After the shot bear help

[Austinsmm]

I found the perfect honey hole! I set 3 cameras up for 2 Weeks and got 6 different bear in one area. I am doing Archery and have my stand setup in the most popular area for them. I want to know what to expect after I shoot it. How far will it go with a good shot at 30yrds? How long should I wait to go find him?

[sebek556]

every animal is different, after the shot listen and watch. if you hear a crash near by then it was a great shot. After 10 mins or so I look at the blood trail to get a better idea of what organs I got.  then slowly start following the trail, keep your eyes, ears and nose wide open while tracking.

[KFhunter]

http://www.dundeesportsmansclub.com/Dundee%20Pic/bearshotplacement.pdf
 
in case you didn't see it on the bear advise thread
 
 
 

[DoubleJ]

and keep your hand on your sidearm.  wounded bears + you = a bad time

[RadSav]

Surprisingly bear shot in the heart lung area with the bow tend to go less distance than the same shot with a gun.  You usually need to break the front shoulders with the gun to get them to go down as fast.  Make a poor shot, however, and things can go bad quickly as you rarely get a second arrow into a bear as you would a follow up gun shot.

Expect a lot of snorting and even bawling with the an arrow shot bear.  Makes it a bit difficult to find those tree steps if you try to get down too fast   Most of my bow shot bear have gone less than 30 yards after being hit.  It is extraordinarily important to have your broadheads as sharp as you can possibly have them.  Equally important on bear is to make sure of the shot path through the bear before it is taken.  Definitely want both lungs.  Add the aortic arch to the mix and it will be a very quick harvest as you will watch him go down.

If thing go a little goofy and you don't see it go down don't be in a rush.  Unless it is raining hard I'd wait at least an hour.  Nothing good comes from jumping a wounded bear.  And, nothing bad will happen if it lays dead for an extra hour.  If you think the shot has gone way too far back an extra three hours will definitely not hurt.  Even in hot weather.

[bearpaw]

If it's warm out I would add this:

As soon as you find your bear get it gutted and if you will be a while getting it to refrigeration, then skin it too, piece it out, hang the meat in fly bags in the shade so it can cool. Put your hide in a fly bag too or the flies will blow it. Bear meat spoils faster than most other meats, you need to get it cooled down ASAP. (do not put in plastic bags)

Good luck, hope you smack a nice one.

[RadSav]

One other thing I might point out

As bear start to put on fat in the fall blood trails can get weak in a hurry.  The heavy fat layers can plug up some pretty good sized holes.  So if your blood trail starts to get light SLOW DOWN!!!  Time to start looking for tracks and grease.  If you blow past these signs and have to come back to your last spot of sign you may have unknowingly wiped important sign off leaves, branches and pine needles.  If you have to venture forward without blood try to sweap across travel trails rather than walking down them.  Or walk in the brush just off the trail while you look for sign.

Sometimes that first spot of grease can be hard to find as your eyes are trained for blood not clear transfer.  Once you find that first sign of grease take a break.  I like to have a drink and maybe a granola bar while I inspect that first bit of fat or grease transfer.  Give your brain and eyes a chance to really zero in on the new information and target of further discovery.  After that it should be much easier to follow.

And finally, take lots of pictures.  I'm sure I am not the only one here who rarely tires of seeing "Big Bear Down" photos :tup  Good Luck

[D-Rock425]

Great advice guys.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I totally agree with Radsav & Bearpaw ..For one I always try to break a bear down with a shoulder shot ...never has failed me yet ... but with a bow you can not do that so a well placed double lung will put him down fast . ..and as far as meat goes ...like Dale said quater it up and put in game bags ...I prefer cheese cloth that way the meat can get air ....if you can not get all the meat out in one trip then hang it from a tree limb so the blood can drain and get air ... I have taken a few animals in August and early September and never lost any meat but you have to do your part to see it does not happen .

[bearpaw]

Old pillow cases work very well for boned meat and are very durable, use-wash-reuse. 

[Woodchuck]

Two old sheets sewn together work well if gotten out whole as well. 

[asl20bball]

Good advice guys. I'd add from my experience that more often than not I hear the bear before seeing it (pre-shot) and I smell them before I see them  when their down (post-shot). this is especially true in brushy areas. Give 'em a dirt nap guys!  Unfortunatley for me I'm not gonna make it out until after this weekend    good luck guys.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Here are some Field Care and skinning instructions.  After the written portion there are a couple videos.

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php?topic=95864.0

[saylean]

I found the perfect honey hole! I set 3 cameras up for 2 Weeks and got 6 different bear in one area. I am doing Archery and have my stand setup in the most popular area for them. I want to know what to expect after I shoot it. How far will it go with a good shot at 30yrds? How long should I wait to go find him?

First off, I wish you good luck.

1. After you shoot, you will either have hit it, or missed and this will then either make you excited or disappointed or both.
2. After a 30 yard shot, it could drop right there or run quite a way. It ALL depends on where you hit the bear. For example, I shot a bear with a .300 WSM, in the heart, bear still ran 30 yards...without a heart. I have also hit a bear and had it drop right there.
3. Depending on how you feel about the shot, and what the arrow tells you, you should wait like you would a deer, perhaps a bit longer. A wounded bear is pissed off and you want to make sure its down.
This also depends on the heat, rain, time of day, etc.
Have fun, good luck and look forward to the pics.