Shot Placement On A Bear

[nchunterkw]

I am heading on my first bear hunt next year. I have been researching shot placement on bears. "Middle of the middle" keeps coming up.
Those of you that hunts bears routinely...where do you try to put your arrow?

[Buszone]

Keith as you know I've been in a bunch of bear kill's and I always tell guys both lungs that's for bow or rifle . Remember, when you look at a bear you have 5" of hair on top and 5" of hair on the bottom so watch how high or low you go that's why you hear middle /middle.

[nchunterkw]

The middle/middle I read about was middle vertical like you said but also middle between where both legs come up when standing broadside. It seems like a far back shot but several guides I read about say that is the way to go for a short tracking job.

[IronNoggin]

Lung shots are your best bet. Trace the back of the front leg up to about one-third of the way into the chest. The lungs on a bear are positioned a little more forward than on an ungulate, so you don't have as much leeway if you shoot back of your aiming point...



Make sure the closest foreleg is forward! Their bones are damn heavy, and when in the rearward position guard the heart & lungs.

Quartering away is perfect.

Best of Luck!

Cheers,
Nog

[Species8472]

Best shot for a bow is quartering away with the near front leg in the forward position. Aim mid way up for the offside front leg/shoulder joint.

[mikej]

Good luck

[janesy]

Some good info here.

[paulaboutform]

Seriously ignore that NONSENSE of middle of the body halfway between front and rear legs. That'll put you in the intestines....back of liver if you're lucky. Listen to what Ironoggin suggested and you'll do well. I've shot a lot of bears and all but one were tight behind the front leg and mid body to lower third.

Paul

[one shot scott]

Middle of middle is what kept coming up when I looked into it too about a month ago. It appears to be BS!

[Timbrhuntr]

Seriously ignore that NONSENSE of middle of the body halfway between front and rear legs. That'll put you in the intestines....back of liver if you're lucky. Listen to what Ironoggin suggested and you'll do well. I've shot a lot of bears and all but one were tight behind the front leg and mid body to lower third.

Paul

Yup this is where I shot my bear he went 45 yards.

[Buszone]

Wow let's debate what middle means nose to a$$ or shoulder to hip . I obviously have just been extremely lucky on my bear kills . Just stay off the shoulder and I would agree quarter away . After all the beard will make up the difference

[foofoo]

there seams to be merit behind the middle of the middle. the writer says the lungs extend back to the 3rd rib and the liver is there too. i would aim forward of that to be safe but i guess you cant argue biology. as a deer hunter your conditioned to put it behind the shoulder. this method is a different way of thinking and keeps you far away from any shoulder. http://www.bear-hunting.com/2014/5/middle-of-the-middle-redefining-shot-placement

[artifact]

Interesting post about where to aim on a bear. One buddy lost a bear in Maine, another buddy lost a bear in Maine, and my young fishing buddy lost 2 bear in PA in just the last few years. I started wondering why these guys were not getting the bear they shot basically in the same location as they would shoot a deer. Started looking for information to see if I could come up with something that may be helpful or give an idea as to why they lost 4 bear combined, almost everything I read said - the middle of the middle, unless the front leg is forward, then the vitals are exposed which would normally be behind the leg if standing broadside. Knowing they lost those bear, and that they can drop deer with no problem, I will take my chances with - the middle of the middle- if the opportunity arises!

[nchunterkw]

there seams to be merit behind the middle of the middle. the writer says the lungs extend back to the 3rd rib and the liver is there too. i would aim forward of that to be safe but i guess you cant argue biology. as a deer hunter your conditioned to put it behind the shoulder. this method is a different way of thinking and keeps you far away from any shoulder. http://www.bear-hunting.com/2014/5/middle-of-the-middle-redefining-shot-placement

Yep, this is the article I saw too.

[sproulman]

I wait until he takes a step forward and place my arrow in heart ..Its that simple..