386: Hunting Brown & Grizzly Bear With Ron Spomer

386: Hunting Brown & Grizzly Bear With Ron Spomer

Author: John McAdams August 28, 2025 Duration: 1:03:05

Ron Spomer is back on the show to discuss his adventures hunting brown and grizzly bear on the Kamchatka Peninsula in far eastern Russia as well as in Alaska. Ron shares the stories of those hunts (a couple of which are pretty wild) along with a discussion on the rifles, cartridges, and bullets he used.

Sponsor: Make sure you're signed up for my email list by going to Biggamehuntingpodcast.com/ebook. You'll get my free E-BOOK when you do so and you'll also receive the emails I send out every weekday. If you like The Big Game Hunting Podcast you'll love those emails. 

In this episode of The Big Game Hunting Podcast, host John McAdams sits down with returning guest Ron Spomer.

They discuss Ron's bear hunts in Russia and Alaska, to include his recent trip in the spring of 2025. As always, Ron shares plenty of stories regarding each hunt, to include some of the interesting experiences he had a long the way.

Their takeaway? Those can be some wild hunts with lots of adventure and are not for the faint of heart. However, they can also deliver some experiences the hunter will remember for decades afterwards.

Please hit that "SUBSCRIBE" or "FOLLOW" button in your podcast app to receive future episodes automatically!

Resources

Pick up a copy of Ron's 7mm Cartridges From Around The World book here

Check Out Ron Spomer's Podcast (on Apple or Spotify), Web Site, & YouTube Channel

Ep 320: Master Alaska Guide Phil Shoemaker Talks Brown Bear Hunting – Phil Shoemaker interview referenced in podcast

Ep 336: Best Cartridge For Hunting Darn Near Anything With Ron Spomer– Previous appearance by Ron on the podcast

Ep 201: Bighorn Sheep Hunting With Ron Spomer – Previous appearance by Ron on the podcast

Ep 145: Moose Hunting 101 With Ron Spomer – Previous appearance by Ron on the podcast


John McAdams hosts the Big Game Hunting Podcast, a conversation grounded in the realities of pursuing game across continents. Each episode feels like a detailed campfire talk, moving from the technical specifics of terminal ballistics and caliber selection to the raw, unforgettable narratives from the field in Africa, North America, and beyond. McAdams brings together a global community, with voices ranging from seasoned industry professionals to fellow hunters who call in with their own experiences. The focus is always on practical knowledge and authentic stories, stripping away any pretense to get to the heart of what hunters actually want to discuss. By sharing his own journey of learning and improvement, McAdams creates a space where curiosity and respect for the wilderness drive the dialogue. Tuning into this podcast means joining a serious yet accessible exchange where the complexities of the hunt are explored without filter. New conversations are released every Thursday, offering a consistent dose of insight and camaraderie for anyone passionate about the pursuit.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Big Game Hunting Podcast - Hunting Africa, North America, & More!
Podcast Episodes
410: Best Cartridges For Hunting Africa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:27
We're talking about the best cartridges for hunting Africa in this episode: plains game, thick-skinned dangerous game, cats, etc. The cartridges I list in this episode are based off the results of surveys I've recently c…
409: 49 Years Of African Safaris With Craig Boddington [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:47
Craig Boddington joins me on the show today as we discuss trends he has observed since his first African hunting safari nearly 49 years ago. Craig and I talk about countries that have opened and closed hunting since his…
408: Best Bullets For Hunting Plains Game In Africa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:47
We're talking about the best bullets for hunting plains game in Africa in this episode. I've hunted a lot of plains game with a wide spectrum of bullets, so I'll talk about some of my noteworthy experiences with those di…
407: New 35 Whelen & 9.3x62mm Rifles From Ruger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:20
Lipsey's and Ruger have teamed up to release a couple of new Hawkeye and No. 1 rifles in 35 Whelen and 9.3×62. Those are outstanding rifles (especially in 9.3x62mm) for hunting the whole spectrum of game ranging from whi…
406: Gemsbok Hunting 101 With Kevin Robertson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:32
Kevin Robertson shares some insights on gemsbok hunting in this podcast interview, focusing on gemsbok biology, where they live, what they eat (and how that affects their behavior), how trophy quality varies from region…
405: 405 Winchester-Roosevelt's Medicine Gun For Lions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:13
We're talking about the 405 Winchester today, which is President Theodore Roosevelt's legendary medicine gun for lions. To this day, that statement remains one of the most effective presidential endorsements of any produ…
404: 404 Jeffery With Phil Massaro [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:14
Phil Massaro shares some insights on the 404 Jeffery in this podcast interview, focusing on the history of the cartridge, its performance specifications, and some fascinating stories about his hunts equipped with the 404…
403: Muzzleloader Elk In Arizona With Andrew Marlin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:19
I got the chance to sit down with Andrew Marlin from The Dove Guy podcast in this episode and he shares the story of his successful, muzzleloader self-guided elk hunt in Arizona this year. Sponsor: Go to BigGameHuntingPo…
402: Worst & Best Creedmoor-22 vs 6mm vs 25 vs 6.5 Creedmoor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:58
Here are my thoughts on the entire Creedmoor family: the 22 Creedmoor, the 6mm Creedmoor, the 25 Creedmoor and the 6.5 Creedmoor. We'll discuss how they stack up next to each other on paper, how they perform afield on ga…
401: Best Cartridge for Hunting Darn Near Anything With Richard Mann [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:41
Richard Mann is back on the show and we discuss a subject I know you'll enjoy: our favorite cartridges for hunting virtually any species of big game. We're play little game where Richard and I each list our favorite cart…