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  #31  
Old 03-12-2022, 01:01 PM
Pekan Pekan is offline
 
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Originally Posted by C&C Outdoors View Post
I have done every bear this way and very happy with the results, planning on doing the tanning myself this spring
Will be my first attempt, but looking forward to it .
I brain tanned a rabbit hide some years ago. Not sure I'd be taking on a whole bear. But all the power to you.
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  #32  
Old 03-12-2022, 01:08 PM
Pekan Pekan is offline
 
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What about shot placement on a bear?
That's one of those things that needs to be considered.

They say many people aim as they would for a deer and thats too far forward and too low.

I recently watched a youtube video and the guy had a good saying, aim Middle of the Middle.
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  #33  
Old 03-12-2022, 02:01 PM
marky_mark marky_mark is offline
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Front shoulders
Boom
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  #34  
Old 03-12-2022, 02:16 PM
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reddeerhunter reddeerhunter is offline
 
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Originally Posted by marky_mark View Post
Front shoulders
Boom

No. Personally lost one in shoulder 30-06 150gr at 50yds.
5” behind front leg mid.


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  #35  
Old 03-12-2022, 02:22 PM
Salavee Salavee is offline
 
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Originally Posted by Pekan View Post
What about shot placement on a bear?
That's one of those things that needs to be considered.

They say many people aim as they would for a deer and thats too far forward and too low.

I recently watched a youtube video and the guy had a good saying, aim Middle of the Middle.
Center Mass every time ..lol. It appears that must be the way to go these days. A hit anywhere is better than a miss to a lot of "hunters"

In reality , try what Marky Mark said. Surprisingly. it works.
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  #36  
Old 03-12-2022, 04:31 PM
Pathfinder76 Pathfinder76 is online now
 
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I really like to hit bone. It has worked so well on so many bear for me I don’t know if I could change that approach.
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  #37  
Old 03-12-2022, 04:42 PM
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Sure getting excited to go after bears again, always enjoy watching them. Goodluck everyone
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  #38  
Old 03-12-2022, 04:50 PM
Smoky buck Smoky buck is offline
 
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I really like a slight quartering away shot through the chest and exit into the far shoulder. High shoulder taking the spine and quartering towards through the base of the neck out behind the shoulder are two others. I have taken a large variety of shots effectively on bears. As long as you pay attention to anatomy and angles there is lots of good options. All my bears have been taken spot & stalk so it helps to be versatile when it comes to shot selection

I don’t do the center shot and if I am going for a complete broadside chest shot with archery it’s 4-6 inches behind a straight leg and adjust accordingly. Biggest thing realize long hair and leg position can mess up your perception
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  #39  
Old 03-12-2022, 05:50 PM
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Originally Posted by Smoky buck View Post
I really like a slight quartering away shot through the chest and exit into the far shoulder. High shoulder taking the spine and quartering towards through the base of the neck out behind the shoulder are two others. I have taken a large variety of shots effectively on bears. As long as you pay attention to anatomy and angles there is lots of good options. All my bears have been taken spot & stalk so it helps to be versatile when it comes to shot selection

I don’t do the center shot and if I am going for a complete broadside chest shot with archery it’s 4-6 inches behind a straight leg and adjust accordingly. Biggest thing realize long hair and leg position can mess up your perception

This is beautiful. This is what I would tell an up and comer hunter as well.


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  #40  
Old 03-12-2022, 05:58 PM
Pekan Pekan is offline
 
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Originally Posted by reddeerhunter View Post
This is beautiful. This is what I would tell an up and comer hunter as well.


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Agreed, good advise.
The "Middle of the Middle" saying is just a good reminder to aim further back and higher than you would on a deer. Don't think you'd want to take it literally.

Shooting at shoulders is a little iffy from what I've seen. But I'm no expert.
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  #41  
Old 03-12-2022, 06:23 PM
SouthWestRanger SouthWestRanger is offline
 
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Saw what happened when a buddy arrowed a bear middle of middle, never found that bear and wouldn’t ever consider it again. Few inches behind the front shoulder.
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  #42  
Old 03-12-2022, 09:39 PM
roper1 roper1 is offline
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My spring bear hunt plans are coming along as well, be spot & stalk all the way!
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  #43  
Old 03-13-2022, 09:11 AM
Smoky buck Smoky buck is offline
 
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Originally Posted by Pekan View Post
Agreed, good advise.
The "Middle of the Middle" saying is just a good reminder to aim further back and higher than you would on a deer. Don't think you'd want to take it literally.

Shooting at shoulders is a little iffy from what I've seen. But I'm no expert.
Take a look at a bears anatomy it’s closer to a deer than some think. You can tuck your shot in the crease of the leg and still hit vitals. The aim for center height wise is good because most don’t take into consideration how thick the layer of fur is under the chest and this is what causes a guy to hit them low

Shoulder shots that take spine or vitals at the same time are absolutely devastating. Shooting for the shoulder joint I am not big on. But if you are shooting a bone smashing caliber that bear will be broken down on the spot or at the min have no front wheels. Shoulder shots done right and realizing the limitations of the weapon you are using is are great.

Every time I have recovered a bear where things have gone wrong it’s been one of a few things that has caused the problem. Not considering the angle, being thrown off by fur(bears hit lower then planned are the most common), not considering leg position aiming too far back, and straight up not hitting where they were aiming are the main reasons

I am no expert either just a guy who has seen a lot of dead bears and seen the tail of the shot after skinning

In the end like I stated in my last post know your anatomy and angles is what matters. Just make sure the path your bullet/arrow passes through is lethal is what it comes down to

Last edited by Smoky buck; 03-13-2022 at 09:32 AM.
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  #44  
Old 03-13-2022, 10:21 AM
Pathfinder76 Pathfinder76 is online now
 
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Middle of the middle? Bizarre really.

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  #45  
Old 03-13-2022, 11:52 AM
roper1 roper1 is offline
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We got a bear couple years ago. Shot right through the front shoulder with a 300Wby. Bear ran into the bush. We made breakfast, had a few coffee, made it last a couple hrs. Walked into heavy bush very carefully. Bear was alive & went 15 feet up a tree. Fell down, landing on it's feet. My son put another into him at 70 yds, done deal. When we skinned him, there was 2" of bone blown away. The amount of muscle holding the leg together is amazing.
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  #46  
Old 03-13-2022, 12:28 PM
waterhaulerhunter waterhaulerhunter is offline
 
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I’ve watched quite a few bears shot in the shoulder live for a long time after the shot. Some ran a good distance some fell on the spot but all needed a follow up shot. 6” behind the front leg and 1/2 way up the body results in a dead bear with one shot. Yes they’re going to run a little ways, but they’re dead on their feet. Obviously the angle of the bear dictates a bit but generally there’s time with a bear.
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  #47  
Old 03-13-2022, 01:12 PM
marky_mark marky_mark is offline
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I should clarify
I aim middle of the leg
Straight up
Half way up the body
On ungulates, it’s the front shoulders
On bears a lot of time you catch bone as well as vitals and they don’t go far

Only time I’ve had issues with a rifle is when I’ve aimed further back

Key importance with a bear is to get big entry and exit holes
Exits are key
Having a bullet dump all its energy inside the animal and it not exit on a bear is not good
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  #48  
Old 03-13-2022, 01:33 PM
Pekan Pekan is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marky_mark View Post
I should clarify
I aim middle of the leg
Straight up
Half way up the body
On ungulates, it’s the front shoulders
On bears a lot of time you catch bone as well as vitals and they don’t go far

Only time I’ve had issues with a rifle is when I’ve aimed further back

Key importance with a bear is to get big entry and exit holes
Exits are key
Having a bullet dump all its energy inside the animal and it not exit on a bear is not good
Two bears I've seen go unrecovered were shot with bergers. So that checks out with no exit holes. They probably died eventually, but not recovered.
Bears are tough.
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  #49  
Old 03-13-2022, 01:43 PM
Pathfinder76 Pathfinder76 is online now
 
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Bears are extremely tough. But not all bears are the same either. Comparing the tenacity of a 4 year old bear to that of an 8-12 year old boar is a mistake for sure. But like anything else, shoot them where they live and they die quickly.
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  #50  
Old 03-13-2022, 01:47 PM
Smoky buck Smoky buck is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by roper1 View Post
We got a bear couple years ago. Shot right through the front shoulder with a 300Wby. Bear ran into the bush. We made breakfast, had a few coffee, made it last a couple hrs. Walked into heavy bush very carefully. Bear was alive & went 15 feet up a tree. Fell down, landing on it's feet. My son put another into him at 70 yds, done deal. When we skinned him, there was 2" of bone blown away. The amount of muscle holding the leg together is amazing.
Consider how much meat comes off of the front of a bear and they no doubt a lot of muscle holding it together. This is where I don’t agree relying on a shot in the shoulder alone and want to be sure that bullet is taking spine/vitals as well.

I assume the shoulder shot it your story was straight through the blades. I have seen issues with this if there is not bone fragments/shock effecting lungs. It can definitely go wrong. Personally I won’t take a shoulder shot that doesn’t include spine/vitals unless it’s a follow up to slow down a bear already hit

They can be tough for sure. My cousin shot a 3 legged bear that had been healed up for years and it got around well lacking no fat

Now the the through the leg and lungs that Mark mentioned is another great option for a lethal/crippling shot

Basically it’s great to break a bear down but make sure the shot is lethal too is the smart thing to do
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  #51  
Old 03-13-2022, 04:24 PM
landowner landowner is offline
 
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As of yesterday, grizzlies are out and about in SW Alberta.
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  #52  
Old 03-13-2022, 05:27 PM
Pathfinder76 Pathfinder76 is online now
 
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They have a habit of doing that.
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Last edited by Pathfinder76; 03-13-2022 at 05:38 PM.
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  #53  
Old 03-14-2022, 07:48 AM
Cain32mag Cain32mag is offline
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Sorry, but this is too funny not to post now. Lol.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Ca01zZL...dium=copy_link
:sHa_sarcastic lol:
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  #54  
Old 03-15-2022, 06:54 PM
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Once turkey season is done, either with a turkey in the freezer or May 15 rolls around I'll be out looking for a bear. I plan on at least one backpack trip into the high country for bear this spring.
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  #55  
Old 03-15-2022, 09:08 PM
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I totally agree about what's considered grizzly county. One turned up in SW Calgary last year, and won't be the last.
The boys in Cardston tell me they go pretty far east from there, using the river valley.
many make wmu 108 home as well
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  #56  
Old 03-16-2022, 09:24 AM
Pekan Pekan is offline
 
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many make wmu 108 home as well
108 is where the MacIntyre Ranch is located?
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  #57  
Old 03-16-2022, 09:37 AM
Pathfinder76 Pathfinder76 is online now
 
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Yes
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  #58  
Old 03-26-2022, 04:55 PM
j335 j335 is offline
 
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Anyone see any black bears roaming around SW AB? No green grass yet but been a warm last two weeks.
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  #59  
Old 03-26-2022, 05:40 PM
Pathfinder76 Pathfinder76 is online now
 
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Black bear need to eat when they come out. Every year it seems people see one early and all the bears are out. There will be better hunting in 4 weeks. :-)
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  #60  
Old 03-26-2022, 05:43 PM
Smoky buck Smoky buck is offline
 
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Black bear need to eat when they come out. Every year it seems people see one early and all the bears are out. There will be better hunting in 4 weeks. :-)
I don’t even consider bear hunting till May personally. This is spot and stalk I am not very knowledgeable when it comes to baiting

Yes it’s possible to get a bear earlier but it’s too much effort
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