high shoulder shots on bears

[trout-n-salmon]

What is everyone's opinion on a high shoulder shot on a bear to put him down in his tracks? Is it a prefered shot, or should you just take the double lung and know he is going to tip over soon enough.

[shorty]

Having only been black bear hunting once I'm sure there are guy's here who know much more than I, but judging from what I've seen I wouldn't advise it.

Bears carry a lot of fat and gristle high on their backs much like a hog so your bullet might pass thru on a high shoulder shot and not do enough damage to put it DRT.

The spine appears to be about a third of the way down from the back line, a rather difficult shot to make in low or very low light conditions. (Black bear, dark,my old eyes,etc.)

Gotta go with the double lung shot. Did see an old friend on his last hunt take a big blackie with a Texas heart shot. That got...exciting.

[trout-n-salmon]

Thanks for the reply. I am on the hunt for a spring bear (should I be so lucky to draw a tag) and starting to do my homework on them...

[kcebcj]

Originally Posted by shorty

Having only been black bear hunting once I'm sure there are guy's here who know much more than I, but judging from what I've seen I wouldn't advise it.

Bears carry a lot of fat and gristle high on their backs much like a hog so your bullet might pass thru on a high shoulder shot and not do enough damage to put it DRT.

The spine appears to be about a third of the way down from the back line, a rather difficult shot to make in low or very low light conditions. (Black bear, dark,my old eyes,etc.)

Gotta go with the double lung shot. Did see an old friend on his last hunt take a big blackie with a Texas heart shot. That got...exciting.

What's a Texas heart shot?

[webs]

in the rear out the front.

[Speedo]

I've spined a couple of grizzlies, it isn't an instant kill but it stopped them from going very far. I prefer to break down the front end, lower on the shoulder to break front legs to prevent them from running. I have shot all but one of my bears at 75 yards or less.

Gus

[cowboy]

I have done it both ways - high shoulder and lung shots. Have to go with Speedo on braking down the front - our Black Bear here in Montana don't run all that big - a 300# spring bear here is a big bear. You brake down the front end and they don't go very far - you punch them in the lungs and they can find the biggest mess in the country within 100 yds of taking a bullet.