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Post by skeeter on May 21, 2016 10:03:02 GMT -4
Tuk   If you look closely at the composite views and the actual bear you can see there are DIFFERENCES in heart/lung locations. The composite shows those organs further forward then the real bear. The composite is man-made and is an artists sketch and that artists best guess. I have lost bears going for the perfect heart shot in the pocket tight to the shoulder blade. I was in front of the heart/lungs. Any bears I shot further back died quickly. DUH? When I discovered the real bear cutaway it explained a lot to me. The pocket is the perfect shot on a deer BUT a deer's chest is blockier and there is more of it in the front end of the animal. A bears chest is rounded and more sloping from throat to brisket. This places the vitals further rearward. Up the bottom side of the front leg, then 5" back puts you dead center for double lung. BE CAREFUL - if the bears front leg is in a forward position and you think he just opened up the pocket you will shoot too far forward and lose that animal. Trust me I know! |
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Post by tuketu on May 22, 2016 14:19:23 GMT -4
I never noticed that before , with the composite drawing before ...great observation Skeeter.
As I've said before I have made 2 shoulder blade hits so I know exactly that of which you speak.
I've been using the cut away illustration for several years now. I thing a lot of hunters, bowhunters in particular, may think they have made a bad shot by shooting to far back and have been surprised to recover their bear relatively quickly.
tuk
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Post by skeeter on May 22, 2016 14:48:09 GMT -4
tuk I agree with you on all accounts. Bears I have lost were shot too far forward. Deer shot in the same places were dead as a doornail. I've shot 91 deer with a bow and sometimes instinct just takes over. I now need to talk to myself on a bear to shoot a little bit back! Again compare the actual real bear to the composite of the ribcage/skeletal. The real bear the ribs extend further back. composites and drawings are great BUT a real bear shows a different story. Look real hard at the dead bear. If the bear opens up a bit and you're in front of the heart there's nothing there. No lungs. no liver, nothing. IMO You might even want to delete those composites to make sure our newer members don't get bad info. They can get bad info from somewhere else.  |
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Post by sideswipe on May 1, 2019 20:04:32 GMT -4
Real eye opener for me too! Course I haven't begun to log the mileage you two have w/regard to # taken. My last bear I hit too far forward as well (although I confess, through ignorance, I came fairly close to hitting where I put the scope crosshairs at 80 yds). Bear was broadside & taking a step. When the nearside leg went forward I put the crosshairs just behind the bear's shoulder, slightly higher than a shot on a deer. The bear got about 12 feet to the ditch at the side of the road before expiring. Only reason I was successful was the wound was made by a 45 cal, 430 gr lead bullet that completely shattered the far side shoulder. Fairly large wound, loss of blood & blunt force trauma I guess. My 1st successful spot & stock bear hunt.
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Post by tuketu on May 13, 2019 10:28:31 GMT -4
Sideswipe I think from a young age most of us older hunters were always taught to tuck the shot right behind the shoulder - aim for the heart, which wasn't too complicated with a rifle and scope. With to growing popularity of bow hunting and the simplicity of early archery gear we needed the largest margin of error to ensure a successful hunt. It only made sense that the biggest lethal target was a double lung shot.
I was quite surprised when I took the Archery Education course just how big an area the lungs covered for bears.My first bear taken with bow and arrow was a shot quite similar in placement to the green dot above. I was quite surprised to find that bear about 30 yards from the bait.
I was even more surprised by the bears reaction. It just let out a little woof then turned to lick at the entrance wound of the pass thru shot, like it had felt a little pinch. He slowly took a few steps, stopped and licked again then slowly walked off.He never even knew what hit him. I was actually upset that the shot was too far back. The proof was in the pudding as they say.
To this day an archery shot for me ( especially with Longbow) is just a little forward of "Middle of the Middle" ... still lots of lung to allow for a margin of error in the excitement of the shot, and just far enough back to stay away from the shoulder blade ... which incidentally ... is another story from the same stand !
tuk
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Post by sideswipe on May 13, 2019 11:40:57 GMT -4
Old habits tough to break, esp when just a little stressed.
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Post by Deleted on May 22, 2019 6:33:40 GMT -4
I'm thinking more a bit anxious or excited Sideswipe !
I know it can be hard to do but patience is the key . Don't be in a hurry thinking the bear is going to rush off. If they're around the barrel investigating they will eventually give you that broadside shot. If they don't, better to not shoot rather than risk a poorly placed bullet or arrow and a potentially long and unsuccessful track and recovery !
Can't tell you how many times I've let a bear walk away ... to let them come back another day !
tuk
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