Bear shot placement question

[Labs4me]

A question for the experienced bear hunters among us. I am considering purchasing the Rinehart black bear target shown below. My question is, are the vitals properly represented relative to the location of the leg bone and shoulder blade? I always thought the leg bone and shoulder blocked the heart-lung area to a greater degree than this target reflects.

Your valued opinions appreciated.

[Shawn Leonard]

I can say that on almost all of the critters out there including us, that the shoulders and legs bone or arms in our case protect the hreat lung area from a broadside position. Based on that I would say they should be a bit more forward on the bear target. Shawn

[Eastern fisher]

Anything I have read or watched  have always shot farther back on a bear than you would a deer or other critters.  I am wondering if (A) because of the bone size and density is greater on a bear and (B) the organs are a bit further back, Either way they have always shot further back along the body.

[Mike Orton]

Monty I'd say Rhineheart pretty much got it right.  Bears carry their pumpers a bit lower than most folks think.  The autopsies I've conducted on these critters have verified the photo you posted pretty well.....

[JoeM]

Monty,
I've only shot one bear but I butchered him myslef and took note of what I saw.  The bone structure is fwd like the target shows, most people hang back further on there shots because of the size and thickness of these bones (Being cautious).  I tucked my shot real close on the shoulder and actually came through the tricep/armpit on the exit side. The only thing I would caution is that the bottom of the bear can have alot of hair hanging (my bear has about 2.5-3" of fur hangin).  I basicaly centered the body from top to bottom and tight to the shoulder.  Bears are not notoriously tough critters like a whitetail or elk so if you hang back off the shoulder to be safe you'll be fine.  My bear was 2Xlunged ran 15yds spun around a few times then crashed.  Joe

[Gene Roberts]

Is their bone actually curved that much.

[Gaff]

i actually disagree with the bear target vitals.
i was taught to look at the bear and draw an imaginary line from the front of the bears chest, to the back end of the bear.
then aim for the middle of that line.

the reason is the front shoulder blade is much tougher than a deers shoulder. and the lungs are back a bit also. so by doing the line thingy, you stay  clear of trouble.
at least thats what i was taught, and its worked a few times for me.
jamie

[Labs4me]

I guess when I look at this anatomical depiction, the shoulder blade sits higher than I thought it would. The leg bones appear to curve more forward than I expected. And the vitals appear farther forward than I anticipated. Prior to looking at this target, I would have thought that a good "spot" to aim for would have been mid-body (vertically), but right where the lungs touch the front of the intestines.

[Blackhawk]

Bears tend to give bowhunters more of a challenge because of their bulk. I have found that a bear's shoulder is more forward, the shoulder bones form a tighter angle, and its hair is obviously several inches longer than deer.  The long heavy hair makes a bear appear deeper in the chest than it actually is, so lots of hunters aim too low or too far forward and hit the large shoulder bone.
A spot in the center of the lungs or slightly lower should be a bowhunter's target every time.

Some say they are as easy (even easier) to kill than a whitetail.  My thought on that is maybe so if you get both of the lungs.  Hit only one lung and you will be in for some work.

[ChuckC]

I believe we are trained to shoot behind the "shoulder" which is not actually the shoulder but the elbow.  If you go back  behind that point by more than a few inches you can completely miss lungs.  

If you shoot just above the elbow there is only ribs in the way and you center the lungs and heart related vessels.  

The shoulder should not even be a concern from ground level,  should be a concern from a tree, but only if the animal is angled toward you.  This is nearly the same on all North American big game animals.  We aim too far back.
ChuckC

[**DONOTDELETE**]

That looks right to me... even tho I haven't taken one with a bow.

[vermonster13]

Looks pretty good, but if you see one with that build, let it walk, it's a youngster.

[tippit]

Here's a shot I had with the LDB bow 2006.  His leg was forward at the time.  WW took both lungs and top of aorta.  It rained hard that night but he didn't go very far...Doc

 

[pointy sticks]

Here is a good one I found on one of the Bowhunter sites through the NABC. This should about answer your question.



Here is another manufactures target, very simmiler but still a little different.