Cant Find Him!!!

antlergetter · 10-13-2005, 12:13 PM

I am totally disgusted!! I finally got a shot at a bear and made what I thought was a great hit. There is NO blood!! I've never shot a bear, but on a deer this would've been a direct double lunger!! On the bear I got no penetration!! I searchedall dayfor blood and only found a few drops where he crossed a revine. Should I have aimed farther back?? I'm shooting a 70 pound draw weight, and my bow runs about 300 fps. Why did it look like my arrow barely broke the skin?? If I didnt hit any vitals and he heals will he leave the area?? Is this stand ruined now?I have a million thoughts running through my mind. What a let down! I hate wounding ANY animal and not finding it.

Howler · 10-13-2005, 04:53 PM

what did your arrow look like, what was on it after the shot. I assume you found it! What broadhead were you using? What was the angle on the shot? and at what distance?

TomFromTheShade · 10-13-2005, 05:36 PM

Bears have shoulders like slabs on concrete. The best way to shoot them with the bow is waiting until they are quartering away, that way you can slide the arrow in unobstructed, and it will work its way up into the neck, jugular, wind pipe area. I wish that I had told you that yesterday. Sorry!

skeeter 7MM · 10-13-2005, 11:25 PM

I assume he was broadside and you aimed just behind the front shoulder (using the crease like you do on deer type game). Well on a bear most of his vitals are somewhat protected by the shoulder bone structure, so it is possible your arrow struck this and glanced off creating a flesh wound. How to eliminate this is wait for the facing leg to clear forward on a straight on broadside, then use the opposite leg as a site line.The only hope on a straight on shot without that front leg clearing is to take out a small portion of the rear of the lungs or the liver. Liveris basically in the midsection of the body but not an ideal shot seeing tracking a wounded bear is never easy or fun with only a bow in your paws! Like mentioned the other good bow shot on a bear is quarter away.

If you retrieved the arrow give more details to what you found. I'd also be introduced in what BH you are using?

As far as if he is fine will he return, that depends on how hard he was pressured. If he ran off and wasn't pushed he should be back in time. If visav who knows? 50/50 I suppose but your stand shouldn't be comprimised, just may take some time for your scent to wear thin if you tramped all over looking for sign. Seen animals harvested out of the same stand within a few days of each other. I have yet to have black bear come in that didn't know I was sitting in the tree...mind you we use baits up here. It is more a matter if they really care or not!

Best of luck and hope you get a second chance.

antlergetter · 10-14-2005, 10:11 AM

I guess I should have clarified alittle better, but I was upset over losing the animal at the time. The shot was a broadside shot 17 yards with a Thunderhead BH. I aimed for the same spot as I would on a deer. I shoot a 29 inch arrow and atleast 28 inches were sticking out when he ran off. When my arrow struck him it sounded like Ishot a tree!!

skeeter 7MM · 10-15-2005, 12:04 AM

Welcome to the shoulder of a bear!!! It is the most common mistake with archery gear "shot him likeI doon deer". Like Imentioned prioron clear broadside the nearest shoulder must clear or move forward to leave an unobstructed vital shot, anything else is really hoping you hit pay dirt. I guided many a bear hunter in days of younder, that bear will be licking his wounds but most likely make it.We harvested bear with broadheads fused in spines and shoulder blades, so your not alone.

Best of luck