It's probably just my OCD kicking in but I'm rethinking my gear after todays 3d shoot. So what's it take to harvest black bear? Are they deer tough or elk tough? Sorry easterner here with zero bear experience!
Not even deer tough. They are thin skinned and easy to penetrate and kill. A sharp BH in the right place and it's over very fast.
Mike
They die quickly if hit right. I'm with Mike, I think on the whole, deer are tougher.
Me too, took a p and y bear in alaska , 10 yrs ago ,145 gr head zipped through and was over in less than 10 seconds!
I've guided for them and have taken 5 with the recurve. Thin skinned, but full of fat in the fall. Spring.... lean and mean.
The fur is heavy and very thick. Hit them low in the kill zone for better blood trail. Quartering away is ALWAYS best, broadside is good, dont shoot at quartering towards you or frontal.
After the shot, DONT MOVE A MUSCLE. For 30 minutes at least. The longer you can sit without moving the better. This is where most hunters screw up. Make a good shot and dont let 'em know you are there. They wont go far. If you get on them while still alive, they will run on adreniline to the north pole. Seen it a ton of times. Sit TIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bear hunting isa so much fun, you will have a blast! A 45# recurve will take them, but shoot the heaviest you can accurately. If you can shoot heavier, do it. You never know when they shift and you hit bone.
Good luck!!!!!! Take a deep breath and calm! Draw, pick a spot,shoot and watch while sitting absolutely still and quiet. It will seem an eternity but do it. Convince yourself beforehand. Sit still and your bear will be dead as a doornail close by if you've made the shot. If not a good shot, even more important to sit. Leave the bear alone. Let it stiffen up. It may die overnight.
Easiest animal I've found to put down quickly. If you don't hit the shoulder they are relatively easy to penetrate. From a tree, half way up behind the shoulder will do just fine. Don't shoot them angling towards and have a sharp head.
Unsure of the shot...back out! Death moan...no need to wait any longer!
Any bow over #40 will do as long as it's tuned and your arrow is not too light....keep it over 500 gr. if your bow is light.
Last rule....post pix when you get home!
Ryan
Currently shooting a 655gr. Arrow out of a #50 recurve. Thinking of dropping down to a 530gr. Arrow, both tuned to perfect bullet holes in paper. Will be spot and stalk, Montana fall bears.
I wouldn't begin to say I am an expert, but I did get some experience last year.
My 53 pound recurve with a 600 grain arrow and sharp 2 blade head took care of the small bear in my avatar. We killed 12 bears with bows anywhere from 45lbs to 65lbs. There were 2 blade, 3 blade and 4 blade heads used. All set-ups worked well.
Shoot accurately and it will be fine. :thumbsup:
All what is said above except I feel quartering away is not as good a shot as directly broadside. The bears chest is more conical than a deer plus the ribs are wider. The arrow has more tendency to skip out. Broadside you know it's going in just stay away from the shoulder which is wider than a deer...tippit
So how do you shoot these critters? Pictures i've seen seem to suggest the vitals are higher and further forward then deer, that sound about right?
I usually wait till the bear exposes the vitals when it arise the front leg or make a step,then I shoot a little in front.No one of mine,2,made more than 40 yards.Both were pass through shots but I had bows of 61-65# and arrow in the 650 grains range.
I have killed 6 of them and I shoot like I was shooting at a deer....tight behind the shoulder and broadside is preferable. They are very easy to kill if you get both lungs and a liver shot is also deadly but needs a bit of time. In my experience the lungs are further back than most diagrams I have seen. I can't emphasize enough that you need razor sharp heads as blood trails can be difficult, but not always. Some bleed well, others do not. In my experience with Hunters Point, if a bear makes it more than 75 yards you probably will have a much longer trail than you want. You want to get both lungs, that's why broadside is the way to go.
Of the 3 bears I've killed and two by my buddy, all went between 30 and 60 yards. All but one was with super sharp Zwickey Delta two blades and one with a 3 blade Razorcap. As noted above any deer equipment with super sharp heads is more than adequate. Most important thing is shot placement. I've been on two trails with other hunters that went forever with lost animals. If you're hunting over bait, my advice is to take your time and get the perfect broadside or next best is just slight quartering away shot (broadside preferred). Again, if at a bait, don't rush it! Relax, take a deep breath. Draw and let down if you have to and then make a good shot. You'll have a short to no trail if you double lung them. My Michigan bears were all delicious, but you have to cool the meat quickly. Keep them out of the sun for sure with that dark fur that soaks up heat. Good luck.
P.S.
Don't get too high in a stand. My stands were all set around 10 feet up and were 12-15 yards from bait. Too high that close and you change your shot angle to where you're not getting a solid double lung hit.
I've got the sharpening thing figured out, if my hairless arm and legs are any indication. Appreciate all the help guys!!
Bear seem to have the lungs further back than a deer. I've been lucky enough to make decent shots on bears but almost shot too far forward trying to keep tight to the front leg. I've seen two bears shot halfway back and have both lungs taken out. I intend to shoot bears from now on a few inches back from the leg, giving me plenty of margin off the front leg. Broadside shots from a low stand centering the ribcage will get both lungs and make a short trail.
Here ya go. Bear are one of the funnest critters to hunt :thumbsup:
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/steadman_2006/bearanatomy.jpg)
Iam shooting GT 35/55 total weight 472gr. 10.8gr. per inch . bow is 43#@24" I draw 24 1/4"
I have the short draw affliction. :bigsmyl:
Will this do for Black Bear, going in September. :thumbsup:or down for arrow?
tb, I'd have to say you are on the low end edge. More of any or all would help. An exit hole is important for a bloodtrail. If you go with that setup, choose your broadhead carefully and have it RAZOR sharp.
Where in IL are you?
Also make sure your in the legal poundage for where your hunting. Some are #45 or even #50.
Fletcher
From Mackinaw, Ill a little town SE of Peoria maybe 20 miles. Myself and ranger 3 from Trad Gang will be going to Hunterspoint Guide service in Maine.
yea, really looking forward to it.
tradbower... I took this bear with a 47# @ 28 (my draw) Beman 500 with a 250 gr. grizzly BH. Total arrow weight around 500 gr. Pass thru and recovery under 100 yd (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v488/Shortbldtr/Manitoba%202010/IMG_1263.jpg)
Did not get a weight on him but he has a BC skull and a nose to base of tail measure of 7'3"
Bears are not difficult to shoot thru.
Have confidence in your set up and a sharp,straight flying BH and post plenty of pic's when you get back
tradbower, you're going to have a great hunt with Eldon. None better.
David summed it up,none better than Eldon Jandreau
Yes, a bear's vitals are further back than you think.
The largest black bear I have ever seen - at least 400 lbs (spring) - I put an arrow tight behind the shoulder within 1/2" of where I wanted it to go. On a deer it would have been over in seconds - I never found that bear after a 3 hour track that ended in the rain. Another bear - quartering away shot from a tree stand @ 20 yds. Bears front legs were up on a log. Arrow entered behind the ribs and exited two ribs forward - skewered the heart.
An Alaskan guide had a video of where to shoot a black bear and his comment was "Half way back, half way down and 4" forward." Based on the bears I have harvested as well as those I have lost I believe his comment is right on (if hunting from a tree).
Also, in my experience, if you track a bear more than about 150 yds. you likely won't find him. Heart or lungs and they can be down and out in 30-40 yds. Liver and they will go 120-140 yds, lay up and be right there the next morning.
Good luck and as others have said, stay as calm as you can, remember your fundamentals and make a strong shot. I love bear hunting.