Bear hunting and the shoulder shot

[killer]

I've never taken this shot. I understand the concept but...I think for most bear hunters they should avoid this shot. It seems to have a great following in some bear hunting camps and lots of promotion to "new" bear hunters but how/why it works is never really explained. I guess if anything I hope we can explain the real mechanics of the shot.

Among promoters of the bear shoulder shot the term "bust them down" or "break them down" is frequently used. But I also hear them use the term "follow up shot" too.

When the shot works perfectly it indeed works perfectly. The spine will be shocked or both shoulders are damaged so severely the "big" bear can be dispatched easily without fear the hunter(s) will be charged. That's a good thing with a big bear when your on the ground I'd say.

Because the shot works so well when properly executed it seems to have filtered down into the lower 48 as gospel with some camps. I would venture to say we will get all kinds of advice from members who have never shot a bear but have heard "shoot them in the shoulder."

I would say most bear hunters in the lower 48 are better off with a lung shot. Having said that I have taken head shots on bear so I'm not strictly for lung shots.

Here's a pic of a bear. Mentally mark a spot where you think the shoulder shot should be taken. I think most will pick the wrong spot...I know I did.
Well I think I did because those that take the shoulder shot never really confirmed one way or another to me. I will place a red dot on this same picture we can move around later to get very specific.

[samuel]

I never worried much about a bear charging me but dont like going in brush after wounded ones.If you are using a fairly heavy bullet with good controlled expansion and at least 90% weight retention the shoulder shot will be a he** of a shock to his system.But if you are using a fast expanding bullet like korelokt(not the new super-dooper ones)or most of the polimer tip,you are chancing bullet failure which leads to shallow penetration and not much stopping power.I advise checking with the bullet mfg,s. sam.

[killer]

I totally agree bullet construction is critical. When I was a younger hunter I thought bullets were almost "magic" and would/could zip through from any angle and get into the boiler room.

I made a terrible decision and wounded a bear with a bullet that simple was not designed to do what I wanted or thought it could do.

I now primarily use 200 grain Nosler Partitions on bear and the last couple of years have been experimenting with 220 grain Sierra SP. I pump them up to the max.

[Mooseman684]

The shot I would make on that bear is just behing the little black spot on his leg , inline with his left leg about 6 inches from the lower part of his Body. This will hit the top of his heart and the bottom of the lungs right thru the front rib cage...a good bullet will do its job right there. No large leg bone or shoulder bone to worry about hitting ...The other shot would be right thru his ears and take out the Brain Instantly disconnecting his Hard drive !!!
Rich

[ArkansasHunter]

Here's what I would do if shooting the picture. Useing the neck line the flows down to include it's stomach line.
Follow the neckline or bottom outline of the bear to the center of the shoulder, now here is where it get tricky because I'm shooting at this picture I would come up 1/2 inch.

EDIT :Wether it be right or wrong I would of shot to the right of that black spot Moose is talking about.

[Rattle'em up]

Most of the bear hunters I hunt with use 44mags including myself and only take head and neck shots. Of coarse all the shots are within 30yrds and behind a pack of plott hounds. I have only seen one bear drop and not get up when it was shot in the head from 40yrds with a 300mag. Every year we would run bear with our hounds and have a couple of Ruger 44mag blackhawks in our holster...never once did I feel under guned. Actually I lied I saw another drop dead in it's tracks with a head shot at 20yrds with a 3030 Win..... shot by a 14 year old girl.

[killer]

Ok...this is the correct placement for the shoulder shot I guess. Again I've never taken it but based on what I can deduce the concept is to break both shoulders and shock the spine.

[samuel]

Altho I still lean toward ihe shot Mooseman describes because I know the effects and satisfaction of that shot,your diagram certainly gives your shot feasability.The only consideration being,I would definitly want a heavy,high weight retention bullet like the bonded,and/or partition bullets as the bigger the bear,the stronger the bone.I would like to try that shot sometime. sam.

[MOD 70]

WOW! Cool pics! I don`t think I know it all, but I think that if you put the vertical stadia line between the front legs, regardless of stance, 1/3 of the way up, you have a rug or sausage right now. Call it the "African hold" if you will, but I use it all the time and it works for me.

[Mooseman684]

That shoulder shot is Not a good shot in my opinion...If your bullet stops and breaks the one shoulder, He can still come after you.It is Not a vital shot so if you wound that bear and he gets away, now he can be mad and dangerous.Especially to other people in the area ! That shoulder shot May not even affect the spine, which is a tough shot anyway...Look at the organ picture and that heart lung shot I described is the ticket, as is a Head shot!
Rich

[CroMagnum]

I prefer the shoulder shot myself but I only use heavy bullets in big rifles to accomplish it. I'm going to be hunting brown bears this spring basically in my back yard. I'll be carrying a Marlin 1895XLR with the WWG's ghost ring sights and shooting 420 grain Garrett Hammerheads. Break both shoulders and they will go nowhere but down.

[mtm1]

A shoulder shot in that spot with a big gun/premium bullet is a sure stopper. Another good one on that pick would be 1/3 way up behind the right shoulder. Takes out the heart/lungs and breaks the off shoulder, this assumes a good gun/bullet. I think thats what Mooseman's saying.

[killer]

You guys that successfully use the shoulder shot concur that "both" shoulders must be broken...correct?

Having said that look at this pic. The bear is broadside but as I try to determine where the far (right) shoulder blade is it appears I would have to be quite a bit left of the bears (left) shoulder blade to hit it. Does that make sense? I suspect they do overlap somewhat but not alot. I think the shoulder blades would line up better if both the legs were in exactly the same position. And as long as I'm at it every darn picture or drawing I have of the shoulder blade (scapula) is different. I think the anatomy pic above overlapped over the bear might actually be the most correct?



I'm not trying to "P" people off that take this shot. I know it works. But...to actually hit both shoulders seems really tough. A better marksman than me should take it, and it seems like the reason this shot really works so well is because of the spine shock.

Again please don't feel I'm questioning your expertise...I do want to learn how and why this shot works. Plus I think it will really help others who are told to take the shoulder but not really given specifics.

I had a partner that wounded and lost his first two black bear trying the shoulder shot. He finally went with the lungs and got his bear. I really don't know where he was aiming. I suspect he was too low on the shoulder.

[ArkansasHunter]

I would of shot to low and maybe would have been mauled by the bear.
Have'en shot a mutitude of DEER in the shoulder (depending on distance) I would say 95 % fell in there tracks with the remaining 5 percent running a very short distance.
I know a Deer is nothing like a Bear.
Thats why I'm here, is to learn ...A.H

[Wingwiper]

Killer

You have most definetely put some work into this thread, Excellent job.

I go for Head shots and always have. That Broadside photo you got, a between the blinker shot is as easy as pie and the Bear is down. If you all are worried about ruining the head from mounting, then don't use a soft tip or a hollow point and be sure of your backdrop.

I have been on a couple of Dedicated Bear Hunts and the fellows I was with, had dogs with Radio Collars and they were worked to TREE THE BEAR and at that time, well, a head shot with a .44 mag was all was needed.

I have never taken a shot at a BEAR during Deer season, for I wasn't really wanting a Bear when I was Deer Hunting. I have seen them but wasn't really interested. Deer are far easier to drag out than a Bear. I don't own the Dogs needed for a proper Bear Hunt as done by the BIG GUYS around here. I know that if I have been able to get Head shots on most everything else I have hunted, I doubt a Head shot on a Bear would be any more difficult.

I know a guy who has hunted Bear for over 40 years and has over 40 Bear to his credit. I will have to see if the old man is still above ground and ask him.

I know if that Shoulder shot ain't perfect, I wouldn't want to discuss anything further with a three-legged, pis-ed off Bear.

[MOD 70]

From the stance in Killers`s photo I would still go with the vertical cross-hair between the front shoulders/legs and 1/3 up. Just my opinion.

[mtm1]

Yup, pound him between the front legs. Take out the heart, he aint going far.
I should add that I'd be looking for a piece of the close leg too.

[Brother Bob]

Yup. Hit em in the shoulder and take out a wheel. Then finish him off. This applies best with the Ursa of the large variety. Just got back from Sportsman Warehouse. There's a stuffed Alaskan brown bear in a glass case that stands well over ten foot tall on it's hind legs. It took 6, .340 Weatherby Mags to drop him. Estimated weight between 1,500-1,800 pounds.

[MOD 70]

I`d be leaning that way too,but it might have been confusing in my post. Thanks for the help as that is exactly what I was thinking.

Sorry, that was to mtm1, I`m just too slow on the draw.

[Brother Bob]

Killer, excellent post and great props and pics. You bring new meaning to,"Do I need to draw you a picture" ........Thanks.