ordnanceguy
Member
We have not yet had a good bear thread this week. I will toss this one out and offer up the following images of the advice rendered in 1951 by the guys at Hunting & Fishing magazine. (Jeez, that is 70 years ago.)
If You HAVE To Shoot A Bear, Where Would You Aim?
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I would aim at the bear. 
I would think if a bear charged you aim center bear and shoot as many as fast as you can. Hope I never need to do it.
THE HEART
THE HEART, THE HEART, THE HEART
THE HEART, THE HEART, THE HEART
I would aim at the bear.
Forum Rule #1. Never read with your glasses off. I just read “I would aim at the BEER!”
I’m gonna shoot at the middle of the biggest part I can see. Repeatedly . . .
I would love to shot it , where.... ?
while on the..............
Hawaiian Islands.
while on the..............
Hawaiian Islands.
Depending on what you can see, breaking the front shoulders is where my Canuck friends recommend. Kill with follow-up shots.
Shooting dangerous game is different than shooting deer. A heart shot is often not an immediately incapacitating shot. A double lung shot, even low, may leave 20-30 seconds of aggressiveness. The rule usually is break at least one or both shoulders to restrict movement, and then keep shooting for the kill.
However, if you know where the spine is, and that is difficult on a bear, especially if it has a big shoulder hump, a CNS shot is lights out.
These suggested shot placements, with priorities (1,2) are spot on. Notice they go for a shoulder or spine.
From 325 yards a buddy shot a big golden black bear feeding uphill and away from us. He hit the spine just in front of the hips. The .300 Weatherby Barnes TSX broke the spine, plowed through the diaphragm, exploded the heart and exited the front chest. The bear roared, rolled downhill paralyzed about 25 yards and died.
This was after he took a broadside shot at another bear at 100 yards, standing. He aimed for and hit the neck between the skull and the shoulder. Bear dropped right there, lights out. I did the same thing when I was 16. The bear was paralyzed so I put an anchoring shot in his heart.
I’ve seen another bear, running, hit with a .300 in the heart, run 100 yards into the woods before dying.
However, if you know where the spine is, and that is difficult on a bear, especially if it has a big shoulder hump, a CNS shot is lights out.
These suggested shot placements, with priorities (1,2) are spot on. Notice they go for a shoulder or spine.
From 325 yards a buddy shot a big golden black bear feeding uphill and away from us. He hit the spine just in front of the hips. The .300 Weatherby Barnes TSX broke the spine, plowed through the diaphragm, exploded the heart and exited the front chest. The bear roared, rolled downhill paralyzed about 25 yards and died.
This was after he took a broadside shot at another bear at 100 yards, standing. He aimed for and hit the neck between the skull and the shoulder. Bear dropped right there, lights out. I did the same thing when I was 16. The bear was paralyzed so I put an anchoring shot in his heart.
I’ve seen another bear, running, hit with a .300 in the heart, run 100 yards into the woods before dying.
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TheHobbyist
Member
Shoulders to impede mobility and if missed will likely hit a vital area.
Been within about 30 yards of one, unintentionally in remote woods. Stopped my truck on a logging road to answer nature; went back into truck and looked in rear-view mirror and there the big fella just curiously stared at me while slowly crossing the path. I am fairly certain I woke it up when I closed the door the first time...all I had on me was a 642 and a song in my heart
Been within about 30 yards of one, unintentionally in remote woods. Stopped my truck on a logging road to answer nature; went back into truck and looked in rear-view mirror and there the big fella just curiously stared at me while slowly crossing the path. I am fairly certain I woke it up when I closed the door the first time...all I had on me was a 642 and a song in my heart
I will only add: Over my shoulder while running at twice my top speed...I would aim at the bear.
...BenColbyBruce
Member
This is the skull of a North Carolina black bear that was killed by a fallen tree or tree branch during a storm. It weighed in at 500# +/- and the ranger said it’s head was twice the size before it was skinned. The brain cavity is in the rear of the skull. A head shot on a charging bear appears to me to be difficult. I believe it was Wyatt Earp who said “take your time, in a hurry.”
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riverrat38
US Veteran
Aim for your buddy's knee.
73,
Rick
73,
Rick
I thought you’re supposed to shoot your friend in the foot, then run like the dickens
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I guess it is my age, but what came to my mind was from my childhood: "Wake up Jacob, Papa shot a bear, where did he shoot him at? Right in there.." This was followed by a rib tickle, of course.
I'm sure this was definitely NOT an anatomical paradigm to be followed while hunting bear.
I'm sure this was definitely NOT an anatomical paradigm to be followed while hunting bear.
Hair Trigger
US Veteran
"Aim"? Center mass should do it:
Make a new hole in the tent, and don't slow down until someone says, "Hey boy, how come you're runnin'?"...
...Ben
