While my bias will show through, there are few things as enjoyable to hunt as black bears. Their ability to move without sound through the forest and appear without notice is unlike anything I have seen before. Throw into that their beyond comprehension mobility and gymnastics skills, and they are intriguing just to watch. The challenge with these giants of the forest has always been just where to place your shot. Today, we will have a short Bear 101 class and discuss shot placement for black bears.
Bear Hunting 101 – Getting Your Best Shot
For those who cut their teeth shooting deer and elk, bears pose a bit of a challenge. To successfully harvest a bear, we need to adjust our shot placement. While some bear hunters may disagree, I believe that a double lung shot is your best bet to drop your bear quickly. Unlike deer, a shot in the crease just behind the shoulder can make it difficult to drop and recover your bear ultimately. Bear lungs are positioned slightly farther back than those of a deer.
The standard shot-placement philosophy for bears has been to aim for the middle of the middle. What that means is that you quarter your bear vertically and horizontally and aim for that intersection. While this has been effective, I suggest favoring just slightly more toward the shoulder, just forward of our intersecting line. Personally, I recommend five to six inches back from the shoulder. While some deer and elk hunters may favor shooting a bit lower to drop their animal, it can be disastrous with a bear. Black bears have extremely long fur, and what you may think is the stomach can, in fact, be up to six or eight inches of hair.
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Bring Enough Gun
I also encourage you to bring enough gun to get the job done. Our ultimate goal is a pass-through shot. With their long fur and dense fat, bears do not bleed like what we see in other game animals. Even large-caliber holes tend to close quickly, and they can be exceptionally hard to blood-trail. Throw into that the challenge of hunting in dense brush and forests, and it gets a little unnerving to track a wounded bear.
Another thing to consider is the body position. Unless you are a seasoned bear hunter, I would highly encourage you to wait for a good broadside shot. Yes, you can be successful if they are quartering away, but your margin for error increases. Bears are very active creatures and tend to move a lot. Give yourself the greatest opportunity for success by being patient. Don’t be tempted to squeak one in and hope for the best. Last year, I had a jumbo Volkswagen-sized bear pass right by me in pursuit of a sow. All I had was a momentary quartering away shot and then nothing but rump. Trust me, I was tempted, but I also did not want to be out searching for a 500-pound angry wounded bear.
Blacking Out
Another item you need to be aware of is “blacking out”. This refers to not being able to identify precisely where you are aiming on the bear. This is most commonly seen when you get the bear in your sights through a magnified optic. While the laws of light physics are somewhere in the mix, bear fur absorbs light like nothing you have experienced before. Gone are the details we are accustomed to seeing in deer and elk. It can look simply like a black hole. This is where, once again, patience plays a key role. If you are unsure, take your eye off the optic and confirm that you are in the right spot. I can talk about this for hours, but until you experience it, you will not truly understand.
Once you have made your shot, be ready to follow up quickly if possible. Bears are ridiculously fast and, once shot, can bolt away before you can cycle your action. Try to watch where your bear goes, obviously, but I also suggest you listen very closely. In most cases, a dying bear gives a “death moan”. It is unlike any other animal I have hunted, and it will raise the hairs on the back of your neck.
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Bear Hunting 101
Black bear hunting is a perfect mix for me. Exciting, challenging, and highly rewarding. It requires patience and exceptional shot placement. If you ever get the opportunity to take part in a hunt, you should not miss it.
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