657-pound bear showed up after 5 p.m.
Jennifer Fontanini killed a massive, 657-pound bear in Tyrrell County, NC on Dec. 11, 2023. It could be the biggest NC black bear killed by a female hunter. She shares her story with us here:
On, Monday, Dec. 11, I climbed into my stand around 3 p.m., just as I did for the entire first season this year and all last year.
At 5:05, I just knew I was headed to another night of no big bears. As I always do when hunting, I started talking silently to my Pop-Pop about hunting and praying for him to send me a big black bear. After I finished, I looked down the path in front of my blind and there stood something I was not expecting.
Normally, I would take a picture or video and send it my husband and ask…“this one?” Not this time! I knew I couldn’t hesitate and needed to get ready.
I steadily grabbed my trusty Browning Bar Safari chambered in .270 and waited for him to stop. Taking careful aim at about 80 yards, I shot and BOOM he went straight down is his tracks.
I am very humbled and grateful to have an opportunity at a mature bear, let alone one that might be in the Boone and Crocket book, or pending state record by female hunter. NC Wildlife biologist Chris Turner said after the 60-day drying period we will know for sure.
We hunt in Tyrrell county in a still hunting club, on private property. I’m a Texas resident, hunting with out-of-state privileges, and am originally from Raleigh, NC.
–Jennifer Fontanini
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