flat shooting round with muzzle velocity of upwards 3000 fps, so if your shots are going to be inside say 150yds you need to make sure your using a stout bullet design like, Nosler Partition, Nosler accubond, Barns TTSX or TSX, Berger VLD. At closer ranges the bullet is traveling so fast that there is a good chance the bullet will break up upon impact. Granted with a projectile travelling that fast at close distance and good shot placement, the vital organs will be turned into jello and the deer will more then likely not take another step even it the bullet breaks up on impact. With a less then Ideal shot dont expect to see much of a blood trail if the bullet breaks up I hand load for my 25-06 most accurate bullet for me is 100 grain Sierra Pro Hunter, however this is not the most ideal bullet for the area I mostly hunt. The buck I killed last year was shot right at 100yds and the pro hunter broke apart upon impact, all i was able to recover was very small bullet fragments inside the chest cavity, now all of his vital organs were turned into soup and he didnt budge an inch, but a less then ideal hit and it would of been a very difficult tracking job. So I have now developed a great load with both Nosler Partition and Nosler Accubonds, As these bullets will hold up much better at the closer ranges, I did have to sacrifice a little bit of accuracy for performance, but I am most confident with these bullets

all very silly to me, zone i have my camp in is 7M. Non residents are not eligiable to recieve a permit for this zone. However now they have 1800 permits left over. WTF ?

Some examples Hard Mast Soft Mass Vegitation / spring

also look for his scat, when there eating soft mass, scat will be like a reddish in color and you see the seeds in it. When there hitting the acorns scat will be a very dull gray in color

as soon as the corn dries, bears wont really be feeding on it, they tend to favor when the corn is still green. If soft mass is available they will hit apples, and pears but after they pick the trees clean. They will move off onto the hard mast. If the corn is dry, and the apples gone look for the oaks. Find the food find the bears, this time of the year all they are concerned about is putting on the fat for the winter. More often then not they wont bed far from the food source. Last thing they want to do is expel energy traveling great distances from there day bed to there food source. Bear Scense is great stuff, Use the hickory smoke as lure scent. It will last for days. Spray it high on the trees so the scent carries. Also spray it on the underside of leaves (will be proteced from dew and rain) Use the sweeter smelling scents on your shooting lanes to seal the deal, jelly donut, root beer, and one they call secret blend

Granted Ive never handled one set up with a scout scope, Looking at them , I'm not sure how the gun would shoulder. I think having the scope forward of the reciever would upset the balance of the sweet handling of the 336 rifles there so famous for. I have a low powered scope on my 336 1.75-4 power, and at 1.75 power no problem shouldering the gun and shooting with both eyes open, cant see target aquision being any faster with the scope mounted forward of the reciever

Weatherby Vanguard S2 in 25/06 topped with a leupold Vari X III 4.5-14 X, shooting handloaded 117gr Nosler Ballistic Tips. When still hunting or in the thicker Brush- Marlin 336 in .35 Rem topped with a Bushnell Banner 1.75-4 X, shooting Remington 200gr Core loks, (still working on handloads for this rifle) During Muzzy - TC Omega topped with a leupold Vari X III 3.5-10X, shooting 340gr Precision Rifle Dead Center Bullets on top of 95gr of Black Horn 209

works like a champ...thanks for the info

(quote) " I personally would love to see a course offered in our school for those interested, volunteer hunter ed instructor making a visit once a year" Now I think thats a great Idea I do like the at home hunter Ed that NJ has gone to.. But while my son was/is going through it, One big problem that came to my mind was, if a kid was taking a online or at home course , that didnt come form a hunting family or have a mentor with a hunting background and he or she had a question about something. They dont have anyone to ask

A few years back NJ went to the Hunter Ed being course being a do at home thing....Basicly the classes are on a DVD you watch them complete a take home workbook...Then do a one day "field" session, where you take your written test, conduct a trail walk to show safe weapon handaling, and a proficincy shoot... Now my son just turned 10 so he is now old enough to get his license and he is currently in the proccess of doing the at home portion....I understand the convience of it being done at home, as it is hard to find time to go to an acutual class or classes .... However i really wish it was they way it was years ago...with hunter ed instructors giving the classes....I remember being his age and really looking forward to going to the classes with the other kids...kind of a right of passage type thing i guess