My wife and I are going on a hunt this up coming may for bears and she will be shooting a 45@27 long bow and I will be shooting a 56@30long bow and I have been kicking it around and have noe clue what a good bh would be for bears sence they clot and stop bleeding so fast im thinking muzzy Phantom in 220 for both setups but just dont know so im asking for others opions on what they use thanks Jake

The Muzzy is a good choice, but a 3 blade VPA or Snuffer would be my go to, just because of the wider, more triangular cut.

Bears are not particularly heavy structure wise, but you are right: that coat and fat will keep blood off of the ground.

Whatever head, sharp-sharp-sharp!
Even a healthy mature spring bear should have a bit of fat left on him, and you want sharp to get through as clean as possible.

Snuffers, Simmons, VPA, Magnus(the BIG ones), etc. Get em sharp and critters will die. Seems that the general consensus with bears is big broad heads are preferred and that penetration is rarely an issue.

My grizzly thoughts would be MUCH different from my black bear thoughts . . . Actually, I guess they wouldn't.

Stos.

But my bow poundage might vary.  

Out of curiosity, what are you after?

I used a 175 VPA on one two falls ago.  Watched it fall and I was able to follow a decent blood trail right to him.  I have used that head on other critters and I kinda like the blood trails.

I went thru top to bottom, using a 61# RD longbow.

ChuckC

I'm going to do some playing with the 190gr Tree Shark, that 2" wide blade should make a hole that won't close up on any animal.  That is just speculation on my part but from the pics and comments I've seen on here I think they will do just fine.

I took a blackie with my 47 pound bow and a Simmons safari head.  Complete pass through and great blood though not necessary since he only went 30 yds.  Put the shot where your supposed to and black bears drop faster than any animal I have shot.  Good luck!

Don't want high jack your thread, but does anyone still use string trackers?  I shot a bear years ago with a compound and a string tracker, it didn't go very far and I heard the death moan, but the vegetation was so thick and it was pitch black that even with the sting to follow we waited till morning.  Sure made finding it much easier, but  would  it work with a 50# recurve at 15 yards?

It's my opinion that you can use whatever broadhead you  want.... I'd suggest a multiblade, though.

Your wife would be better off with something more stream lined. At that I still believe a multi blade is the way to go even for her draw weight.
Woodsman, 4 blade Stinger, the new design Phantom, Zwicky No Mercy 4 blade.

Should have mentioned that I think the string tracker is a good idea as well. A well hit bear seldom goes far but the terrain they live in can be ultra thick making recovery "stressful" at times.

My wife shot her first bear with a 45# recurve and a Beman 500 shaft tipped with a four blade Phantom. Complete pass thru and a 30 yard recovery. Just get them sharp.

http://i1244.photobucket.com/albums/gg565/gene167/bearhunt004.jpg
 I shot this bear with a brand new Zwickey Delta out of a 51# longbow,  647 grain arrow. Broadhead passed through and bounced off far side elbow. Lots of blood, 15 yard recovery, 9 seconds till it expired.

If you are sharpening challenged in any way the Phantoms are your best bet. They come razor sharp and re sharpen very well with any carbide pocket sharpener. If you have any worry on you wife's set up pull the bleeders and have her shoot them 2 bladed. They are a fantastic broadhead and you have made a good choice. There is nothing wrong with any of the broadheads others have mentioned but a few of them are challenging to sharpen if your not inclined.

Black bears are not hard to get full penetration on unless you hit major bone. Bloodtrails are nice but if bear has much fat on it then then number of blades makes little difference.

I have killed only 2 with a trad bow, both pass-throughs. One with Magnus 4 blade, 2215 alum arrow, and a 58# bow. 10 yard shot. The second bear was a 330 pound brute I shot with a 52# bow, wood shaft, and 125 gr Woodsman Elite.

Like other guys have said, bears are not to tough to penetrate. I do like at least a 3 blade head though.

woodsman and magnus 4.

I used a Stos BH, app. 25 yd. shot. I hear all the time how blood trails can be minimal at best on a Bear with any BH, BUT in my case, thank God, it was a 70 yard red highway.  

I shoot 46#@30" and I've taken three bears with the Siver Flame 1 7/8" (now called the XXL).  The last one was a seven footer that keeled over backwards after 5 yards.

I shot both my spring bear and my fall bear with the same Woodsman.  Both shots were complete pass throughs.  Id say that any head that is razor sharp and that you can shoot accuratly will do.  Fat can clogg up a 2 blade hole a little easier than a 3 blade in my opinion.  Good Luck

Have Ryan Rothaar post a picture from his dad's book "In Pusuit Of Trophy Whitetails". The one with the snuffer penetrating the bear's vertebrae.

I was at a bear camp with Ryans father and older brother (Ron) when my buddy shot a nice bear with a Snuffer broadhead.  Complete penetration after going through ribs and lodging in offside upper leg..took out lungs and heart.  The taxidermist there in Regina thought it was shot with a slug shotgun due to the size of the holes.