The 11 best cartridges for downing Canada’s big game animals

BLACK BEARS

There’s a significant difference between what’s ideal for the close range of a baited black bear hunt and that of a spot-and-stalk foothills hunt. And while most black bears are medium-sized animals, some grow to be huge and thick-boned. With both those factors in mind, I’m going to select the .30-06 as the best all-round black bear round. With 220-grain pills, it’s well suited for close-cover scenarios, but with premium 180-grain bullets, it’s capable of handling large boars at extended ranges. And hey, I had to fit the .30-06 in here somewhere.