Headed for my first bear hunt with Stickflingers next May. For you guys that kill bears in past what was your bow and arrow setup? What kind of blood trail did have and how far you bear go? Did you get pass through and how far a shot? I know there will a lot of different setups always :archer2:good to hear what works for others thanks.... Jeff
I have been using 51# with a Simmons treeshark. The bear this year ran 30yards and piled up. Last years made it about 50.
Of the two bears I have taken, one went 15 yards, and the other went about 50 and required an insurance shot. The 50 yarder left a very good blood trail, the 15 yarder died almost instantly and needed no follow up. I have lost one bear that I thought I made a great hit on, recovered a broken and bloody arrow, and never saw as much as one drop of blood out of him.
I use ASL bows in the 55 pound range and wood arrows with two blade heads.
I've always liked a three blade for bears. I killed two with the same woodsman. With that said I've seen plenty killed with a two blade. The reason that I prefer a three blade is that there's a lot of fat and hair to clog and soak up blood. And I'm just more comfortable of a mind set that I'm using a three blade head. Bears aren't particularly tough, not like a whitetail. A well placed arrow with a sharp broad head will do the trick no matter what the poundage. For a two blade head I'd go wide like a Simmons, Zwicky or an Eclipse. A three blade I'd go with a woodsman, VPA or a snuffer if you can find some.
I have hunted at Stickflingers twice, and was successful both times. First time I used a 53# Blacktail recurve with a Sitka Spruce shaft and a 160 grain STOS two blade. I hit the bear thru both lungs and got a complete pass through. The bear went about fifty -sixty yards.
The second time I used a 48# Tall Tines recurve with a Surewood shaft and again a 160 grain Stos two blade, I had some Zwickey Deltas along also. This bear was much bigger, nearly 7 ft and I got a complete pass through. This bear went maybe 40 yards.
If you hit them where you should, they don't go far. Just ask Ryan about what you plan to use, he will give you good advice.
45# ILF , Ace standard head, carbon arrow 575gr. pass thru @ 7 yards. Bear was dead in 12 seconds.
I was advised to practise for a 15 yard shot. I think that is the usual distance at Stickflingers.
I plan on spot and stalk, apparently around grand prairie Alberta according to my hunter host.
I am going to use magnus1, 2 blade heads. 58# border recurve. 630gr arrows
I took a #54 Zipper Zipstick and 2117 wearing a 200 grain grizzly instinct to Ryan's last year. Bear went about 40 yards and left an incredible blood trail. Arrow never even slowed down on the way through. I see no reason not to shoot 3 blade broadheads at bear, and can't recommend the Grizzly Instinct enough. I'll be back first week of June next year!
Is there much difference between spring and fall bears? I've skinned 5 spring bears and was surprised at how lightly built they are. I guess fall bears have a good fat layer?
I've read fall bears generally run about 30 percent heavier, same bones though. I'd not worry a bit anything over 40 lbs.
Just heard that heavy fat layer is more prone to sealing up arrow holes and reducing blood trails?
Having taken several bears in New England, the blood trails with a variety of heads have ranged from none to profuse.
A thing that's been helpful on 3 different occasions has been a compass. Took a bearing on the last sound heard and with no blood trail was able to walk the compass bearing and find the bear.
Have fun and good luck!
I used a 43# Silvertip recurve w cedar arrow an ACE 160 grain. 7 yd shot, penetration of about 10-11 in. I used a string tracker. I was disappointed in penetration but bear did death moan a minute after hit, Jerry Russell felt I probably nicked the heart. So location important. If it was lung area I might not have gotten both lungs, and I've heard one lung hits can be a recovery problem. My broadheads were sharp and my Shafer double carbon recurve should have given me better penetration. I suppose if I hit a bone .... bear only went 40-50 yds, so I can't complain. Just wish I knew why penetration not better.
I hunted spring black bear for the first time this year as well. I was shooting my Ogemaw from Two Tracks. It's a reflex/deflex longbow. 55#'s @ 28". I was shooting 3 Rivers carbon arrows, 9.1 gpi I believe, 400 spine. Standard inserts with 200 grain single bevel broad heads. My arrow setup is close to the 9 grains per pound that is often recommended.
My bear was shot on the his left side with the arrow entering between the last two ribs. It was a quartering away shot which allowed the arrow to pass through the lung cavity and exit the right side. The broad head was found lodged in the R front shoulder. The arrow itself broke behind the insert and was recovered inside the chest cavity while field dressing.
The boar ran about 20 yards and I saw him drop. I too took a compass reading and walked right to him after inspecting the direction of travel and not finding any blood. He also did the death moan, however I like to try and learn and looked for blood regardless. He was estimated to be 285 live weight. My shot distance was maybe 12 yards too.
Hope this helps, happy hunting and have fun!
Jeremy
Bear are pretty easy to kill. Thin ribs and hide. I recommend a 3 blade head like a Woodsman. It will leave a great blood trail if you hit him right. Imagine a football suspended between the elbows and pop the ball.
Mike
Like what everyone else has said...It's all about arrow placement that kills. This was my successful combo one year with complete pass through and a 20 yard death moan...tippit
Osage selfbow & stone point...
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Hey Guys thanks for all great advice! Looking forward to the trip for sure. What I am shooting now is right there with most of you. From what I have seen on here of Stickflingers it's going to be s great adventure!!! Up to me to put arrow where it needs to be!... good luck to you all this fall!!
49 lb. Bob Lee with a Magnus 150 grain 2 blade. A well hit bear does not travel too far in my experience. I am no expert and have only taken two. The first ran about 20 yards and the second about 50. Listen closely after the shot and you may hear them fall, struggle, and emit the "death cry". When you hear that, you know they are finished.
As noted above, it's all about shot placement , Bears have thin hides and are pretty easy to kill. I've only killed with a 2 blade, zephyr Sasquatch and zwickey delta and the blood trails were sparse. I'd go with a good sharp 3 blade . The death moan is pretty creepy but does let ya know they are done.
I helped run a bear camp in NW Manitoba for 16 years I was on a lot of blood trails and I can tell you lots of stories but from what my experiences were, don't use a two blade . Beas are easy to kill and a good double lung will usually go down with in 30 yards, but not always, we had some go further some more than 150 yards. In the thick bush you need a blood trial and a lot of the times with the 2 blade you wont get it .
It was in the 80s and 90s when I was there and thunderheads in 3 blade were popular and they worked great good blood trails. Some of us used 125 grain Snuffers they were probably the best.
My wife used a Bear Razorhead and the last bear she shot with here 45lb. longbow she got a pass through and the arrow was stuck about 6 inches into the ground . Bears have thin skin and small ribs they are easy to shoot through don't worry about penetration with good arrow placement, but if you hit the heavy bones of the shoulder it doesn't matter what rig you have your not going to get through. If you get a marginal hit a big three blade is best .
Kinda surprised I'm seeing such far distances. I skinned for years in 2 bear camps. Been on many many recoveries. More were compound kills than styks but I don't think really any made it past 40. Most were about 25-30, some real close like 10-15 yards.
They seem to be soft and I don't think draw weight within reason would be a problem. Hit bad they're hard to find, even w a tracking dog.
I believe the only animal that dies quicker in my experience is a rabbit.
Don't over think this. If you hunt you've got the gear
Good info from all. I would add adjusting your aiming point on bears stay away from the shoulder . I would wager that most lost bears where the hunter feels he made a perfect shot are to far forward.
I don't expect to kill any more bears, but the ones that I did were shot with a 160gr Snuffer and 83# at my draw length. The big Snuffer will give you a plenty large enough opening that won't seal off with fat and hair the way a 2 blade slit can.
Being older now I still use the Snuffer with a 75gr adaptor and 67# but wouldn't expect to see anything much different than before on a bear.