Head shot bears ?

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schoots

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Hey Im not sure if Im in the right forum and Im sorry if Im not .

But I was just wandering if it is all right to head shot bears, I have heard from some guys that they got thick skulls ,and bullets just bounce off.Some off these guys have bigger calibers (30-06) and are shooting at shorter distances 200yd or less . Can this be true or are they missing? I shoot a .308 is this to small to do this ? I dont want a pissed off bear with a headache..

Thanks
 
No, bullets don't "bounce" off bears skulls.

It is a bad idea though. Shot them through the boileroom and they die fast. Blowing off an ear/jaw whatever leaves a very much alove and very dangerous animal running around.
 
The hunting forum may be a better place to ask this.

But this is a no brainer. 30 cal bullets do not bounce off bone. Whoever told you this missed, plain and simple. If it were the case all the military should wear bear skulls for helmets instead of metal.

Its the same story when people say that crows feathers are too thick for 22lr, they just are bad shots.

Why do you wanna shoot a bear in the head? That is kinda messy. Shoot it in the vitals like all other big game. Bigger shot placement too. 308 is plenty for bear, with proper shot placement, just don't shoot it in the bum.
 
A bears head looks large but it's skull is not... it would be easy to blow parts of it away without hitting the skull.

Unless it is really close with it's mouth open a body shot is better.

Just my thoughts on it...
 
And just another point from experience. Should you have to destroy a nuisance/destructive bear, the CO's will not appreciate any head shots. It damages or destroys the bite pattern, making ID more difficult.

Obviously in a self defense scenario, you do what you have to, but just another thing to keep in mind.

:)
 
BearAnatomyCr.jpg



Think of it this way... what would you rather try hitting at 50, 100 or even 200yards under hunting conditions? a moving target the size of an orange or a basketball?

If you're looking to anchor the bear, shoot a premium bullet in through the shoulder and into the vitals.


http://www.inberg.ca/hunting_essentials/black_bear_anatomy_&_shot_placement.htm

http://www.shootingstarcamp.com/What's New/4F712BF9-FB8C-4AFC-BA30-84C6A669EA6A.html

http://gunsandoptics.########.com/2008/08/shot-placement-on-black-bear.html
 
a bears heart/lungs is an easy target as the picture shows(nice pic btw).If a broadhead will do it,a bullet will too.
as for head shots-a .22 will do the trick if it HAS to be done-like if they're in your yard and your kids are out playing and the .22 is on the seat of your pickup within easy reach ;)

the trick is actually hitting what you aim at.
a hi power to the melon would make for a messy skull measurement as well...
 
If the bear is face on, the headshot can be tricky as the brain cavity is only the width of the snout. From the side is little better as the brain lies between the eyes to the front and the ears to the rear and is no lower than the eyes. This is confused by what may appear to be a massive head.

In an emergency shooting a bear in the head is one thing, but in a typical hunting scenario when you have time to make a good shot, the typical body shot is better and will not damage the skull should you wish to keep it.
 
I have heard stories of grizzly bears taking 30 cal bullets in the eye socket and keep coming. The story goes on to say that the bullet deflected.......A bunch of bu$hit for sure.

Boomer just offered the correct answer to the "deflecting" problem.
 
Head shots on Bears

Hey Darren

Head shots work but lung/heart shots are better. Your .308 will work but I would use that new .338 Lapua of yours with premium hunting bullets to the lungs/heart. Long range shots on bears should only be attempted by experienced hunters with very accurate rifles.

You owe it to the bear to turn his lights out quickly. Head shots should only be attempted at very close range. The chance of a wounded and dangerous bear is very high if head shots are attempted at long range.
 
Where are you hunting?

The bear hunting that I know is usually a close range woods hunt and .308 would great for that. I would go for the vitals miself.

.338 LM ? Sure is helpful when the bear is the next county/township ;)
 
If you want to have a trophy bear a head shot is out of the question as bears are measured by the skull.
 
As a trapper I catch black bears with a leg hold snare. When I have a catch, I have to terminate the bear as soon as possible. In the past ( when I was younger) I used to carry a 22LR rifle and shoot it in the eye in order not to damage the pelt, or in between the eye and the ear ( slight damage) , but never a head on shot on the skull because it merely stuns him a little. On a skull shot the bullet would go through the skin and ricochet on the skull bone and stop about three or four inches further under the skin.

For the past few years I have a carry permit for protection against predators and I carry a 357 Mag. I tried a head shot and got the same results as with a 22LR but a shot into the vitals with the 357 mag. is immediate lights out.
 
As a big game guide for many years i like to see the boiler room shot..

I've been involved in the head shot gone wrong scenario.. found it in it's den the next day and had to climb into the hole to get it ... he was grumpy.... everything worked out in the end.. but it was not a lot of fun.....

I shoot every thing in the heart/lungs.. they always die.

Also why would you shoot the trophy?? would you shoot the antlers off of a big deer???
 
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ceriksson said:
What about Deer?

I've been contemplating this recently
Click to expand...

Here is what happens when you miss your headshot on a deer

Warning This pic is graphic..

A friend of mine was called to a ranch to dispose of this buck that had bedded down in the front yard. Probably not the nicest last hours / days that buck had.

I think a vital shot is better, but lots of people go for head / neck shots.. so they do work.
 
I was out for a evening walk by myself past my camp some miles when I heard something ahead of me coming down a small bank. It was very thick brush and I didn't expect much, a grouse, squriel ect. When a young black bear poped his head above some brush. I had my tag, vest, and loaded 30-30 lever action with 150grain silverpoints. I lifted the rifle and placed a shot in between the eyes at less then 25yards. Bear went down, and that was the first animal I ever tagged. It was a small bear only 125-150 pounds but there was very little left of the skull. I was very impressed. Normaly I'd never attempt a headshot, or suggest one, but in that situation at that range I felt under my conditions I was able to take the shot, and I did.

PS: The bear was probably the best meat i've ever tasted in my life. I cut it up myself (into 1/6ths+ribs cut up, and my mother did them up)because I was broke at the time and couldn't afford butcher costs, and roasted it in the oven. Meat actually fell off the bone it was so tender. Was like roast beef, but slightly stronger taste. Damn good!
 
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Wildfoot said:
Here is what happens when you miss your headshot on a deer

Warning This pic is graphic..

A friend of mine was called to a ranch to dispose of this buck that had bedded down in the front yard. Probably not the nicest last hours / days that buck had.

I think a vital shot is better, but lots of people go for head / neck shots.. so they do work.
Click to expand...

Yea thats an eye opener.

The reason I was thinking about it was under a situation where you are prone and within a reasonable distance like 75-150 yards and the deer is perfectly still.

At this point I wouldn't go for the head based on my level of hunting experience but I wouldn't rule it out in the future under the right circumstances, and still I think it would be questionable.

reason is mainly for the meat, etc.

Same thing for the Bear, I learned something in this thread. I've always thought with the whole "big head big target" mindframe, but seeing how small the actual target is I would think twice unless I was in the perfect situation to my standards and abilities.

Like jimbob, there might be a situation where it would work, but they don't come up often
 
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