grizzly bears what do you think

[jrchambers]

i second that, i was with a friend that arrowed a big black bear looked like a decent hit but we still waited, blood loked like a liver so we took our time, lots of blood the next day, we expected to find the bear. well we did but it wasnt dead and it did what black bears do best ran straight up the mountain and we didnt see another lick of blood,   the bear bedded in a avalanch shoot that still had snow, i think the cold stoped the external bleeding.  so my point they are as wise as they are tough.  i have never seen a blackie go out of sight with two lungs hit,  a friend that shoots the wrong kind of bow got a complete pass through on a big brown both  lungs, there was blood waist high on all of the alders but he went hundreds of yards in brush that you would expect only hogs to run through.   I would consider them two different worlds when it comes to follow up even with a perfect shot.

[Don Stokes]

Sorry, RF, I was reacting to the statement you made, "This type of arrow will shoot thru ribs or shoulder bones and penetrate plenty deep for a clean kill on a grizzly."

I don't believe you can count on shooting through shoulder bones on ANY game animal of any size. It can happen, but you can't count on it.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Don,

We agree on that last part.  I have seen bows shoot thru the shoulder and seen them fail to do say.  The ones I have seen fail are always shooting light weight arrows. Heavier arrows can fail to penetrate a shoulder as well, depending on angle and shooting distance.  They are just a lot more likely to do so than a light weight arrow.

[frank the hunter]

thanks again guys for the help & have a great day

[silvertip73]

Ragnarok Forge
I like your point of view.  You can't beat experience and common sense!

[Fischman]

I'd say 50# is too light! C'mon overkill here isn't a bad thing and having a heavyweight setup should be a must-especially if you think your gonna have to backup with rifle. And sorry if I hurt your feelings JW. But, ya this is a trad site and no reason to post your rifle pics here!!

[frank the hunter]

thanks guys for the help i am working on shooting a heaver bow have a great day & great holidays

[silvertip73]

Not an expert on dangerous game, but shot placement is always the most important part of the hunt.  If you can't accurately shoot a high pondage bow then shoot the one you can shoot accurately.  IMO

[motorhead7963]

personally I don't know why a person would take a marginally weighted bow on a Grizzly hunt.If I wasn't able to shoot, say a 60# bow I would be working up to that long before hunt day. A grizz hunt with a bow is on my bucket list and believe you me I will be taking enough bow!!!

[hvyhitter]

Just pull up the trail cam pics from Alaska that were posted about a month or so ago showing just how HUGE these bears can be.......I would want at least a 600 gr arrow and a bow that can sling it pretty fast.

[yukon254]

Ive been guiding hunters in northern bc and the Yukon for over 25 years now, and have seen my share of bears taken with archery tackle. 50# is plenty, just use heavy arrows and good heads. Your guide will make sure you dont shoot to far so no need to worry about that. Grizzlys have very thin hide compared to moose, or even caribou. I would far rather have a hunter with a 50# bow he can shoot very well to a hunter even slightly over-bowed. Good luck and have fun!

[frank the hunter]

Thanks guys it seams fifty pounds is just right for me to shoot well with thanks for all the help and hunt safe

[SERGIO VENNERI]

I think the most important issue is to be Mentally prepared for this hunt! A big brownie a close range is not for the faint of heart. That being said, i believe you are at the low end of the a bow weight range. But with perfect shot placement and a razor sharp broadhead and you should be fine.

[JamesKerr]

I shoot a 55 pound tomahawk diamond series bow and would feel comfortable shooting anything on this continent with it

[Tracks]

I haven't been doing this long, but it seems to me like there are too many factors to only consider draw weight...
That and asking such a question on an internet forum is like asking your buddies if you should get married... if you haven't made up your own mind on your own accord, the answer should be "no."

[Steve H.]

Since my first post I have now witnessed two additional arow strikes on a medium-large coastal Brown Bear.  Both shot were with a 50# recurve, 2018's, and a heavy non-vented 3 blade at 15-18 yards.  The first arrow hit square on the shoulder blade and actually penetrated the bone and got one lung (the shoulder was unfortunately back at the impact).  

The second arrow easily penerated the rib cage with no issues what so ever.  Unfortunately the second arrow wasn't the first (I'm convinced it would have died in 30 yards) and the bear enetered the woods over the top of us and the release of lead was entervening between arrows.

[frank the hunter]

Thanks Steve for the help have a great day

[Lechwe]

Hard to second guess a couple of folks who have spent several years with this. I would say their experience is more valuable than those of us who want to do this but haven't yet. Sounds like 50# is just plenty if the proper arrow is used and shooting is good.

Good luck.

[eagleone]

"That and asking such a question on an internet forum is like asking your buddies if you should get married... if you haven't made up your own mind on your own accord, the answer should be "no." "  now thats funny!  I dont know if 50# will do it but whatever you decide - make sure you can draw it AND shoot it while you are just about to crap your pants!

[Thebear_78]

A guy I know shot clean thru one with a 54# fox breed recruve and cedar arrow.  I would say you should be fine, heavy arrow sharp broad head and put the arrow behind the shoulder in the ribs.