my bear kill video and some more bear watching

[Derek M.]

So, here's the first time I've put a bullet into the shoulder area of any animal and it didn't stay down. I did not have the same view as the cameraman so I never knew it was flopping around until he told me, then every time I got a glimpse of it and ready to shoot he would disappear. This is like a parallel to what Kirby posted in 2009. The video speaks for itself. The 180 AB hit right where I was aiming and passed through. It took a f/u shot even though when I got closer to the bear it was gurgling blood. Don't know how he managed to survive. Lungs had 2 big holes each and the shoulder bone was cracked. No clue how he survived the first hit as long as he did.



Second shot. That's hunting:



After the kill and loading him:

 

[royinidaho]

Re: my bear kill video

Well done Derek!!!

I think I need to review Ian's scapula shot theory.

Between Kirby's discussion and your demonstration some rethinking may be useful.

Very informative videos. Thanks a ton for the extra effort.

 

[Derek M.]

Re: my bear kill video

Thanks Roy. 'bear' in mind this is the first time ever any game animal wasn't expired immediately with the same shot. It does anchor them no question. First shot left nice golf ball sized holes in the top third of the lungs.

 

[Derek M.]

Re: my bear kill video

More bear watching filmed by the landowner. The last bear got too close. He had to throw his hat at it.

 

[Big Sky]

Very nice bear and good shooting. Some just dies easier than others.

 

[Derek M.]

Very nice bear and good shooting. Some just dies easier than others.

Yes I learned that this year. I can't tell you how many bears I've taken with the same shot placement and they never survived like this guy. My best guess in the bullet, an Accubond, may have split? I have no clue but I wanted to post the reality of this shoulder shot, no sugar coating anything.

 

[runshort]

Derek

Really interesting and will make one think about shot placement.
Thanks for sharing

 

[Derek M.]

By the way, most all of my other bears were taken with the 180 Scirocco over a case full of Re22. The exception is 2 with archery and 2 with the guides 338 WM. In this case I'm certainly not arguing that this is likely but honestly, I've had better luck for immediate kills with btips. Never put one in the shoulder of a bruin, however. Don't plan on it either.

As I mentioned in the past before this hunt, I took 2 loads for this rifle, the other is the 168 TTSX. Don't know if that would have made any difference or not.

 

[royinidaho]

Re: my bear kill video

More bear watching filmed by the landowner. The last bear got too close. He had to throw his hat at it.

Funny!!!!

 

[brentc]

Sometimes bears just don't go down as expected, even black bears that many regard as easy to kill. I've seen black bears take massive damage and still manage to travel several hundred yards before expiring. And I've seen others that were dead before they hit the ground.

 

[Big Sky]

I've killed 10 bears so far. Eight of the ten dropped right on the spot. The other two were hit in the vitals and should have dropped but nobody told them that. However neither made it more than 50 yards before giving it up. Sometimes they are just tough to kill. I kill 40-50 coyotes a year and I'm always amazed at how tough some of them can be when they don't want to die. Most just drop at the shot, but the few that aren't having it can sometimes carry on for a long time. Some long enough that they never get recovered.

 

[jkupper]

Great video, and great info.

I for one am a fan of the high shoulder shot, especially if terrain warrants such a shot. I've anchored everything right there, right now with that shot. I've never experienced what you had in the video, but I suppose it will happen sooner or later given your account and Kirby's.

Thanks again for the footage.

 

[Derek M.]

Great video, and great info.

I for one am a fan of the high shoulder shot, especially if terrain warrants such a shot. I've anchored everything right there, right now with that shot. I've never experienced what you had in the video, but I suppose it will happen sooner or later given your account and Kirby's.

Thanks again for the footage.

The stark contrast that comes to mind for me mostly is 2 deer. One WY mulie and one big Missouri 10 pointer. I had identical shots as presented by the bear and I was using the same rifle. Both deer dropped and never flinched, kicked, rolled, or stayed alive for more than a second or two so it seemed. Only difference was shot distances and bullet. Both deer fell to the 168 TSX. The mulie was 165 yards. The whitetail was about 75 yards. Truly classic bang/flop kills.

 

[jkupper]

The stark contrast that comes to mind for me mostly is 2 deer. One WY mulie and one big Missouri 10 pointer. I had identical shots as presented by the bear and I was using the same rifle. Both deer dropped and never flinched, kicked, rolled, or stayed alive for more than a second or two so it seemed. Only difference was shot distances and bullet. Both deer fell to the 168 TSX. The mulie was 165 yards. The whitetail was about 75 yards. Truly classic bang/flop kills.

And that is exactly the kind of results that I have had in the past as well. I wonder what gave?