I am trying for my first bear this fall. I have shot quite a few deer with my bow, and have had bear come in to the bait that I envisioned killing with the bow, just for practice. I've even gone through the motions, stopping just short of drawing on it. I want to know how much harder a certain kill is with a bow than a rifle. I'm confident of my abilities with deer, but never having shot a bear, would it be a lot different than using a rifle? I know the range and shot placement are vital, but what's the difference between a bow and rifle in shot placement? Maybe I should stick with a rifle?
bow vs. rifle for bear
- Thread starter jeffo
- Start date
IMHO
Go for it and get the rush of your life!
It IS black bear that you're talking about right? From what my experience, all rifle not bow, has been and what I've heard as long as you hit them in the vital area, puncturing a lung, YOU, taking your comfortability with a bow, should be fine! (Man was that a run on sentence or what) Those black bears tend to puddle up like jelly inside as long as you stay away from the shoulders. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Go for it and get the rush of your life!
It IS black bear that you're talking about right? From what my experience, all rifle not bow, has been and what I've heard as long as you hit them in the vital area, puncturing a lung, YOU, taking your comfortability with a bow, should be fine! (Man was that a run on sentence or what) Those black bears tend to puddle up like jelly inside as long as you stay away from the shoulders. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gifNightStalkerVa
New member
Hey Jeffo,
I have had the pleasure of getting off a shot at a black bear that was in the 300 - 400 lbs. range.
Notice I didn't say I killed one. Shot placement is very different with a bow than a gun. I learned this lesson the hard way. While deer hunting 2 years ago, I was just about ready to get down from my stand. It was a very warm 80 degrees, October day and nothing seemed to be moving after 8:30am (when I had three does walk under my stand). At 10:55 I decided to call it quits for the morning hunt. I stood up and started lowering my bow to the ground with my string. I heard a noise behind me and turned to look. At about 30 yards behind me was a very large black bear moving in my direction. I quitely but quickly pulled my bow back up. The bear continued to come straight toward my stand. After untieing the bow from the string, I looked around to see where it was and was surprised to see it standing about 5 yards behind me. It's nose was to the ground and it was uncovering white oak acorns from the leaves. I slowly placed an arrow on my rest and turned slightly to my right. I then realized that a shot to the right was going to be almost impossible since I was right handed and needed to draw the bow and aim to that side as well. I waited for what seemed like a long time until the bear slowly moved in front of me. I was about to take a quartering shot when the bear turned broadside at 8 yards. I was very calm considering it all. I took the shot and the bear did a complete flip growled and ran away. After shaking uncontrollably for about 20 minutes, I climbed down and went to the spot where I had hit the bear. I did find a small amount of blood. I then started walking in the direction the bear had run. I found more blood and my arrow about 25 yards away. I continued to track the bear for about an hour. I then decided to get some help from my father who was at home that day. Normally we always hunt together. That morning he was not feeling well and decided to sleep in. We tracked the rest of the day. Covering several miles of woods. Needless to say, we didn't find the bear. Looking back on the shot and learning more about hunting bear with a bow, I placed my shot more into the shoulder. I have since been told the quartering shot would have been better or I should have placed the arrow back further into the rib cage. The bears lungs are longer than the deer's and more exposed in the ribs than they are for a deer. The ideal placement for the deer is right behind the front shoulder. I have been told for bears you should aim further back. I hope this has helped you. I am far from being a pro at this and the advise I have gotten has been since my unfortunate morning. There are plenty of bear hunters on this site that might want to offer more help to us both. This is just my story and what I have been told. Good luck! Dave
I have had the pleasure of getting off a shot at a black bear that was in the 300 - 400 lbs. range.
Notice I didn't say I killed one. Shot placement is very different with a bow than a gun. I learned this lesson the hard way. While deer hunting 2 years ago, I was just about ready to get down from my stand. It was a very warm 80 degrees, October day and nothing seemed to be moving after 8:30am (when I had three does walk under my stand). At 10:55 I decided to call it quits for the morning hunt. I stood up and started lowering my bow to the ground with my string. I heard a noise behind me and turned to look. At about 30 yards behind me was a very large black bear moving in my direction. I quitely but quickly pulled my bow back up. The bear continued to come straight toward my stand. After untieing the bow from the string, I looked around to see where it was and was surprised to see it standing about 5 yards behind me. It's nose was to the ground and it was uncovering white oak acorns from the leaves. I slowly placed an arrow on my rest and turned slightly to my right. I then realized that a shot to the right was going to be almost impossible since I was right handed and needed to draw the bow and aim to that side as well. I waited for what seemed like a long time until the bear slowly moved in front of me. I was about to take a quartering shot when the bear turned broadside at 8 yards. I was very calm considering it all. I took the shot and the bear did a complete flip growled and ran away. After shaking uncontrollably for about 20 minutes, I climbed down and went to the spot where I had hit the bear. I did find a small amount of blood. I then started walking in the direction the bear had run. I found more blood and my arrow about 25 yards away. I continued to track the bear for about an hour. I then decided to get some help from my father who was at home that day. Normally we always hunt together. That morning he was not feeling well and decided to sleep in. We tracked the rest of the day. Covering several miles of woods. Needless to say, we didn't find the bear. Looking back on the shot and learning more about hunting bear with a bow, I placed my shot more into the shoulder. I have since been told the quartering shot would have been better or I should have placed the arrow back further into the rib cage. The bears lungs are longer than the deer's and more exposed in the ribs than they are for a deer. The ideal placement for the deer is right behind the front shoulder. I have been told for bears you should aim further back. I hope this has helped you. I am far from being a pro at this and the advise I have gotten has been since my unfortunate morning. There are plenty of bear hunters on this site that might want to offer more help to us both. This is just my story and what I have been told. Good luck! Dave
R Buker
New member
I've hunted bear with both bow and rifle. I've killed them with both.
The general rule of thumb is to wait for a quartering AWAY shot with the bow. You hit those large front leg or shoulder bones and you'll be damned lucky to ever see that bear again. On a complete broadside shot, make sure you hit far enough back to avoid the shoulder and still hit lungs.
Bears are built differently than a deer on the inside. Deer need large lungs so they can run hard and long. Bear shuffle along 95% of the time. Their lungs are smaller. They carry them higher in their chest.
With the bow, you have a very small window of opportunity/target.
The other issue you have with a bow is that a fall bear has a ton of fat and lots of hair. Stick an arrow in there and chances are good that you won't get much of a blood trail. A heavy blood trail is uncommon with an arrow-hit bear. Most guys around here set their stands within 10 or 15 yards of the bait and then use a sting tracker on the arrow.
When I hunt with a rifle, I attempt to take out a shoulder to help anchor the animal. Either quartering toward me or away. On a quartering toward me shot, I take the near shoulder and drive the bullet and bone fragments through the lungs. Quartering away, I try to aim for the far shoulder after first taking out the lungs.
Bears and deer are vastly different on the psyche too. If this is your first bear hunt, to assure success, I'd advise that you use a rifle. It's more of a sure thing. After a bear or two under your belt, you want a rush, go with the bow. (I say this after taking my first bear with a bow.)
email me if you want to discuss more about this. [url=mailto:foxhunter_56308@hotmail.com
The general rule of thumb is to wait for a quartering AWAY shot with the bow. You hit those large front leg or shoulder bones and you'll be damned lucky to ever see that bear again. On a complete broadside shot, make sure you hit far enough back to avoid the shoulder and still hit lungs.
Bears are built differently than a deer on the inside. Deer need large lungs so they can run hard and long. Bear shuffle along 95% of the time. Their lungs are smaller. They carry them higher in their chest.
With the bow, you have a very small window of opportunity/target.
The other issue you have with a bow is that a fall bear has a ton of fat and lots of hair. Stick an arrow in there and chances are good that you won't get much of a blood trail. A heavy blood trail is uncommon with an arrow-hit bear. Most guys around here set their stands within 10 or 15 yards of the bait and then use a sting tracker on the arrow.
When I hunt with a rifle, I attempt to take out a shoulder to help anchor the animal. Either quartering toward me or away. On a quartering toward me shot, I take the near shoulder and drive the bullet and bone fragments through the lungs. Quartering away, I try to aim for the far shoulder after first taking out the lungs.
Bears and deer are vastly different on the psyche too. If this is your first bear hunt, to assure success, I'd advise that you use a rifle. It's more of a sure thing. After a bear or two under your belt, you want a rush, go with the bow. (I say this after taking my first bear with a bow.)
email me if you want to discuss more about this. [url=mailto:foxhunter_56308@hotmail.com
NightStalkerVa
New member
Thanks Randy,
I have not yet taken a bear but I plan to make this a priority this coming season. I have killed several nice bucks already and the thrill of killing a nice bear has really been on my mind for the past three years. I have seen some really nice ones during bow season. I haven't seen too many during rifle season. I killed my first deer with a bow, my first turkey with a bow, and I would like to kill my first bear with a bow. Another point that you made clear to me was the amount of damage an arrow makes verses a bullet. I use 115 gr broadheads that are fairly small. I choose to use them due to their accuracy while deer hunting. I probably need to go to a larger broadhead for bear as to create a larger cutting area. I plan to use a fawn in distress call this coming Fall season to see what its affects are on the bear in our area. We generally don't use any types of calls for bear. It will be a first for me and the guys I hunt with. I am excited about that also! Do you use a specific call and sequence while hunting bear?
I have not yet taken a bear but I plan to make this a priority this coming season. I have killed several nice bucks already and the thrill of killing a nice bear has really been on my mind for the past three years. I have seen some really nice ones during bow season. I haven't seen too many during rifle season. I killed my first deer with a bow, my first turkey with a bow, and I would like to kill my first bear with a bow. Another point that you made clear to me was the amount of damage an arrow makes verses a bullet. I use 115 gr broadheads that are fairly small. I choose to use them due to their accuracy while deer hunting. I probably need to go to a larger broadhead for bear as to create a larger cutting area. I plan to use a fawn in distress call this coming Fall season to see what its affects are on the bear in our area. We generally don't use any types of calls for bear. It will be a first for me and the guys I hunt with. I am excited about that also! Do you use a specific call and sequence while hunting bear?
elmer fudd
New member
go after your bear with your bow!I have taken three with a 62 pound recurve all went down within 50 yards shooting two blade broadheads. The wife has killed one with her compound bow at 50 pounds the smallest bear was 150pound and the biggest was 315 pounds. AS far as shot placement sound odd but aim for what you would call a liver shot on a deer and wait for a quartering away shot.shot straight and good luck!get a picture of your bear and post it on hear so we can see your prize and remember anything shoot with a bow is a trophy
Jeffo,
That was some good advice Randy B. gave you, and I can't add much too it.
I have killed bears with both bow and rifle. A bear that is hit thru both lungs with an arrow will go down very quickly. I have had bears that collapsed quicker from an arrow thru the lungs than a bullet thru the lungs.
The main thing is to get both lungs with the arrow. A bear hit just thru one lung can make for a long trailing job. Thats where shooting out of a treestand can be a bit tricky. A bears long hair, and the angle of the shot can fool you into shooting too low in the chest. Like said above aim higher on the chest of a bear than you would on a deer or elk. I always had the stand about twelve yards from the bait. I would go no closer than 10 or further than 15 or so. Don't set the stand so high to make a tough angle to shoot thru the bear.
Make sure you don't get into the shoulder blade or bones with an arrow. With a rifle the angles won't be nearly as critical and you have the power to crush bone and get complete penetration at almost any angle.
I always want complete pass thru's if possible when using a bow over bait. Two holes are much better than one with and arrow.
Set up your bait so the bear will give you a good shot if your setting up for shooting it with a bow. Form a "V" out of logs to funnel the bear into a good shooting situation.
If you've never killed a bear before, I would lean towards using a rifle, but it sounds like your quite experienced on killing deer with a bow so you will have to judge for yourself on what you feel most comfortable with using for your bear.
Good luck partner.
That was some good advice Randy B. gave you, and I can't add much too it.
I have killed bears with both bow and rifle. A bear that is hit thru both lungs with an arrow will go down very quickly. I have had bears that collapsed quicker from an arrow thru the lungs than a bullet thru the lungs.
The main thing is to get both lungs with the arrow. A bear hit just thru one lung can make for a long trailing job. Thats where shooting out of a treestand can be a bit tricky. A bears long hair, and the angle of the shot can fool you into shooting too low in the chest. Like said above aim higher on the chest of a bear than you would on a deer or elk. I always had the stand about twelve yards from the bait. I would go no closer than 10 or further than 15 or so. Don't set the stand so high to make a tough angle to shoot thru the bear.
Make sure you don't get into the shoulder blade or bones with an arrow. With a rifle the angles won't be nearly as critical and you have the power to crush bone and get complete penetration at almost any angle.
I always want complete pass thru's if possible when using a bow over bait. Two holes are much better than one with and arrow.
Set up your bait so the bear will give you a good shot if your setting up for shooting it with a bow. Form a "V" out of logs to funnel the bear into a good shooting situation.
If you've never killed a bear before, I would lean towards using a rifle, but it sounds like your quite experienced on killing deer with a bow so you will have to judge for yourself on what you feel most comfortable with using for your bear.
Good luck partner.
Hey Lonnie
I see that you are from Lewiston.I have a archery elk hunt booked with Ridgerunner Outfitters in unit 10.the Clearwater area.Hunting from Sept 11 - 19th.Going to pack in then hunt from a drop camp.Going to hunt around Black Lake and Lower Twin Creek. Have you hunted in this area? If so can you give some advice on some good country. Also have a bear tag for this unit. Thanks a bunch
Fred Allen Ardmore,Okla
I see that you are from Lewiston.I have a archery elk hunt booked with Ridgerunner Outfitters in unit 10.the Clearwater area.Hunting from Sept 11 - 19th.Going to pack in then hunt from a drop camp.Going to hunt around Black Lake and Lower Twin Creek. Have you hunted in this area? If so can you give some advice on some good country. Also have a bear tag for this unit. Thanks a bunch
Fred Allen Ardmore,Okla
sharps rifle
New member
LIke every one said, and I'm sure that you know, shot placement is everything with a bear. I don't know what the brush is like where you are, but bear are hard to track due to the fact that they don't realy leave a good blood trail due to their fat, and the fur on them that can soak up a bit. Don't get me wrong, if you think you can make a good shot, don't take any so so shots, calm down before you shoot, and don't mind going into the thick brush looking for a dead or angry bear it's as good as it gets!! I would think about taking a pistol if you have one for a couple of reasons, I had one come in one time back when you could bait in the northwestern states, it had it's nose to the ground and never slowed down to give me a shot. Next thing I knew it sat down under my tree, right under my feet. I had not planned on a shot like that and all the sudden the fir branch that I left to help break up my outline seemed like a bad idea.... hard to make a straight down shot from a tree stand with a long bow too. I packed a black powder six gun with me after that. The other thing that the pistol is good for is going into the brush looking for the bear after the shot... a bow in thick brush for close, fast action if the long shot of an angry bear being 10 feet to the right were to happen is not as handy as a 45 long colt or a 44 mag. If you feel sure about your shot, go for it with the bow. It's a lot of fun.
Fred, I have not hunted in the exact area you are talking about. I have hunted upstream on the N. fork of the Clearwater and downstream from where you are going to be at though. Its big,steep country and you should be able to get into some bugling bulls during that time frame you have scheduled. Due to changes in regulations for elk I haven't hunted up that way in at least 6 years. I have had some wonderful days bugling for bulls in that unit in the past. Sorry, I don't have some up to date info for ya.
The winter of 96 was a real tough one for elk in the Clearwater drainiages and I personally don't think they have recovered back to the levels they were at before 96. They are slowly coming back, so don't worry there still are elk to hunt and actually less people hunting those areas now. Get some topo maps of the area you'll be hunting and know the area as best you can before you get there. Be in good hiking shape, Learn to bugle if you don't already.
You are wise to have a bear tag. That whole unit has a excellent bear population. Its a little tougher seeing bears in the fall versus the spring but they are still there. The huckleberries are a little late coming on this year so bears should be feeding on them later into the fall. Have a great time and good luck. If I can help you out on any other questions you have give me a shout.
The winter of 96 was a real tough one for elk in the Clearwater drainiages and I personally don't think they have recovered back to the levels they were at before 96. They are slowly coming back, so don't worry there still are elk to hunt and actually less people hunting those areas now. Get some topo maps of the area you'll be hunting and know the area as best you can before you get there. Be in good hiking shape, Learn to bugle if you don't already.
You are wise to have a bear tag. That whole unit has a excellent bear population. Its a little tougher seeing bears in the fall versus the spring but they are still there. The huckleberries are a little late coming on this year so bears should be feeding on them later into the fall. Have a great time and good luck. If I can help you out on any other questions you have give me a shout.