Author Topic: Bow Hunting for Bears (Read 791 times)

Smokem · « **on:** December 10, 2004, 04:26:23 AM »

I have read countless articles about guys hunting all types of bears with bows. A person has to get quite close to a bear with a bow. My take on "Bows" is that they make the animal "bleed out". I am looking for input on this. I am very curious what the masses has to say on this.

SBF · « **Reply #1 on:** December 10, 2004, 04:40:37 AM »

I've tried w/o success to take a bear with a bow when I lived in CA. I had a buddy who got a few over the years with a bow. I would always joke that I was not going to hunt with him, he was smaller and faster than me! I was going with "Sam" who weighed about 300 lbs and was real slow. If I'm going to get chased I want to be faster than my hunting partner!

Seriously though, my sucessful buddy said that the bears he had hit had run away (opposite direction) after struck with the arrow. He was always well camo'd and hidden from the bear. Not sure what a bear would do if he saw who just hit him though.

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #2 on:** December 10, 2004, 05:33:29 AM »

Bears ar not all that hard to kill. The two that I took last year, one died in 20 yards the other 40 yards. Easy to do, just a lot of fun and interesting at times when they try to climb your tree.

Smokem · « **Reply #3 on:** December 10, 2004, 06:19:18 AM »

Would it be safe to compare bow hunting bears with pistol hunting bears?
(Handgun caliber 44mag and larger) I am looking for input on this. It would be agreed that the Black bear could be taken cleanly with either a bow or handgun. References have been made to hunting Brownies, Grizzly, and Kodiaks with large caliber (.338 min) and handguns in 44 mag and up to be used for close quarters dispersal of the big animals. Then why would hunting bears with a bow be looked at as a challenge but with a handgun less than acceptable?

Lawdog · « **Reply #4 on:** December 12, 2004, 12:45:52 PM »

Daveinthebush,

Quote

Easy to do, just a lot of fun and interesting at times when they try to climb your tree.

It is even more fun to shoot from a ground blind or spot and stalk them. So forget the tree stand and take'em on the ground. Lawdog

Daveinthebush · « **Reply #5 on:** December 12, 2004, 01:13:19 PM »

The 7 footer that I got last year was from on the ground.
:eek:
Because a bigger bear would not let me into the treestand.

How many days till bear season? :lol:

mikemayberry · « **Reply #6 on:** December 17, 2004, 03:36:42 PM »

My New Mexico antelope guide also guides for black bear. He told me they prefer archers over guns because when they have a bear treed and an archer shoots it, the bear usually stays in the tree til it dies and falls out dead. Gun shot bears tend to jump out of the tree when hit and depending on the shot, pandemonium can start quickly.

Made me think about it. Sounds true enough!

Mike

sharps4590 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2005, 01:33:44 AM »

smokem....I didn't know that handgunning for bears was considered less than acceptable. When I lived in bear country, Wyoming, I always carried a stoutly loaded Freedom Arms in 45 Colt when in the mountains. If I didn't prefer hunting with other types of firearms I'd certainly use a handgun. I have taken a couple deer with a handgun.

Vic