I'm not gonna lie, I kinda thought the CEO was soft when it showed you guys looking at Google Earth in a comfy looking setting the night before. Boy was I wrong! That is a nasty hole! And to think that the stud he shot wasn't the big one, I understand wanting to get back.
I loved mine in 7mm mag t3 lite, blued, for hunting, target shooting not so much. Shot a half dozen different 140 and 150 grain bullets into 3-4" shotgun pattern, anything over 160 you could cover with a quarter. At the time I wanted a gun that was a little more fun to shoot, sold it instead of...
I'm already set up with a grendel in an AR, but prefer to hunt with bolt guns. I'm waiting for a lefty for my son, but might have to buy myself a righty first :-)
Better management is a good idea. Depending on how literal one takes that language, I would prefer local management, but not local ownership. Even then it's sstill a question on how best to manage the land.
I'm a fan of just about anything based on the 308 length case. 243, 260 rem, 7mm08, and of course the 308. The smaller ones have a touch less recoil if that's an issue, best all around in my mind is a toss up between 7mm08 and 308. Just my $.02 :-)
The EPA hasn't agreed to any software updates to fix the concern so there shouldn't be anything sneaky. The work order you sign that says what work will be performed is a legal document, as long as what's on it is clear you should be fine.
If the Core lokt is accurate out of your gun, I'd stay with that. Practice from field positions at the longest distance you're comfortable with and that 180 will put any black bear down if you do your part.