Shot placement on BEAR .. Just my opinion ..

[BOWHUNTER45]

I talk to alot of guys who tell me stories about how they shot bears and tracked them for hundreds of yards with big magnums and I can only shake my head... I have used a .270 forever and never lost a bear and I also hunt areas that are so thick most people would sheet their pants thinking about going in after one ..and most of the shots are over 200yrds...I always shoot for dead center top half of the shoulder and the results are always the same Dead bear .. This is just my opinion and mostly for the guys who never killed a bear and want solid advise ....hope it helps 

   and just remember a bear shot threw the lungs will always go a long ways !!   TO CLARIFY ONE THING ( THIS IS MY OPINION ON SHOT PLACEMENT WITH A RIFLE ) 

[runamuk]

there is an entire thread dedicated to this topic in the bear section with some excellent anatomy shots of bears

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,28214.0.html

[BOWHUNTER45]

yes I know about the thread but I guess the point I want to make is to shoot more forward on a bear rather than behind the shoulder ... I prefer braking the shoulder rather than just blowing out his lungs ... If you hit where I drew my diagram it will be over quickly ...thats all I am saying 

[slim9300]

Guys should take this advice on elk too, except they should aim much lower. Too many guys are aiming behind the shoulder because they don't understand the anatomy of an elk. This goes for rifle and bow hunters alike. And before I start an argument, spend some time reading this thread and get back with me. It opened up my eyes quite a bit.

http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=356994&forum=5

[Alan K]

I've yet to take a bear myself, but everyone I know who has taken a number of them swear by going right through the shoulder too.  Anchors them right there, or at least gets them rolling around there while you can put another one in 'em.  They don't bleed very well with their thick coats, so obviously anchoring them right then and there will be my choice when I get the opportunity at one!

[BOWHUNTER45]

Guys should take this advice on elk too, except they should aim much lower. Too many guys are aiming behind the shoulder because they don't understand the anatomy of an elk. This goes for rifle and bow hunters alike. And before I start an argument, spend some time reading this thread and get back with me. It opened up my eyes quite a bit.

http://forums.bowsite.com/TF/bgforums/thread.cfm?threadid=356994&forum=5

yeah thats basically all I am saying .. and you can still hit a bear lower than I  have shown and it will still up end him ...After watching a buddy shoot a bear with his 300 mag dead center about 4 inches behind the shoulder and roll for about 50 yrds and take off for another 150 ... after he seen me with my .270 just dumping them like a bad habit he was convinced it all came down to shot placement ....and it does not matter how far I have taken bear because If I hit where I am aiming its party over ....

[BOWHUNTER45]

I've yet to take a bear myself, but everyone I know who has taken a number of them swear by going right through the shoulder too.  Anchors them right there, or at least gets them rolling around there while you can put another one in 'em.  They don't bleed very well with their thick coats, so obviously anchoring them right then and there will be my choice when I get the opportunity at one!

yeah exactely that .... but I can only recall shooting twice a couple times .. its usually party over ...

[101521]

Great post BOWHUNTER45! Appreciate your help, will def think about this when the time comes

[mulehunter]

13 more days.   

Mulehunter.

[wacnstak]

  Great Post Bowhunter 45... I hit a bear solid, through & through, this spring with a Mathews DXT @ 70 #s. We tracked it well into the dark marking each spot of blood and sign as we went. Came back the next morning and searched 'til lunch. Never did get him, that's the only big game animal I've ever hit and lost; felt bad. I've heard about the shoulder shot too and you can bet I'll be making that shot next time!!

[Machias]

I guess I'm an anomoly then.  I have taken 8 bears so far, 5 with a bow and 3 with a rifle.  7 were shot right behind the shoulder, complete pass through on all 7.  One was shot between the eyes.  Not one bear ran over 60 yards.  All 8 were shot within 15 yards.  I think the biggest problem, same with elk, is guys are not hitting where they think they are hitting at longer distances.      If you deflate both lungs they are NOT going to go far, it's just a fact of life.

[Machias]

  Great Post Bowhunter 45... I hit a bear solid, through & through, this spring with a Mathews DXT @ 70 #s. We tracked it well into the dark marking each spot of blood and sign as we went. Came back the next morning and searched 'til lunch. Never did get him, that's the only big game animal I've ever hit and lost; felt bad. I've heard about the shoulder shot too and you can bet I'll be making that shot next time!!

Sorry but your crazy to make that shot with a bow.   

[h20hunter]

I don't think I'd take a shoulder shot with my bow....with my .270 or .308, dead on shoulder shot.

[BOWHUNTER45]

O my ... I guess I need to clear this up .... I posted this again do to the previous post about shot placement on a bear ... My intension was for shot placement with a rifle .. the other posts I seen was for archery ...If I was shooting bear with my bow I would try to double long him , trying to drive the arrow forward in behind his shoulder.. an arrow will kill a bear quicker shot with an arrow threw both lungs QUICKER than if shot with a rifle ...an arrow kills by the way of hemridging ..a bullet kills more in the of shock ... so with a rifle I say dead center shoulder blades and with a bow double lung .... does this make more sense or am I still whacked in the head ///

[BOWHUNTER45]

GEEEEEZ We ran the wrong way with this one ......

But then again ..... the way bows shot this day and age I would not be afraid to shot a bear in the shoulders with an arrow as long as it was not one of those pieces of sheet mechanicals ...I have killed my last 4 elk shot dead center threw the shoulders with a 100 gr wasp boss and watched all 4 die right before my eyes ... so maybe I may not regret saying that after all ... I only killed one bear with my bow and it was a head on collision in the chest and ran about 15 to 20 yrd did a death cry an party over ...and I will not say how many I have killed with my .270 but I have definately killed my share ... peace