I will be hunting Black Bear in Nova Scotia over baits this coming September during the rifle season. My first experience at hunting this game animal. I have been asking several hunters and reading articles on recommended shot placement. Responses vary from a shoulder shot to break down the animal to a double lung shot placing the bullet just behind the front leg as the bear moves forward( broadside). I am finding the various opnions a little confusing. All I want to do is anchor 'blackie" and have a good hunt. Any suggestions /advice would be appreciated, Manatee.
Shot Placement for Black Bears
- Thread starter manatee
- Start date
Oh definately go for the neck shot.
Sorry, but I had to.
Best would be to shoot when he moves his ,closest to you paw, forward, going for, hopefully, a double lung and heart shot. And even better would be a quartering away shot. When sitting in a stand try to imagine where the bullet would come out on the far side of the bear and adjust your shot accordingly. Alot of people use the same shot placement that they do when they are on the same level with the animal.
found this
http://www.theidahosportsman.com/bear anatomy.pdf
And other then that, go for the neck shot or the eyeball
Sorry, but I had to.
Best would be to shoot when he moves his ,closest to you paw, forward, going for, hopefully, a double lung and heart shot. And even better would be a quartering away shot. When sitting in a stand try to imagine where the bullet would come out on the far side of the bear and adjust your shot accordingly. Alot of people use the same shot placement that they do when they are on the same level with the animal.
found this
http://www.theidahosportsman.com/bear anatomy.pdf
And other then that, go for the neck shot or the eyeball
Last edited:
death-junky
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Moose Jaw SK
i found out how far up the hart lungs are last year luckily i broke its back but i want even close....from know on I'm taking out the front shoulders.
ttyal
Riley
ttyal
Riley
- Location
- Ft. Mac. Alberta
Even a 30/30 will anchor them when shot in the shoulders.
A magnum may not if using a double lung hit.
The caveat is when bow hunting.
I ALWAYS used a doublee lungg shot with a bow.
The lack of noise is a big factor, and the arrow does not have the type of killing needed for bone.
cat
A magnum may not if using a double lung hit.
The caveat is when bow hunting.
I ALWAYS used a doublee lungg shot with a bow.
The lack of noise is a big factor, and the arrow does not have the type of killing needed for bone.
cat
On a broadside shot, I aim on the front leg, 1/3 up form the bottom of the chest. This will take out the shoulders and nail the vitals. Since I have started doing this, I've never had a bear go more than a step or 3.
Of course, I've never hunted bear in a tree over bait, so presumably I woudl go wiht Bigreds suggestion of "towards the front of the bear" Presumably you will hit spine and/or vitals in a downward shot.
Of course, I've never hunted bear in a tree over bait, so presumably I woudl go wiht Bigreds suggestion of "towards the front of the bear" Presumably you will hit spine and/or vitals in a downward shot.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
As with any game, the shot will be determined by your position relative to the bear. If you are presented a quartering away shot, aim between the front legs, and about a third of the way up the body. Quartering towards, aim for the near shoulder. A bear is one game animal that is very susceptible to a shot made directly from behind, and such a shot will break the hip or sever the spine and he's down until you can finish him. The single best shot is a straight broadside shot through the shoulder. Such a shot destroys the shoulder, often gets the spine, and fills the lungs with bone chips. Head on, head raised shoot right under his chin. Head on head low, shoot past the head, at the junction of the neck at the shoulders, if your position is slightly elevated, the bullet will sever the spine and drive down into the chest cavity, damaging the lungs. Pass on head shots. A bullet hitting the skull will spoil it besides, head shots have a low hit probability. A bear's brain is narrow, only about as wide an the animal's snout and the head is often in motion.
Everyone's experience is their own, for sure, but I'm surprised that so many seem to have had bad experiences with heart/lung shots. Of the 10 bears I've taken (ranging from small to WOW!), a shot through both lungs has never failed to put the bear down within 30 yards of where it was standing when I took the shot.
Personally, I think a lot of guys make a mistake in using a heavily-constructed bullet that opens up too slowly. When hunting over bait, there's plenty of time to wait for a broadside or slightly-quartering shot angle. Once you have it, a standard deer bullet is probably going to drop that bear faster than a super-uber-premium bullet that provides more penetration than you need but less expansion than you want.
Neo
Personally, I think a lot of guys make a mistake in using a heavily-constructed bullet that opens up too slowly. When hunting over bait, there's plenty of time to wait for a broadside or slightly-quartering shot angle. Once you have it, a standard deer bullet is probably going to drop that bear faster than a super-uber-premium bullet that provides more penetration than you need but less expansion than you want.
Neo
