collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Frontal shots on bears  (Read 4340 times)

Offline Tbob

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 1732
  • Location: Seattle
  • Groups: King co. Search and Rescue
Frontal shots on bears
« on: October 09, 2017, 11:21:03 PM »
Hey guys,
   So I've been wondering if any of you take frontal or quartering towards shots on black bears.. I'm going to try and do a little calling this week and will be using my bow. I've noticed on a lot of the videos, that if I'm calling the bear in and he's coming to eat me, that I'm likely left with a frontal or quartering towards shot.. Any thoughts on this?
    I shot my elk with a quartering towards shot at about 15 yards this year and let me tell you, that was a heck of a lethal shot! He was dead within 30 seconds and didn't go 20 yards.. I'm just wondering on a close up and personal shot with a black bear, does there anatomy lend themselves to the same shot? Thanks so much for any insight!

Offline Machias

  • Trapper
  • Trade Count: (+5)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 18690
  • Location: Worley, ID
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #1 on: October 10, 2017, 08:10:56 AM »
I personally don't.  Most of the time when you stop calling they will turn....not always but most of mine have.  I want nothing but dbl lung shots with a bow.  I did call one in and shoot him between the eyes with my .06 once, but he was about 10 feet away.
Fred Moyer

When it's Grim, be the GRIM REAPER!

Online 7mmfan

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 5374
  • Location: Marysville
    • https://www.facebook.com/rory.oconnor.9480
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #2 on: October 10, 2017, 08:16:45 AM »
Can it kill them? Yes. Will it do it in a timely manner? Maybe. If you hit just the right spot and sever that jugular, or center punch his heart, then yeah, he's not going far. But they are darn tough critters, and anything less than a perfect shot at that angle probably leads to a lost bear. I'd wait for a broadside shot or quartering away and double lung him and try to tie his shoulders together with that arrow.
I hunt, therefore I am.... I fish, therefore I lie.

Offline lokidog

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Explorer
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2009
  • Posts: 15186
  • Location: Sultan/Wisconsin
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #3 on: October 10, 2017, 11:16:35 AM »
My last bear was a frontal shot at ten yards. Not a hard choice when there he is and he will walk within two feet of you if you don't take the shot. This was with a 90's era bow set at about 70#.

The arrow entered left (from my perspective) of the brisket bone and poked out in front of his back left leg.  He ran ten yards and piled up. Used gutless method so don't know the internal details.

I would do that shot again, for what it is worth.

Offline Tbob

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2014
  • Posts: 1732
  • Location: Seattle
  • Groups: King co. Search and Rescue
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #4 on: October 10, 2017, 07:58:11 PM »
Totally understand both side of this. I'd definitely prefer a broadside shot or quarting away, but if it's coming straight at me and not turning I was wondering about the frontal or quartering towards.. Thanks for the answers..

Offline Expedition Scout

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 295
  • Location: Northeastern Washington
  • Groups: NRA
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #5 on: October 11, 2017, 05:32:18 AM »
Ended one of my Elk seasons tracking a bull I'd shot and had a bear doing the same. Nose to the ground and coming hard. I was able to wait until he came up on a little rise in the trail at 9 yards and put an arrow under his chin and out the anus. He didn't go anywhere. He wasn't a large bear, maybe 150 lbs gutted, but I was covered with blood from tracking and really had no place to go. So it was worth the try. I'd do it again if that was my only shot, however with bear I almost always look for the broadside shot and anchor a shoulder.
"By God, I are a mountain man, and I'll live 'til an arrow or a bullet finds me. And then I'll leave my bones on this great map of the magnificent"

Offline Calvin Rayborn

  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2013
  • Posts: 1383
  • Location: Columbia Basin
  • Groups: NRA Life Member, ATA Gold-Card Life Member
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2017, 12:37:23 AM »
Make sure at least 150grs Zwickey Bonebreaker goin downrange if you try
« Last Edit: January 03, 2018, 07:56:41 PM by Calvin Rayborn »

Online follow maggie

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2008
  • Posts: 2986
  • Location: Fargo
  • Just me, just being a nomad
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #7 on: January 02, 2018, 11:05:37 AM »
I'd prefer not to, because I like to leave myself the widest margin for error I can. But, you never know what situation will present itself when you're out in the woods.

Offline buglebrush

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 1613
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2018, 07:55:29 PM »
I shot an aggressive, threatening bear in the chest with my .44 Mag.  It blew a gaping hole out the offside hip.  One of the most fun shots I've ever taken!   :IBCOOL:

Offline 1972Pinto

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Tracker
  • **
  • Join Date: Mar 2017
  • Posts: 27
  • Location: Spokane Washington
  • Groups: NRA
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #9 on: February 20, 2018, 08:36:46 AM »
If you ever question a frontal shot on a bear, look up Daniel Moua on YouTube. He's a very intense DIY public land washington hunter. He has 2 bears shot on film both frontals. I believe he is on this site too as dmoua. Not much to argue if it's effective when you have to videos to support it.

Offline Sneaky

  • Savage
  • Trade Count: (+8)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2009
  • Posts: 832
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #10 on: February 20, 2018, 08:47:14 AM »
last season while elk hunting took a bear @ 25 yards quartering hard to me. Arrow entered just in front of the shoulder and exited just in front of the rear leg. Bear went less than 30 yards. Rage Trypan, 440gr total arrow weight, Bowtech reign 7 70lbs 30.5" draw, 295 FPS. Was totaly devastating. I would take that shot again without hesitation.

Offline big wood

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 771
  • Location: kapowsin
  • hit em on the high note
  • Groups: wsta,nra,mba
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2018, 10:33:52 PM »
I killed a grizzly we stalked to 35 yards. When it stood up drilled in the chest, dropped like  a sack of hammers.

Offline luckyman

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Nov 2011
  • Posts: 471
  • Location: mount vernon
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #12 on: February 21, 2018, 05:43:34 AM »
The first bear I shot was with a bow. Thirty yards and walking straight at me. head down.
the arrow when in just below the chin, buried up to the fletch and road the bottom of the spine until it stuck in the spine.
It turned and tried to run. He looked like he'd been drinking and fell over 20 yards.
I'm not sure.

Offline buglebrush

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2010
  • Posts: 1613
Re: Frontal shots on bears
« Reply #13 on: February 21, 2018, 06:17:38 PM »
I shot an aggressive, threatening bear in the chest with my .44 Mag.  It blew a gaping hole out the offside hip.  One of the most fun shots I've ever taken!   :IBCOOL:

I will add that I've been with someone who center punched one with a bow that we never could recover.

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Springer 2024 Columbia River by Blacklab
[Today at 02:35:54 PM]


Springer Fishing Opportunity 3/29 & 3/30 by Blacklab
[Today at 12:48:56 PM]


Long Beach Clamming Tides by dilleytech
[Today at 12:39:19 PM]


Let’s see your best Washington buck by abhold87
[Today at 12:03:27 PM]


Bearpaw Season - Spring 2024 by bearpaw
[Today at 11:45:41 AM]


Walked a cougar down by Rainier10
[Today at 11:17:49 AM]


SB 5444 signed by Inslee on 03/26 Takes Effect on 06/06/24 by hughjorgan
[Today at 09:03:26 AM]


Average by lhrbull
[Today at 07:31:56 AM]


CVA optima V2 LR tapped hole for front sight by Remdawg
[Today at 07:09:22 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal