It is very telling as to which rifles were used on my Alberta Bear Hunt. First, Saddle Hills offers scoped rifle $300 Savage rifle rental. Savage makes a great cost effective rifle. 

I think that is a big plus for most airline traveling hunters.

Given that shot distances are extremely short at around 20 yards, accuracy is maximized as well as delivered energy. Calibers in .270 Winchester and 7mm08 were often used delivering 2300 ft-lbs. at 20 yards. More than enough to take down black bear given a double lung hit and provide an exit wound.

In my humble opinion, Canadians use the .270 Winchester as an all around big game caliber, with the exception of hunting Grizzly bear. For that, many use the 300 Win Mag or similar high power caliber and a well constructed bullet. 

Bullets used were often soft point cup and core bullets. I used a .270 as a backup to my hunt and as a wolf caliber for a longer wolf shot.  A single hunter used a 6.5 PRC with excellent results on a 300 pound bear. It fell in sight of the bait.

Many say that USA  bear hunters like the lever action 45-70 for short range bear to maximize entrance an exit size for blood trailing but, to my knowledge, none were used on the hunt. Why? Most clients did not want the hassle to lug their rifle through Canadian customs given the option of renting.

That said, in Canada, I believe the .270 Winchester, for moose, deer and black bear, appears to be the best all around “available” caliber. I used a borrowed .270 successfully in Newfoundland for Moose. 

My own personal choice of bullet would be a Nosler Partition or A-Frame type to ensure an exit wound. I used a 7mm Rem mag with a 160g Nosler Partition on my 2023 Maine bear. Plenty of blood to trail 20 yards.

Accordingly, don’t overthink bear calibers especially at 20 yards.

Think accuracy and double lung hits and you are golden.

I used my 10 Point Turbo crossbow on my Alberta bear with a Swhacker 2.5 inch cut mechanical.

The swhacker zipped thru the bears lungs and we never found the exiting arrow.  He fell dead right at the bait after climbing up a tree for 20 feet and then fell “crashing” dead as a door nail.

The downside to flying with the crossbow was the airline called the hardcase “oversize” and did not arrive as regular baggage off the carousel.  I had to go to baggage claim to find it and got hassled in Canada customs over my label of “Archery” Equipment. 

Good Hunting!