Several questions:

Can I use the same broadheads and bow(65 pound)?

Should I strictly take double lung shots and if so how many inches behind the shoulder?

I am not sure I even want to take one unless somebody can give me some good recipes, I have eaten bear once and it was STRONG!!! Any good recipes?

Do they skin and field dress as easily as a deer?

Are there any differences in dressing, skinning, and butchering?

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

I'm not an expert Taz, but I can help ya a bit. The 3 I've taken were all killed with the same heads I used for Whitetails. 65 lbs is plenty of bow for blackies. I still would reccomend fixed blades heads tho. I like to wait for the bear to swing his closest front leg forward and hit him just behind. Double lungs or heart shot is the way to go. I've had bear that was prepared and tasted just like the finest roast beef. I've also had some that was not fit to eat. Guess it depends a lot on what their eating. A bear thats eating garbage from the dump or rotten meat tends to taste nasty. I didn't find skinning all that tough. Pretty much like a deer. You do need to know how to go up the underside of the legs and remove close to the paw. I always left the head for the taxidermist to skin out.

Thanks Nub, if you have killed 3, that is three more than me! Now all i need to know is how to prepare it to where it taste decent. I think it will be funny if I get a bear with a bow before I get my first deer with a bow.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

Taz,
The roast I had was execellent as well.
I believe field preparation and cooling is the key to ANY good game meat!
If taken care of properly in the field and hung prior to buchering, I don't think you will have any problems preparing it like you would Deer.
As for the equiptment your set-up should work just fine. Like nub said, just behind the front leg as it is swung foward is the aim point.

Good Luck


Greg

"Getting close to the game is the joy of Bowhunting for me, the harvest is a bonus."

Live 15 ft Python after eating a small Antelope!

nub I went to my bow shop yesterday(do not ask how much I spent)and the owner said that mechanicals worked fine on black bear, I told him what you said and he pulled up some photos of black bear that were shot with spitfire mechs. Man those split fires did some serious damage and were pass thrus!!! I doubt I will get a shot at a bear while deer hunting, but if I do I plan on having a couple of fixed blades in my quiver, hopefully I will be able to report back.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

Ok Taz, I won't ask how much ya spent. BUT, what did you buy?<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> Guess I'm just the type who would rather not bet my hunt on head that may or may not work. Not trying to put down mechs, I just won't use them.

Taz, all the advise Nubs gave you is very good but I'd add one more piece of info. The boiler room on a bear sits lower than that of a deer. The most comman mistake and cause of lost bow shot bears is high shot over the lung. I suggest drawing and imaginary line lengthwise thur the bear and keeping your shots just below that line.
A bear with a well placed hit will go down much faster than a deer with and equally good hit.


Work hard and be true to yourself.

Nub I have decided I am going to carry fixed and mechanicals, if Mr. Bear comes along he will get the fixed.

Logs thanks for that info, aren't a bears elbows a little lower on the body anyhow? I always go about an inch behind the tip of the elbow, would that be good on a bear?

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

Don't try to get too close to that front leg. Bears bone structure is very dense. There is no need to try to tuck the shot tight to the elbow.

Good luck to you,

curlis

Taz,
Keep the shot low. There is nothing of value on the high side of a bear. Mostly fat on the very top. Use the guide of the line thru the mid section and half way back. Making a cross. Hit the lower front trying to clip the farside leg like with deer. As for dressing the bear, Remove as much of the fat as you can. If you trim it very lean it will be some of the best you ever ate. Good Luck It's a rush