Shot Placement

[lightflight]

When it comes to bear hunting I know nothing. I don't know anyone that bear hunts.

These may seem like silly questions but I have to deal with them...

Family is concerned that if the first shot doesn't put the bear down that It will charge me and I'm a dead man. Any truth to this or need for concern? Obviously the bear would have to be pretty close.

Lets say I'm fairly close to the bear, it is coming strait towards me. Has anyone lined it up right on the chest and shot a bear this way? I shot a deer this way...Curious how if would work on a bear.

I shoot a 270 WSM and have a goal of hunting a bear next year for starters I wont be using bait or dogs.... just spot/stalk. Any advice would be appreciated let me know if you need more details. Thanks for the help

 

[kc]

Where are you and are we talking about Black Bears or Kodiaks?

 

[lightflight]

Where are you and are we talking about Black Bears or Kodiaks?

Black brear.

 

[lightflight]

Black bear in CA for starters. All the videos I see it doesn't look a whole lot different than deer.

 

[blacknzr1]

I will never get to hunt a bear, but im interested in the replies to your first post.

 

[Catahoula]

Hey lightflight,
pm me & we can chat about bears.
Kirk

 

[dogbuster0006]

You would have to be extremely close to said bear and make a terrible shot. Every now and then you'll run into a critter that's for what ever reason meaner nastier and tougher than the rest of them but hunting black bear with a good bullet and a 270wsm you'll be fine. Majority of bear attacks are from surprising the bear really close, I always carry a 44mag stoked with buffalo bore 'bear loads' just in case regardless of hunting hiking ect. I'm in Alaska and at certain times of the year they're everywhere. Make a good shot either right behind the shoulder or through the shoulders, I aim to break the off side shoulder. I've killed several critters with frontal shots, coyotes and deer unless it was and emergency situation I wouldn't make a frontal shot on a bear that's just my personal thing. As long as you get a bullet through the vitals and give it a few minutes to expire you should be just fine.

 

[LawShark]

Use a 45/70 and shoot them in the shoulder. It will drop them like a sack. 1980fps with 430 gr bullet. or at least from my experience

 

[lightflight]

Use a 45/70 and shoot them in the shoulder. It will drop them like a sack. 1980fps with 430 gr bullet. or at least from my experience

I don't have a 45-70 and not looking to get one.

 

[bigry26]

I killed a bear 3 years ago with my 270 wsm at 982 yards with 1 shot she was about 200 pounds. I shot a 450 pounder at 300 yards with my 338 lapua and it took 3 shots to make him stop heart neck and head in that order. Just like any thing else you will find 1 tough mofo that just doesnt want to die. Your 270 wsm is more than capable to kill a black bear

 

[HARPERC]

When it comes to bear hunting I know nothing. I don't know anyone that bear hunts.

Lets say I'm fairly close to the bear, it is coming strait towards me. Has anyone lined it up right on the chest and shot a bear this way? I shot a deer this way...Curious how if would work on a bear.

Bear are built a bit different than deer. They are kind of built down hill, and head position varies from a heads up position where under the chin the chest is exposed, to a low position where above the head is better angled to the vitals.

Google some of the bear anatomy pictures on the net that will get at least thinking what frontal shot you might take.

Charges unusual, but added to it the possibility their escape route is your direction the frontal shot can happen. Don't get bit by a dead bear, give them another if in doubt.

I prefer heavier stout for caliber bullets. Even Black Bear come in a lot of sizes. A long wound channel, with broken bone, and exits always gives good results.

 

[Mosster47]

Bears have a very similar bone/muscle structure to humans, so a deer isn't the best example.

I've killed three black bears in Oregon and was standing next to my dad who shot another.

1st was one over 250lbs. A 25-06 with a 120gr Speer Boat tail right behind the front leg pretty much dropped it dead in its tracks.

2nd was around 200lbs. 300 Win Mag with a 180gr Speer Grand in the middle of the spine at an uphill angle. After it stopped rolling back down the hill towards me I finished it off.

3rd was around 300lbs. A 308 with a 165gr Hornady Interlock in the head did the job. Surprising, huh? lol.

4th was around a 100lb yearling. My dad hit it with a 338 Win Mag pushing a 210gr Nosler Partition through both shoulders. It got up and starting running on them like it wasn't even hit and he hit it again quartering away in the ribs and it thrashed around for a few minutes until it expired.

Bears are a weird and tough animal to bring down. They are by far the toughest thing I have ever hunted. The odds of a black bear coming after you are about as good as Ron Artest coming after you at a basketball game. Sure, it can happen, but the odds are slim lol.

 

[FearNoWind]

The anatomy of every game animal is different from every other game animal. Understanding the anatomy of a bear is critical in preparing shot placement. Compare the
Trying to include the most important information you'll need in a forum post isn't practical.
This link deals primarily with bow hunting but the kill zone information is still valuable, even to the rifle hunter:

http://www.ballistics101.com/images/bear_images/bearshotplacement.pdf


Here's another link that will be worth your time to read:



Shot Placement Best Kill Shot for Black Bear - How to Shoot a Bear


The only thing I might add is, if you wound the animal and it runs or wanders off, be VERY careful tracking it. This isn't a deer - it's far more dangerous. As long as it has enough energy to move and an opportunity to attack, it will. A wounded bear will sometimes run off and lay down. They're often difficult to see and can surprise even the experienced hunter with a sudden violent charge from what seems to out of nowhere.

Good hunting ................

 

[Pa Grizz]

If you try and take out the shoulders watch that you do not get a little in front of them .A black bear has an air pocket just in front of the shoulders.You will see a little blood ,but it's not a killing shot.His vitals are a little lower than a deer.His anatomy is a lot like a humans.I had one on the skinning table and the shooter got so upset that it look so much like a human laying there he never hunted bear again.If a bear is charging[ very unlikely] you hit him in the head if you have time because if it is any closer he will be on you.I hope you do not think Iam a know it all, but from someone who has brought out over 400 bear in the last 30 years I've seen alot