Black bear shot placement
- Thread starter Waterfowler
- Start date
- Location
- AB foothills
I’ve killed bears broad side, quartering towards, quartering away and everything in between. I like breaking shoulders and getting some vitals at the same time. I like to anchor them quick, but that’s me. Bears are easy to kill for the most part. Any broad side shot to the vitals with a decent bullet and it should be over quick.
My shot in your scenario would be through the vitals and hopefully breaking the offside shoulder or straight broad side through the vitals, But that’s me…
My shot in your scenario would be through the vitals and hopefully breaking the offside shoulder or straight broad side through the vitals, But that’s me…
My thoughts too using a Nosler Partition of 180 grn persuasion.
steamy teabag
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Inside Carneys Reich
Guide who takes people on their first bear hunt said the same thing, break shoulders and get a few vitals works like a charm.
Been there with a doe at 25 yards away at my apple bait site. Looking right at me in my elevated ground blind.... 308 180gr SP... No wasted meat at all.
As for my black bear.... wasn't expecting one and it came out of no where and was on the move.... broad side shot was my only option at the moment. Oh and yes I was dozing on and off at the time.
INTO the shoulder with a GOOD Tuff TTSX Mono bullet and then give him another one right away ! RJ
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Shot one last weekend facing head on at about 20 yards. 308 150gr ttsx. Aimed halfway up the body between the shoulders. Quick death. Have shot lots of bears with all different weapons. Longest track job was a 338rcm with 185gr ttsx. Bears was running quartering away. I hit him in front of the back hip and the bullet traveled to the front edge of the front shoulder and was found under hide. He made it a long way. Approx 1/2 mile but was very dead when I found him. He barely bled at all for the first 400 or so yards. If I hadn't found a piece of bloody fat on a pine tree where I saw him enter the Forrest I would have thought I missed all together. The fat can sure plug up a hole. Especially on chunky fall bears.
Yup ! And lots of HAIR can absorb a lot of blood too . RJ
Headshot is the last thing I would do, on any animal. Unethical in my opinion. YMMV.
Having guided, I must say the the average hunter that needs to be guided to a critter, lacks the shooting ability to bag said critter.
- Location
- Blaster land, Okanagan BC
Middle of the middle and then a couple inches forward towards the front end.
The head on a game animal is a small target and the head can move quickly ending up with a miss, or worse, a wounded animal. How many guys miss the body when the game animal jumps the string or shot.
I think the topic on head shots has detoured for post 9, 10 , and 11. We were commenting head shots and close ranges 30 yards or less. With a 308, proven ammo, proper zero, experienced (hunts regularly with success and lots of trigger time) and calm hunter, and a given opportunity... why not a head shot?
