Frontal shot for bears

[David Gough]

Opening day of California black bear archery season is tomorrow and I'm curious if anyone has experience with frontal shots on bears? Do's, don'ts, success stories, failures, etc.

 

[Anozira]

Subscribing to hear the answers and responses as well. I found this diagram last year studying shot placement on bears. If you believe the diagram, a front shot would be pretty tricky to sneak into the boiler room. I have yet to put a tag on a bear and therefore have no experience in the matter.

 

[Cahunter805]

What many people don’t realize is a bears vitals are located a little more forward than say a deer or elk. Aiming at the high shoulder is best.
Archery I’d avoid a frontal shot. Rifle is a different story.

 

[Felix40]

What many people don’t realize is a bears vitals are located a little more forward than say a deer or elk. Aiming at the high shoulder is best.
Archery I’d avoid a frontal shot. Rifle is a different story.

My experience actually taking a bear apart showed the exact opposite. Higher...maybe but definitely not further forward.

 

[ledflight]

I would not shoot frontal on a bear if it wasn’t already wounded.
I have seen discussions on Shot placement on bears can get controversial.
I am looking to take my first bear still so I won’t claim expertise. I am looking at this artricle for guidance for example

Shot Placement Black Bear: Blog March 17, 2016

Shot Placement on Black Bear by Clay Newcomb

www.bear-hunting.com

 

[Cahunter805]

My experience actually taking a bear apart showed the exact opposite. Higher...maybe but definitely not further forward.

You are correct. I was thinking backwards. It’s definitely higher though.

 

[finnbarr145]

I took a frontal shot on a sitting boar at 205 yards, didn't even run 50 feet. Archery is something else though, not sure I'd take that shot with a bow.

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[Florida Bow Hunter]

With a bow frontal ?

It might be possible, not much room for error, and would need a heavy duty broadhead, not a COC or Mechanical, a wedged Head broadhead like the trocar Muzzy and Wasp Boss/Drone.

You’d need to place it similar to shooting pigs in the head. Center if centered, or in the eye on slight angle. Bow would have to be set right as well with poundage, KE and momentum as well as a tough arrow that can stand crashing skull .

With that said ? Chances on success depend on the archer. I’d say success wouldn’t be so great therefore a shot to be avoided unless possible life threatening, like being face to face.

I’d wait on a quarter turn and bury it in his side.


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[Runningwater]

I'd avoid it unless you are very close and very confident of your shot. Too much chance of just a single lung hit and a big mess tracking and very probable a lost animal.

 

[David Gough]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Shooting 70 lbs limbs at no turns, 540 grain arrow with cut on contact broadhead. I'm not planning on taking that shot unless a bear stands up within very close range.

Had an encounter with a bear at the top of a manzanita band, but never got a look at him. Could only hear him sniff and pant while walking away after he caught my wind.

 

[TripleJ]

I've killed deer and elk with a frontal shot, it's quite deadly. If I had the shot at a bear 20 yards and less, AND YOU ARE CONFIDENT WITH IT, I would take it. With your specs and arrow set-up, your arrow has a good chance at going end to end on a average size bear and will probably keep on going past the animal barring contact with leg bones.

 

[Nick Muche]

If you are faced with this dilemma, you should probably be at full draw anyhow and ready to shoot. I'd have zero reservations about taking a frontal shot on a bear.

 

[David Gough]

I've killed deer and elk with a frontal shot, it's quite deadly. If I had the shot at a bear 20 yards and less, AND YOU ARE CONFIDENT WITH IT, I would take it. With your specs and arrow set-up, your arrow has a good chance at going end to end on a average size bear and will probably keep on going past the animal barring contact with leg bones.

I’ve been at full draw on elk in the frontal position, but there was always something blocking their chest and lower neck.

I’ve been in bow range of several bears while scouting. Guess we will see what shot(s) are presented this season. Thanks.


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