Minimum Poundage for Black Bear

D. Key · January 31, 2008, 09:28:00 AM

For all of you experienced Black Bear hunters out there, what is your recommended "minimum" poundage for hunting bruins? I will be shooting 500+ grain Woodies with either two blade Zwickey's or two blade Grizzlies. I am considering a Morrison recurve in the 45# @ 28" range and with my 27 1/2" draw (probably at least 28" when I draw on a bear). Would you consider this set[up as adequate or should I consider more poundage. Arrows will fly true and points will be shaving sharp.

Thanks. <><

kevin braun · January 31, 2008, 09:37:00 AM

Where will you be hunting? Be sure to check the regs. for where you will be hunting. Minimum poundage for Ontario is 48.5lbs at "draw" length. No doubt your setup would kill a bear, if everything goes perfect. I personally wouldn't want to be on the "minimum" end while bear hunting. An arrow in the heart or lungs of a bear is generally a short trail. I would however suggest 55# +

good luck,

Kevin B

D. Key · January 31, 2008, 10:27:00 AM

We will be hunting out of Winnepeg, Manitoba. Can anyone provide minimum hunting weights for this Province?

tippit · January 31, 2008, 11:34:00 AM

I shoot 45-50# pending on which bow I use. I've had pass thrus on 5 bears with Magnus 2 blades, WW, and a very large stone head. We do hunt over bait so if you are patient, you can pick your shot. Yes you do need to check regs on weight. That said I know lots a guys who shoot heavy bows that never get close to full draw...Doc

D. Key · January 31, 2008, 11:47:00 AM

So Tippit, you are saying (unless regulations prevent it) my 45# Morrison will be more than adequate with correct shot placement. I plan to wait for a broadside shot just behind the shoulder and mid-ship. Will this be adequate?

I just want to ensure a quick, humane kill...and not have a wounded bear and/or an unhappy outfitter.

Thanks for all of your input.

Dirty Bill · January 31, 2008, 02:53:00 PM

If you can shoot 45,you can shoot 55.Why use such a marginal bow and take a chance on creating a bad situation.
It's a fact that hunters sometimes don't get to full draw in a hunting situation. If you draw short 2" for some reason,then what will your poundage be.

40#? Shooting at targets and shooting at big game is entirely different,especially with bears involved.

While I'm at it,I have to say that this trend of shooting the most minimum poundage that's possible for hunting has me worried and actually upsets me when I read about it.

I wonder how many arrows don't pass through,how many shots aren't perfect.I'd like to hear about the ones that get away,wounded.I know that isn't going to happen.

How many hunters have the fortitude to pass up a 160" buck at 15 yards because the shot wasn't exactly perfect. I'd venture to say not ten out of a thousand.

Of course you can always say,"Well he wasn't hit bad enough to die,so it's ok."

Like I said,this trend really upsets me. I know why it's happening too.

It's because people want everything to be instant,and right now,because they don't want to invest the time and work it takes to get proficient with their weapon of choice.

I for one truly believe there's no place for a target bow in the woods,and that any able bodied man can learn to shoot a 55# bow.

I don't know why anyone would want to handicap their selves and be locked into a killing range of 15 yards for the rest of their hunting career.

Doug,I am not singling you out by any means,it's just that your inquiry made me want to put in words what I have been thinking about.

Hopefully this post might get some people to think a little more about what equipment is adequate and suitable to take a game animal with the respect and dignity it deserves.

That's all I've got to say about that.

bayoulongbowman · January 31, 2008, 02:58:00 PM

If you cant hit or shoot consisent at what ur aiming at with 55# but can put em in the kill ring with 45# , wouldnt that be best with scary sharp BH...????My friend blew through Elk with 47# at 17 steps...accracy has to count..

James Wrenn · January 31, 2008, 03:49:00 PM

Archery has and always be a shooting sport.That means the goal should always be toward the best accuracy you can get.If that means useing a lighter bow that certainly is the route to take.There is really not a lot of difference in a 55lb bow and a 45lb bow when it comes to killing.It is just numbers that we talk about.It always comes back to tuning and shot placement or dumb luck.

Rico · January 31, 2008, 03:53:00 PM

You make a good point DB the trend does seem to be shoot it with the lowest # bow you can and then claim complete pass thru.
Of course your low # bow needs to be a high tech bow to get the penetration and if you need more # bow it just must not be a good bow.

Bill Carlsen · January 31, 2008, 03:55:00 PM

My wife shot a nice bear with her DAS recurve set at 46# @ 26". She shot a Beman MFX arrow, 500 spine, 27" with 200 grains up front (four blade Phantom head) and got a pass thru and a 30 yard recovery.

shapeshifter · January 31, 2008, 04:06:00 PM

i agree with james.... also, it has been my experience that if hit properly, a bear dies as fast or faster than any game animal i have ever killed...... i have only ever had one bear make it out of sight before collapsing and most do so within 40 yards.... the one that didn't within sight was a bear over 7ft that was hit quartering away..... the arrow hit the farthest back rib and came out of the neck/chest area hitting the jugular on the way out (as well as both lungs). it probably passed through 3ft of tissue before exiting the bear... there was a blood trail a blind man could follow and it is the only boone and crockett animal i have taken...... i killed it with a 50lb recurve.

on the flip side, it does seem that more and more people are going to lighter bows..... but so long as they are making consistent kills, who cares?

tippit · January 31, 2008, 04:10:00 PM

I don't think the question was about a 55# bow. I started with a 80# longbows 35 years ago. I can't shoot a 55# bow as well as a 45-50# bow anymore. I can pull that lighter bow back with out fooling myself by short drawing a 55# bow.

We've all seen guys at bow shoots who claim to be shooting heavy bows...but when you watch them they aren't getting it back, no consistent anchor, etc. If you can't shoot a 55# or higher bow, you are much better shooting a bow weight that you can be consistent with.

So the question as I see it is:

NOT what's the minimum weight I can get away with BUT what is the weight bow I can control. And if I can control that bow is it adequate to hunt with JMHO Doc

January 31, 2008, 04:11:00 PM

Hi Bill,

Here's a quote from himself: "If you can shoot 45, you can shoot 55.Why use such a marginal bow and take a chance on creating a bad situation."

Me tinks you answered your own point. (grin goes here) Everyone can't shoot 55# with proficiency. I think the old standard still applies; shoot as much weight as you can handle comfortably.

Then it's a simple matter of knowing your limitations and staying in them.

JC

Dirty Bill · January 31, 2008, 04:12:00 PM

Like I said,we won't hear about the many failed attempts,just these isolated examples of success.

How many of you say your effective killing range is 20 yards and under will pass up a great trophy with an open shot at 30 yards.

You all are just kidding your selves.

Bill congratulations to your wife on a job well done,and a perfectly executed shot under stressful conditions.

If only we all could be so perfect.

rabbitman · January 31, 2008, 04:13:00 PM

You're entitled to your opinion Dirty Bill, but one has to wonder if your post is really the way you feel or if you posted because you thought it wouldn't "go over well with the powers to be at TG" which is what you posted on another site under the title "I might be banned." Sure sounds like you're just trying to make waves. Kind of juvenile isn't it?

James Wrenn · January 31, 2008, 04:21:00 PM

Nothing at all wrong about having an opion on things and expressing it.That is what we all do.We just don't have the same ones at times is all.

You see the trend going to lighter weights than you think people should use.I see people getting smarter and realizing that shooting well is the key to being sucessfull.Some of them are simply seeing like a lot of the older guys alreadt knew that numbers were not the ones doing the killing.It is those guys pulling the string on bows they can shoot well. My 2 cents on it.

Rob DiStefano · January 31, 2008, 05:27:00 PM

Dirty Bill, as unrealistic and flawed as I see them, yer certainly entitled to yer opinions on minimum trad bow hunting holding weights.

God knows I hope the anti/PETA whackos don't catch wind of yer drift and rally their troops, as there will go yet another freedom of choice and disallow us to use our good brains to hopefully make righteous decisions.

I trow to say that there are many ethics involved in any kinda hunting, and trad bow holding weight selection is just one of many critical criteria.

We should all hope to make valid decisions based on truths, and to know when we're ready to competently chase and kill game, whether with a 40# or 55# trad bow.

Dirty Bill · January 31, 2008, 06:22:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Jim Casto Jr:
Hi Bill,

Here's a quote from himself: "If you can shoot 45, you can shoot 55.Why use such a marginal bow and take a chance on creating a bad situation."

Me tinks you answered your own point. (grin goes here) Everyone can't shoot 55# with proficiency. I think the old standard still applies; shoot as much weight as you can handle comfortably.

Then it's a simple matter of knowing your limitations and staying in them.

JC

Thank you Mr.Casto. But do they really stay in them? I wonder.

Dirty Bill · January 31, 2008, 06:27:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by rabbitman:
You're entitled to your opinion Dirty Bill, but one has to wonder if your post is really the way you feel or if you posted because you thought it wouldn't "go over well with the powers to be at TG" which is what you posted on another site under the title "I might be banned." Sure sounds like you're just trying to make waves. Kind of juvenile isn't it?

Actually it's not the reason to make waves. I said what I said because I think those who want to shoot the lightest bow possible are taking a short cut to the art of bowhunting.

If you think it's juvenile,you certainly missed the point of the whole post.If I wanted to make waves,I would post something like you just did.

Why is there a need to post what was said on another forum?

Dirty Bill · January 31, 2008, 06:30:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Rob DiStefano:
Dirty Bill, as unrealistic and flawed as I see them, yer certainly entitled to yer opinions on minimum trad bow hunting holding weights.

God knows I hope the anti/PETA whackos don't catch wind of yer drift and rally their troops, as there will go yet another freedom of choice and disallow us to use our good brains to hopefully make righteous decisions.

I trow to say that there are many ethics involved in any kinda hunting, and trad bow holding weight selection is just one of many critical criteria.

We should all hope to make valid decisions based on truths, and to know when we're ready to competently chase and kill game, whether with a 40# or 55# trad bow.

I would like to know which part of my opinion is unrealistic and flawed. Teach me something.I'm all ears.