Bear hunting and the shoulder shot

[doc44]

Shooting a bear is always exiting, evan a easy shot you wonder what mite happen if Mr Bear is wounded? When a treed bear is killed a head shot is wonderful, shoot above the eyes 1in or so and down they come. Bout if you shoot low you miss the brain pan, OOPS, shoot to high and you end up in the muscle and fat on to top of the skull and they will really be displeased! Remember common black bears have no forhead. The griz do's and we start talking about a whole nother thread, HA! I have on killed 3 bears myself and 2 were the old tried and "Yes" true shoulder shot. Both went down no problem, I used a 8mm Mauser on one and a 35 Whelen on the other. The third was after some dummy shot a 300lb bear in the neck with his 30-30, high shot no bone contact or we would not have this story. Anyway I ran into the bear a hour or so later and he was very angry. He charged and I almost wet my panties. I stared shooting with my colt officer 357, 2 shots were low and missed the brain, they were factory jacked hollow points and the third was a 160grn hard cast E.Keith with 16grns of 2400 pushing it! It didn't expand but it went through the brain and brke to vertibray in his neck. Of course all of this depends on how old Yogie is standing and how good of shot you are. I learned dogs from a old timer who also trapped for the state. He would chase the bear into the tree and shoot it in both lungs, up high and wate for it to drown. I only saw him do it once and I had my old 303 carbine for back up. Oh yes he used a really old 22 rimfire pistol. I think it was a first model High standerd, as it is the only one with the exposed hammer. "Windage & Elivavation" Doc.

[Wingwiper]

I did a lot of asking before I went on my first Bear Hunt, for I was NOT going to hunt if I wasn't going to eat it. (that is me) SO I talked with many who had shot a Bear and I asked how the meat tasted and just about every single person who told me they shot a wounding shot and not an instant kill shot, told me the meat was gamey and bitter. The few I talked to who had shot a Head shot or an instant kill shot said the meat was fine.
I have shot two Bear, so far and both were Head shots and the meat, other than being a bit greasy or oily was good. The old timer I know and who I think may have recieved his Orders for Transfer to the next Duty Station, (DIED) had killed over 40 Bear and he swore that bad shots caused the animal to get excited or scared and that excitement or fear aused Adrenlin and amino acids to flow and that is what gave the meat a bad taste. He told me to kill swiftly and the meat would always taste good. I don't know if that is all true or not, but he was an old timer, I had alot of respect for and I took his advice and I have shot all my Deer, except ONE in the head and my Bears as well. I have never had bad meat, unless I burnt it. The one Deer I missed the Head, I shot from 275 yds + or - and I had a Marlin, Top eject, Model 81 38-55. I aimed for the head and I fired and that Deer went down. AS I approached, I noticed it kept trying to get up, so I dropped to a knee and fired another and down it went. When I got to it, it was still breathing so I administered the Coup De Grace and started to dress it. AS I lifted it to roll out the inards, I noticed the front legs swinging about. Seems my first shot with that old 38-55 that was aimed for the head, took out the knee caps. The rifle was retired back to the wall and the M1A was put into FULL SERVICE. It was my only BAD shot. The old guy was my mentor wwhen I was growing up and he was a very accomplished hunter. I ain't seen him in many years and no doubt he has moved on. I never questioned what he told me.

As I said, it is rare to get a Shot in Vermont beyond 100 yards, some meadow shots may exceed, but in the woods 100 yds is pushing it.

[mtm1]

275 yd. head shot with an opensighted 38-55. Very impressive.

[Wingwiper]

Originally Posted by mtm1

275 yd. head shot with an opensighted 38-55. Very impressive.

reread, 275 yds AIMED for the head and shot out the front knee caps.

[Tater]

I've always been taught by my dad, and cousin to shoot deer right on top of there shoulder if they are broadside, and they'll be laying on the ground right there. if they are on a 45 degree angle place your bullet where the neck meets the shoulder, and if they are directly looking at you shoot the white spot on their neck.

I'm going to assume (correct me if im wrong), but a bear and deer are set up simirally. If you have a tack driving gun, and a firm rest with a still target I would x him up on top of the shoulder and blow out his back. if at a 45 degree angle same as deer.

given my opinion on said subject I have never been bear hunting, and would think twice about taking my advice before trying it in the field or you could tote a rather large, consistent pistol

[Phil Lozano]

Originally Posted by killer

This next pic shows why I think a bullet can bounce off a bears skull...esp if the bear was looking at you; the slope.

Personally, I have a hard time believing a bullet bouncing off a Bears skull.

Many people said the same thing to me about Buffalo. I have never had a bullet bounce off a Buffs head, when shooting either softs or solids.

In the photo above, I would think the entry point (above the eyes and a bit forward of where the eyes are in the skull) would miss much of the brain anyway.

I would say a shot through the nose (on about the level of the bottom of where the eyes sit in the skull) would brain him.

I don't believe the shot where the red arrow is would hit the brain well enough to destroy the brain nor do I think the bullet would bounce off the skull, even at this angle.

That being said, I have not hunted Bears, nor have I studied the anatomy of them. However, I have done my share of taking head shots on animals.

Best,
Phil
_____________________
Professional Hunter ~ Tanzania

Stay out of sight and down wind

Phil Lozano Tanzania Trophy Expeditions - Dangerous Game Specialists