Will be in Stickflingers camp May 26 for first time. Was wondering from you guys that have hunted there want kind for shots I be looking at and if there anything special I should practicing for? Ryan has told me ten yard shots most time and that sounds great!! First time crossing border too so any pointers would well too. Bring my 12 year old grandson has camera man and will book him a hunt for next trip if he is ready! We are pretty fire up!!!
This is coming from a guy who has never shot a bear. With that said, the research I have done says to shoot "center of center" maybe just ahead of that. Do not hug the shoulder like on a deer.
This video helped me out. fast forward to about 3 minutes and 50 seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMuKIs4WUKM
No idea about the border question. I am going for my first Canadian bear hunt in June.
Jeremy
If you shoot the center of center you gut shoot them. Think about something do you think the vitals extend all the way say to the hips or something? Think about how the parts set inside. I've worked 2 bear camps and shot many bears in both Canada and Maine. Shoot em in the middle they get away. Aim forward, hit the vitals and they'll expire within 40 yards. Often 15-20 believe it or not. It's your hunt but the animal deserves a quick humane kill
That was a silly video. He even has the vitals drawn fwd. why would you aim for a lung edge when the vitals are bigger and easier to hit up front?
IBEP pics. International Bowhunter Education not some guy selling a bad video. Sorry to sound so negative this bad information thing about the center should not be spread
This is from state biologists. Why extended front leg? Cause the vitals on a live bear sit fwd
I like a quartering away shot. The three I've shot quartering away had an average recovery distance of 20 yds. Broadside bears always went farther. Usually around 50 yds. Bottom line is a well hit bear goes down much quicker than a deer. Be patient and make a good shot. Poorly hit bears can be very difficult to find.
Thanks guys for information and killer shot placement pictures!!
Quote from: Ronald Roberts on February 12, 2019, 09:01:41 PM
Thanks guys for information and killer shot placement pictures!!
Thank you for listening. Good luck
Now I am confused. Everyone says center of center. Bowguy is the only one saying not too. The pictures (and his experience) back him up.
Should I remove that video?
I planned on shooting a bit forward of center myself and hopefully quartering away a bit. Drive it through to the off shoulder.
I DO NOT want to spread bad advice.
Jeremy
Quote from: dresnor on February 12, 2019, 09:10:07 PM
Now I am confused. Everyone says center of center. Bowguy is the only one saying not too. The pictures (and his experience) back him up.
Should I remove that video?
I planned on shooting a bit forward of center myself and hopefully quartering away a bit. Drive it through to the off shoulder.
I DO NOT want to spread bad advice.
Jeremy
I had a conversation about this on another forum and it was the same way. The diagrams shown are correct for near anatomy. Make your own decision. Half way up the body it correct but back is not. I know where I will try to hit one in May and it won't be "middle, middle".
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I was told aim centre body as far as vertical goes, due to their longer hair can make it look like the body is much bigger than it is. The out fitter told me he had guys miss when they aim for the bottom 3rd and do not take into account the hair hanging down from the chest. Then for left to right, take their body and cut it in half, then aim for the centre of the front half. Shot my boar that was 6'8" nose to tail that way and he only made it about 59 yards, if that.
I never understood the whole "middle of the middle" thing with bears...seems like a good way to gut shoot a bear.....even in the video he says middle of the middle and then forward....the vid did kinda make me want to get a 3D Bear target, if only I had a horse to strap it to.
Guys take hair length into consideration. If you ever shot at say a fox and passed clean through hair you know hair could be deceiving. Think about it. Also realize even on the back the hair is somewhat raised when alive because of blood pressure so consider that too.
Just don't aim in the center between the two legs, it's not right
Broadside or slightly quartering and 4" to 5" back of shoulder in the middle of mass. That is my preference. If you get too close and hit a shoulder, it might lead to no recovery of that bear. ( I have done that!).
Spring bears have a lot of hair and can be difficult to track, but Ryan Derlago and his fellow guides are much better trackers than me. They found my bear long before I would have!
You will have a great time, when are you going? I will be there May 12 through May 17 this year.
You will see many bears! You just have to pick the one that meets your desires. I saw 43 bears in only 5 nights sitting in 2018. And some of those multiple times. I expect to see fewer going so early this year, but hope to see an even larger one than I shot before.
Never hunted where you are going but shot one two falls ago in the U.P. of Michigan at 7 yards with a Kodiak Hunter. Took him in the lungs and he went 40 yards and dropped. My son and cousin also shot bear at about the same distance, less than 10 yards and they also lung shot their bear only they used compounds.
I will be there the last week of May. I think Ryan told me to shoot just behind shoulder and quarter away always good. Will be shooting 3 blade VPA on 500 gr arrow out 50 pound Zipper recurve.
I used an arrow (1916) and 2 blade Black Diamond head that my dad killed a bear with a few years earlier.
Kind of a neat story. My dad had an archery shop and closed up while I was in the Marines. I got home in 1969 and he gave the the new Kodiak Hunter as a welcome home gift. Dad passed away 7 years ago and when I drew the tag two falls ago I decided to use that bow and an arrow and head that he killed a bear with out of his old tree stand where he killed bear. An emotional hunt for sure.
Great story!!..I am sure your Dad got a kick out out of that! Hoping this will be a hunt my grandson will tell others about after I am gone.
I've killed three blacks bears and no losses. 30-60 yard recoveries. Middle of the middle was NEVER my aiming point. Behind the shoulder, 40% up. That said, trust Ryan's advice on shot placement. He's your guide and he'll give you the best advice.
That's the plan Ryan has kill and put his hunters on a lot of bears going to do my best to do what he tell me!! Really looking forward to it!!
I think I middle of the middle is from nose to tail. The middle of that is just a little behind the crease. The vitals are definitely a little farther back than a deer. On a deer right in the crease is center lungs, on a bear it's forward lungs. On deer I aim straight up the front leg, on bear is rather be just behind the crease.
I haven't shot a bear but plant to try this fall so I am very interested.
I have seen that the placement issue is commonly debated.
Here is an article that advocates for just forward of "middle of the middle."
To be clear, middle of the middle means middle from nose to tail, not mid way from shoulder to tail.
http://www.bear-hunting.com/2016/3/shot-placement-black-bear-blog-march-17-2016
Best advice for a bear hunter is patience, patience, patience. You'll have a tendency to want to shoot as soon as the bear comes in range. WAIT! until he gives you that perfect shot. After he runs off if you made a good double lung hit he won't go far. Listen for the "death moan" which usually but not always comes when the bear is down and dying.
Another is they just show up. You rarely here them coming like a deer. For as big as they are they make almost no noise when walking. As Ron, said listen for the death moan. Out of the three we shot mine was the only one that didn't give me the death moan. My son and cousin said that moan makes the hair stand up on your neck when you hear it.
You and your grandson are going to have the time of your life. Memories that last for ever.
I guess to each his own. To me even the first time the death moan wasn't that chilling instead reminding me of a cow mooing.
Lots of people will tell you lots of stuff when going to bear camp. Some can be concerning. There's nothing to be worried about. Enjoy every minute. I think bear camp is the best. You may too
Make sure you have a letter for you grandson stating he has permission to be with you from his parents. The border crossing gaurds are suspicious of of adults with kids if both parents arn't with them. The first time I took my sons across to Canada without my wife with me it took some time and a couple phone calls to convince them I wasn't stealing them away.
Don't try to joke with the boarder guards they have no sense of humor. Some years ago my buddy and I crossed over for a spring bear hunt. When they ask what was our reason to be in Canada my buddy blurted out, "We're here to kill some of your bears" next question, "Do you have any guns?" He say's, "no we don't need guns". Next statement from the boarder guard, "pull your vehicle over there".....they took EVERYTHING out of our truck and made us stand back and watch...... live and learn :nono:
Quote from: Ron LaClair on February 13, 2019, 12:15:21 PM
Don't try to joke with the boarder guards they have no sense of humor. Some years ago my buddy and I crossed over for a spring bear hunt. When they ask what was our reason to be in Canada my buddy blurted out, "We're here to kill some of your bears" next question, "Do you have any guns?" He say's, "no we don't need guns". Next statement from the boarder guard, "pull your vehicle over there".....they took EVERYTHING out of our truck and made us stand back and watch...... live and learn :nono:
Truer words have never been said! Answer their questions exactly. ...... do not assume they know what you're talking about.
X2 Ray Lyons. Have only taken two bear with a bow (both at stickflingers) but one was a pope and young sized bear taken broadside behind the shoulder and I don't know if he even went 40 yards.
The first bear was quartering away if I recall, so the shot wasn't right behind the shoulder. But angling slightly forward got both lungs and he went maybe 50-60 yards, iirc.
Just ask Ryan. He wants you to be successful 😁, and has a ton of experience. Just don't try to shoot a bear when it is lying down, at the bait site. I do know that for sure.
I shot my bear just a touch forward from center of the center. Bear went less than 20 yards. The outfitter I hunted with recommended starting at the center of the center and then moving a touch forward. Worked for me.
I'll be there the week after you, bringing my dad, brother and buddy with me this time. Stay behind the shoulder, toward the front half and you'll be fine. I'm a fan of 3 blade broadheads, will be taking Grizzly instincts again this year. 2017 my shot entered about middle of the middle and exited out far shoulder on a quartering away bear, bear went about 30 yards.
So I watched the video. He is giving you a reference point starting center of center and moving 3"forward. That puts you 4-5" back from shoulder. He said a broadside shot to get two holes through them. All sound advice to me. I've killed 2 so far both were shot a hands width (4-5") behind the shoulder and dead center of the chest. One fell within 25yds of my stand the other about 40yds. Listen to your outfitter he'll not steer you wrong.
(http://i.imgur.com/MQDVMbs.jpg)
With all the hair and dark color it makes it hard to define details sometimes. If you come back a hands width behind the leg it should put you in the middle of the good stuff. Thought maybe the pic would help some.
Would like Jerry R and Ryan D to weigh in.
Quote from: BrushWolf on February 13, 2019, 10:42:33 PM
So I watched the video. He is giving you a reference point starting center of center and moving 3"forward. That puts you 4-5" back from shoulder. He said a broadside shot to get two holes through them. All sound advice to me. I've killed 2 so far both were shot a hands width (4-5") behind the shoulder and dead center of the chest. One fell within 25yds of my stand the other about 40yds. Listen to your outfitter he'll not steer you wrong.
The video is absolutely wrong.
Ron don't forget to take lots of pictures Canada has some beautiful country. Good luck on the hunt.
I should say something else. The advise guys are saying is not trying to punch through a shoulder bone. Just like a deer if you hit solid bone you may get stopped. The other point of 2 exit holes is real good in theory. The hair can be long, fat can clog a hole etc. Bears though are real easy to kill. They go down real quick when hit well. So quick you'll often see em fall or they'll fall just out of sight. In well hit bears. Not much track skill if any is often needed. You'll be surprised how quick they drop.
On a bad hit bear when a good blood trail could really help the bears are very often unrecoverable. Bears not hit well often head out n get lost. Idk the outfitter but a track dog can help here. If none is available 2 holes can't never hurt but could be a moot point.
2 holes is best mind you but don't freak out if that doesn't happen.
Hope that makes sense
Think the point of all this is that a bears vitals are back a bit further than what we are all used to. If you hit the crease you may miss everything. Nobody is advocating to gut shoot a bear. When crossing the border i have had better luck crossing at some of the smaller ports of entry. And don't be a smartass or a comedian. Know the name of the outfitter and where your going. Take your sunglasses off. Don't try and sneak stuff across. Your allowed a case of beer a fifth of whiskey and a role of copenhagen. Anything more than that you have to declare. If you plan on taking food items do the research many items are prohibited. Good luck and have fun. I love bear hunting.
Also passports gotta have em. Don't forget them....
Black bears are thin skinned nd thin ribbed. The shoulder blade is heavy compared to a deer. Bears have relatively small lung capacity and die quickly to chest shots compared to deer type animals. Been on plenty of bear blood trails and have never had an issue finding bears shot with big broadheads. A bear is built like a 200 lb coon.
I like to get them quartering away and shoot to hit offside front leg, just like you would a deer. Often this would lead to shooting the bear in the middle...its all about angles.
Also I'd look into what TSA wants for travelling with a kid that isn't yours. You may need some documentation with copy of birth cert. Etc. Also...if you ever had a DUI you will have problems with entry to Canada.
Best of luck! Spring bears are a blast!
R
Looks like you shoot them similar to a hog, @1/3 up and tight to the front leg, with leg forward. [attachment=1]
Quote from: beemann on February 14, 2019, 11:06:48 AM
Think the point of all this is that a bears vitals are back a bit further than what we are all used to. If you hit the crease you may miss everything. Nobody is advocating to gut shoot a bear. When crossing the border i have had better luck crossing at some of the smaller ports of entry. And don't be a smartass or a comedian. Know the name of the outfitter and where your going. Take your sunglasses off. Don't try and sneak stuff across. Your allowed a case of beer a fifth of whiskey and a role of copenhagen. Anything more than that you have to declare. If you plan on taking food items do the research many items are prohibited. Good luck and have fun. I love bear hunting.
Why do you say they are back further? Look to the posted anatomy. In case you missed it.
Here's another. This is from an older book on trailing but it's still good info. Look at how many bears were taken in this thread alone up front.
Now I believe you can be further than inches from the shoulder but not real far back. Keep your shots fwd guys
One more thing fellas. It's regarding height. Im sure the majority understand this but we don't know who is reading that maybe isn't as famaliar. In my hunter ed classes I teach the vitals of any animal are sorta suspended in a sense like in the middle of a barrel. When discussing height if we were on the ground, very low, or the bear was out a bit the height could be midway up. As the angle changes as in the bear being extremely close and we're up say 18' a shot mid body height wise could miss lots of vitals. We might hit say only one lung. We want to adjust for that. If the bear was quartering hard just as on a deer we aim slightly back of where we want the arrow center punching.
The big difference here is bears sometimes give better and more shooting opportunities, (by no means always) so it's easy to wait. If the shot on any animal isn't there we don't wanna push it.
I think these artist's rendition of the actual anatomy are poor- or at least misleading to me. The autopsies we looked at on bears is much more to reality of both images posted by Brushwolf and Beeman. Brushwolf's is excellent in my opinion.
Assuming a broadside bear (obviously modifying for a quarter away)- I put a large "cross-hair" on the bear body mass from front of the chest to the rear. ( I do not include the neck in that mass). The vertical is half way from front to back. The horizontal is mid way up belly-line to back (It is really easy to envision this on a live bear for me- easy to pick a spot too because of it). From a 8-12' high treestand at 10-15 yds I put the arrow on the horizontal "crosshair" and just 3-4 inches in front of the vertical "crosshair." That center punches the lungs and major heart arteries.
As to how this looks- it really does look different for me than shooting a deer. For a broadside deer I actually follow up the back side of the leg and put the arrow 2-3" above the "elbow"- which centers the vitals on a whitetail.
My 2C ( Still love to see Ryan to weigh in)
Dan in KS
Isn't an autopsy done on an already dead bear?? If you take the air out of your tire does it sit exactly where it did inflated? Course not. When things die things change. Best actual pic would be a medical type scan of where vitals sit when alive.
When I first went black bear hunting I asked the same question. Where do you aim? I have a buddy that has killed several bears. He also has a full body mount in his living room. I went to his house, studied the mount with him and this was his advice. It's not if you will see a bear, cause you will. Prepare yourself mentally for that. Then look at the bear. Do you want to shoot this bear ? If the answer is yes. Position the bear- wait for him to get him to the angle you want. Then pick a spot. He said come half way up the body and a hands width from the back of the front leg. He said or visualize 4-5"from back of the leg. I did this on my first bear, hit exactly in the spot I was looking, and the bear fell not very far from the tree. The death moan told me he was down in seconds. I did not get a pass through either. I wouldn't want to be anywhere in the front leg. The meat alone was thick enough to prohibit good penetration. I am in no way an expert but this is the advice I will use again this spring. Here is a good picture that shows what I am trying to portray. Bear hunting is one of the exciting things a bowhunter can do. Edge of your seat excitement.
(http://i.imgur.com/qY1iOuN.jpg)
Bowguy- I think anyone who takes the time will easily see where an arrow enters and exits the carcass and what organs are penetrated. Pretty easy to determine. Been there done that. . . Deflated plenty of lungs.
Bowguy Im not looking for a fight but i just feel like your renderings are incorrect. Lots of bears are lost each year when guys think they made a perfect shot "just like on a deer".. I have two bear targets, one form thirty years ago and one from present times. The old target has the vitals forward like a whitetail. The new target has them similar to the pic I posted. I think current knowledge says vitals are further back than we originally thought in regards to a bear..... Good hunting boys.....
So I typed out a big explanation and somehow it's not posting. Not doing that again!
Yes, shoot them like deer. Middle of the middle is intentionally shooting them in the liver or guts. 1/2 way up a couple inches behind the crease is perfect.
Anatomy pic posted by Bowguy67 is accurate. However, I wish the lungs were as big as the ones in Beemann's pic. That bear would win marathons
Quote from: Ron LaClair on February 13, 2019, 12:15:21 PM
Don't try to joke with the boarder guards they have no sense of humor. Some years ago my buddy and I crossed over for a spring bear hunt. When they ask what was our reason to be in Canada my buddy blurted out, "We're here to kill some of your bears" next question, "Do you have any guns?" He say's, "no we don't need guns". Next statement from the boarder guard, "pull your vehicle over there".....they took EVERYTHING out of our truck and made us stand back and watch...... live and learn :nono:
Ron, a buddy of mine had the same experience going into Canada on a fishing trip. One of the guys with him made some joke and they did the same to them...pulled over everything, and I mean everything, was cleared out of the truck. Yes, they mean business and don't appreciate funny comments. Oh, and they didn't put the stuff back into his truck, just left it laying on the ground.
Yes, Sir. No, Sir. Good answers.
Error
Thanks Ryan for weighing in.
Thanks to all for feedback!! Fire up and can't wait for trip!! I know Ryan will take care of us and we will have a great adventure that will hook us on bears and bear hunting!!
Good luck to you buddy. Hope you have blast. Listen to your guide and please post an update let us know how you did....
I've shot a lot of bears and taken many apart, bow guy 67 has it right and the right anatomy pics. I always found my best shot was broadside not quartering away, that way you get 2 holes. Most bears go down in about 30 yards but occasionally one evidentially can hold his breath along time and cover maybe more than a 100 yards I had a couple of these so more holes better blood trails. About an inch behind the front shoulder vertically in the middle of the body broadside is my favorite shot
Tree stand height is something you should also take into consideration . Too high and you may get only one lung we had a rule 10 yard from the bait no more than 10 ft. high 8 yards not more than 8 ft. etc. A bears rib cage is more horizontally shaped than a deer so if you are too high you may shoot under the opposite lung or just touch it.
Practice elevated shoots and have a blast.
Quote from: beemann on February 14, 2019, 09:06:11 PM
Bowguy Im not looking for a fight but i just feel like your renderings are incorrect. Lots of bears are lost each year when guys think they made a perfect shot "just like on a deer".. I have two bear targets, one form thirty years ago and one from present times. The old target has the vitals forward like a whitetail. The new target has them similar to the pic I posted. I think current knowledge says vitals are further back than we originally thought in regards to a bear..... Good hunting boys.....
You don't have to fight I'm just telling you aim for the center you gut shoot em. Now perhaps there's some dif in center. I call center between the legs. To center this area you're saying that's center of the vitals alluding the lungs extend into the hips? Come one, where is the liver, kidneys, intestines, etc? Oh yea they're built like Volkswagens, the goodies are backwards. Think bout what you're saying
What I said in my first post was "a bit further back." I never said the "goodies are backwards" Guess I should have said stay away from shoulder and front leg.
If Tim Finley explained where to shoot a bear, pay attention!
Back when I lived in Wisconsin, we got a bear tag with our bow license. I did not want to shoot a bear with bait so I tried stalking. I tried all day until dark with one bear. The only chances, 3, I had of getting a shot at that bear, all i saw was a big hairy rump going straight and getting smaller fast. Bear are harder to stalk that one might think. Pretty certain there is no rump shot on a bear that is worth the risk, but it may be better than an intentional gut shot, by shooting too high and too far back when broadside. I insisted on waiting for a quartering away chance, I never got it with any bear that i stalked during those years.