Frontal shots on bears

[Tbob]

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!

[Machias]

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.

[7mmfan]

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.

[lokidog]

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.

[Tbob]

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..

[Expedition Scout]

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.

[Calvin Rayborn]

Make sure at least 150grs Zwickey Bonebreaker goin downrange if you try

[follow maggie]

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.

[buglebrush]

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!   

[1972Pinto]

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.

[Sneaky]

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.

[big wood]

I killed a grizzly we stalked to 35 yards. When it stood up drilled in the chest, dropped like  a sack of hammers.

[luckyman]

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.

[buglebrush]

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!   

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