Bear With A Crossbow?

[blackbear]

Minnesota now allows crossbow use for Black Bear. Have you taken a bear with a crossbow? At what distance?

[kenfred]

First crossbow kill was this blackie last week in Manitoba.  Range 18 yards.  NAP spitfire 125 gr. She went 40 feet.  Weighed in well over 500.

[blackbear]

Nice bear kenfred, Did you measure him?

[kenfred]

She was 67 & change nose to tail and girth was 67 around the middle.  The scale available only went to 500, and with those measurements, went off the charts.  We are guestimating 525-550 or better. Anyone have a chart that goes that high?

Will have to wait for the taxi to do the skull for those measurements.

We were turned down for a permit in MN this year, but plan on trying again next year. 

[Redhawk1]

This was given to me once, I don't know how accurate it is.

Chest Girth (inches) Estimated Weight (lbs)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

29 98
30 108
31 117
32 128
33 138
34 149
35 161
36 173
37 185
38 198
39 211
40 225
41 239
42 253
43 268
44 284
45 300
46 316
47 332
48 350
49 367
50 385
51 403
52 422
53 441
54 461
55 481
56 502
57 522
58 544
59 566
60 588
61 610
62 633
63 657
64 681
65 705
66 730
67 755
68 781
69 807

[teddy12b]

By looking at kenfred's bear I would say heck yeah a crossbow will do the job!  Nice bear!

[kenfred]

To elaborate a little, the shot was quartering away.  I aimed for ahead of the right ham & behind the ribs, as she was angled away and uphill.  The arrow entered just where I wanted, and took (?kidney) both lungs and heart.  The tip of the broad head just barely pierced the skin alongside the  brisket between off shoulder & neck area. 

I always count after the shot to see how long it is before the critter tips over.  In this case it was 3 seconds.  We heard gurgling almost immediately after the sound of the impact, and she tipped over about 40 feet from point of impact.

I was amazed that the arrow did not exit, but then examination of the teeth showed that the incisors were worn almost to the gum line.  Age was estimated at 20-25 years.  Tough old girl with hard bones!

[jk3006]

NICE BEAR!!  Very jealous, even if it is just a sow.  JJHACK developed this chart.  I would imagine it's very accurate due to his experiences with numerous bear.

http://www.huntingadventures.net/index.php?nav=newsandarticles&id=8

Your pig of a bear measures off the chart!

I had this pig (http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,150511.0.html, and second to last picture from bottom) of a sow hitting my bait recently.  I'm sure she's at least 400 (probably more), but not like your bear.

Congrats.

[kenfred]

Thanks for the kind words, and best of luck hunting.