What would you have done? Bear situation..

[dirty24d]

This morning I had a bear in my cross hairs at about 120 feet away but all i had in sight was ass and the back of his head.  I had about 7 seconds to take a shot, worried it wouldnt be a kill shot i waited to see if he would turn and never did. 2 bears in the cross hairs in 2 days but no good shots. Looking back i'm thinking with my 30 / 30 at 120 feet with a 165 grain bullet i may have severed his spine. But idk???  I'm definitely getting frustrated as i feel the season slipping away. The brush was very thick, if he dropped where he stood it would have been ok but if he ran injured no way i could have followed.  what do you think???         Going back tonight to try and seal the deal!!! 

[ribka]

You absolutely did the right thing by passing a shot like that and and you should feel good that you did. Have had many of those situations with bear, deer, elk.
Always better to pass if shot is not 100% certain. Can you get a portable tree stand in that  area and set it up quietly?

Good one you and good luck tonite.

[Lincoln4]

Wise choice.

[dirty24d]

Thanks fellas for the encouraging words. i did what i felt was right because i respect animals, but man i've pulled the hammer back on my rifle like 10 times in the last week because i've seen so many but just havent had a shot. going to South dakota on business on tuesday for ten days hoping i put one down tonight!!! I'm soo close it's killing me..            Was a niice chocolate too..      

[Wazukie]

The back of the head is always a good shot for me, but thats me. I know many who take that shot without any problems, but if you were not comfortable with the shot presented then you no doubt made the right choice.

[uplandhunter870]

30-30 at 40 yards to the skull would have spelled game over. i am very comfortable shooting a bear in the head especially at that distance. but im not the one taking your shot so it all boils down to if youre not good with it dont do it, have to commend you on that

[dirty24d]

30-30 at 40 yards to the skull would have spelled game over. i am very comfortable shooting a bear in the head especially at that distance. but im not the one taking your shot so it all boils down to if youre not good with it dont do it, have to commend you on that

You think it would be an instant pile up?  I'm not worried about missing but dont wanna take a shot not knowing what the results would be.  didnt wanna just injure it or lodge one in their thick skulls.

[Hunterman]

You hit a bear in the back of the head with your 30/30 you will have to gut him, tag him, skin him, cut and wrap the meat, and your season will be over..Yes a shot in the back of the head will drop him in his tracks..

Hunterman(Tony)

[dirty24d]

You hit a bear in the back of the head with your 30/30 you will have to gut him, tag him, skin him, cut and wrap the meat, and your season will be over..Yes a shot in the back of the head will drop him in his tracks..

Hunterman(Tony)

Thats good to know. i've had the same opportunity twice but didnt do it not knowing the outcome .  didnt wanna risk just injuring or having to track the bear through the hellish brush they graze in!!  Theres nothing i want more right now then to post bear down on this site with my pics of my first bear. I've have put in countless hours and miles this year  to make sure it happens.   

[carpsniperg2]

a hed shot will flat level any bear out there. as long as you hit the brain, my first bear was in some tuff country. he was only around 50 yards when he turned broadside. instead of taking the easy lung shot and watching him dive off a very steep cliff. he got a 180 partition to the mellon. like a sack of taters. i don't prefer head shots, but in some areas or situations they will work just fine.

[ML_Hunter]

I would not hesitate with a CLEAN head shot.  I dont know how much of the head you had to shoot at, weather it was just the top of the head or if you saw his neck up.  If your not 100 certin about taking a shot then passing is a good thing.  but if you can place a shot to the back of the dome and its the only shot you have, I would have taken it.

[dirty24d]

I had the whole back  of the head and neck and back.  my scope is dialed in. I'm just not very experienced in what impact shots would have.  Was being cautious due to the fact i would have never found him had he ran more than 50 yards. But now knowing that a clean shot to the back of the dome will seal the deal it's game on should i get another chance.  fingers crossed.   Heading out at 5:30 to the same spot. 

[cle elum bowhunter]

Dirty, had the opposite problem yesterday while deer hunting.  Somehow my son and I got in between a sow and one of her 3 cubs.  Cubs treed and started bawling, and my son caught her coming through the trees about 70 yards out.  I handed off my bow to my son, grabbed my pistol, and started to talk to her very loudly.  She stopped at about 45, and then took about another 10 yards off one step at a time, rumbling in her throat, very intently looking at us.  I was about to pop a round off in front of her when she broke up the hill towards the two cubs and we were able to move down the hill to clear her access to the other cub.  Didn't want to take her, would have been an easy bow shot though.  Good luck solving your bear issue.

[Alchase]

If not comfortable with that head shot, you could try whistling to see if he will turn and give you a shot, it will come quick if and when it comes though.

You were the one there, if you were not comfortable with the shot none of us should or could second guess that choice.

Good choice.

[brew]

best bet if you're not comfortable with the shot then don't....its a great feeling to have him fall dead at the shot but a horrible feeling to have him run off...had them do both.....3 weeks ago had one run off with what i thought was a kill shot (dam black bear in black timber with black crosshairs)....last friday had one die with one shot i put in the neck....it happens but you need to go with the odds

[mulehunter]

I wouldnt shoot Head. If not feel Good, Abort! Try sneak or Call them.  I would hate to sleep every day thinking over and over and over that if I made a right choice about if I abort or SHOULD I pull Trigger!    Maybe need 24 Beers to get mind OFF!

Mulehunter  

[grundy53]

Head shots will drop them in their tracks more consistently then any other shot. And if you miss your mark you will most likely miss completely and less likely to wound the animal.

[FC]

Head shots will drop them in their tracks more consistently then any other shot. And if you miss your mark you will most likely miss completely and less likely to wound the animal.

Exactly! From that range I would have domed it without a second thought, not hard to see a hit either! If it looks like a quart of Cream-of-wheat flies out in front on the shot and the bear drops you hit him right where you were aiming.

[Sportfury]

Personally I would have done the same thing as you. If you would have been low and shot it in the butt the bullet could have stop in the gut and then you would have had a wounded bear on your hands. Maybe you would have cut an artery or it would have reached the lungs if you were lucky. Maybe you would have head or spine shot, but if you didn't feel comfortable with it then you did the right thing.

With two bears in your sights in two days I would say that you are already successful. More successful than most hunters and if I were in your situation I would be one happy hunter seeing what you have.