Cheechako wants ta know whar to shoot yer bar

[Matt in AK]

Ok guys, no giggling now.  I'm dedicating this Spring...and hopefully not Fall...to gettin' my black bear (Grizz too in Fall).  I shoot a 338 Win Mag with 225 grain factory loads.  Should I be shooting for the shoulder or just behind it?  Would the answer change on a beach (close to dense wet cover) this Spring or a blueberry covered hillside (open but wth alders nearby) this Fall?

Am I the only one looking at the hillsides every day hoping the there's a bit less snow there and a little green at the house?  I'm eager to git after them thar bears.....

[Moose-Hunter]

Matt,

All of these spring bear hunting threads really are getting me pumped up! :grin: This winter is depressing and it seems it's finally almost over! Thank God. My uncle is flying me and my cousin out this spring for interior grizzly and black bear. I'll be using my 338 Win. Mag. as well, but I'm gonna be shooting Nosler HE 250 grain partitions and I'll be shooting for the front shoulder. I want to break my bear down as quick as possible. My cousin will be using my 375 H&H topped with a Weaver K2.5 and he'll be shooting 300 grain nosler partitions, so we got the firepower to bring some bears back. We'll be in an area in unit 13 where 50+ grizzlies were spotted during a one week time! :eek:

[Dand]

The one successful hunt I was on my friend shot the bear in the lungs - small brownie.  It ran into the alders and died quickly.  But you never saw two more nervous hunters stumbling thru the pucker brush back to back wondering where the bear was. Took a day to find the bear even tho it only went about 100 yards.  So aim for big bones combined with boiler room damage - break them down as much as possible with the first shot.  Its amazing how fast they can move even when hit hard.  Bob Hagel's book Big Game Hunting has a section on where to hit the various North American game animals - he does a great job on the advice - it tracks real well with my experience on 2 moose, 1 bear, 20+ caribou, and my friend's experiences with sheep and goats.  Good Luck.

[bearhuntr]

Matt,
This kind of a question is never wrong or worth taking a poke at, even with levity. Your 338 is a fine caliber and, with 225 grainer "anythings," will suffice on any bear that ever lived. That said, on any blackbear (which BTW are easy to kill, regardless of the stories that abound) always strive to hit the vitals with the first shot. Then be ready for a follow-up shot if necessary. Many times, you will not be able to follow with a second shot right away. If you hit the vitals, the bear will die. To concentrate on hitting a shoulder to break bones with the purpose to slow the bear down is ludicrous! IMHO, hunters need to concentrate on killing with the first shot: they owe it to the animal at the very least. This may include shoulder shots or not...it depends on the position of the bear as the trigger is pulled. I have taken several bears with a 338 and targeted the heart/lung area on all. I have never had a bear travel more than 20 yards under it's own power once shot. One did roll down the mountain about 150 yards once, but dropped on the spot for several minutes until gravity took over. Most were under 100 yards at the shot; one was 200 (the roller!) They ranged in size from 5 1/2' to 7' on the square. Have confidence in your outfit and shoot it enough to know it. have fun and be safe.
best,
bhtr