While not a bear story, this is a good story about hunting traditional equipment that I found very interesting, as told to me second hand by an acquaitance that I have shot quite a bit of 3D with...with recurves.
The old timer hunted moose from a treestand over a lick for over 30 years, and always used his 50# recurve. His longest shot across the lick was 20 yards.
Every year he shot his bull, with a complete pass through, and the moose would run 60 to 100 yards and be done. Only problem was, that run was always away from the trail to his vehicle. Making for a longer pack out for the aging hunter.
One day, he grabbed his 40# recurve by accident and did not notice until he was in the stand.
He shot his moose, and the arrow only penetrated with the broadhead ending up in the vitals. The moose ran about 20 yards before going down. That broadhead had done a real number on the lungs and heart, slicing and dicing as the arrow moved with the movement of the moose.
Since then, over ten years later, the hunter has continued to hunt with his 40# recurve, and has not had to trail a moose more than 40 yards since. Average distance being just over 20 yards. Quicker kills due to more extensive damage to the moose's vitals. Making for a shorter pack out for the hunter.
With a bear, an exit wound is a nice plus, as it will provide for a better blood trail, especially if the shot is not as good as one hoped for. Their loose skins, thick fur, and depending upon season or severity of winter and subsequent layer of fat, tends to make for poor blood trails. Keep in mind, that a hit high in the chest will allow the blood to pool within the chest cavity and not out into the ground, also making for a poorer blood trail. Try for a lower chest shot to prevent this. If the bear has more tissue damage to the lungs, the shorter the trail to the downed animal. (This is the same for all game animals)
