just a little something

redsox3624 · 07-31-2005, 07:26 AM

On OLN's fridays in the wild I was watching Tred Barta, whoI love. He was hunting grizzleys with his longbow. He got to within 10 yards of this 7.5 foot bear and let his arrow fly. The arrow hit the bear behind his sholder and it knocked the bear on it side. The bear got up, ran into the woods and died. I just posted this for all thoes people who think that you need a huge magnum caliber to kill an animal.

gorse · 07-31-2005, 08:00 AM

You are correct, it is not necessary to use a magnum to kill such an animal, especially from 10 yards...but I must point out something. Bringing the bow into the argument is not really pertinent - because an arrow creates a wound channel by different means than a bullet. A broadhead CUTS it's way into the flesh....a bullet penetrates by punching through the flesh ("compression penetration" to be technical). Without a sharp broadhead (such as if a target point were used), an arrow would be almost useless on larger animals, as it has such low impact energy, that it wouldn't penetrate. Likewise, a bullet traveling at arrow speeds wouldn't be able to penetrate far, probably no further than the arrow (with target point) mentioned above.

The point of this is - yes, a magnum is not required...other, "lesser" weapons can do the job. But, trying to compare arrows and bullets is not really a valid comparison, because they produce wounds differently. The end result is the same....a wound channel...and death by massive bleeding. But, arriving at that point is rather different between the two.

eldeguello · 07-31-2005, 08:31 AM

You are correct. However, note that when hit by the arrow, the bear got up and ran. It would not have died within the ten yards between the bear and the bowman. A bear like that one can break you in half with one swipe of it's paw! The bowman is fortunate that the bear ran away, rather than towards, him. For this reason, many "mighty bowmen", when hunting something really big & dangerous, have someone backing them up, usually with one of those magnums you mentioned. (If they don't, they're fools.....)

Vapodog · 07-31-2005, 09:13 AM

There is often a very fine line between bravery and stupidity.....Eldeguello's comment about having a backup in this situation is hitting the mark very well.

missed_another · 07-31-2005, 11:00 AM

redsox that's funny

i love to stir them up on here once and while also. these guys are way to serious.

redsox3624 · 07-31-2005, 11:29 AM

The bowman had a guy backing him up with a shotgun.