I spent 3 years working in Alaska. I took a 30-06 Rem700 and a S&W model 29. Every little mom and pop shop I went into sold ammo and 30-06 was readily available as was .44 mag. I took handloads for the '06 using 200gr Sierra Game kings, but eventually had to buy some local ammo, Federal ammo was everywhere and it was fresh. The first brown I encountered was face on to me on a trail. I put the cross hairs just under the chin and he just dropped. I swore he was playing possum so I sat back behind a tree as a rest and waited. He never moved. That was close less than 70 yards. I did shoot one at nearly 200 broadside to me digging in a hole. That bear just dropped head first in the hole, kicked its feet 4 or 5 times and was done. I'm sure that virtually everyone will say that a 30-06 is too small for the job. It's what I had, so I took it. The local indian guide I had carried a 10ga shotgun with 000 buckshot as a backup. As far as the caribou, I found them to be pretty fragile. One guy with us specifically wanted Caribou meat, he was using a 6mm Rem. They dropped where they stood. One fell in a river, the guide got it with a salmon fishing rig. They are heavy to begin with but are heavier when wet. Trying to stay calm and get off a good shot when you see a bear will be key to good shot placement. Regardless of caliber, use a bullet made for the job. Don't take a Long Range target bullet on a job that your life could depend on.
