Hit bear twice with bow recovery? NY
10-23-2010, 05:47 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: nw pa
Posts: 45
Hit bear twice with bow recovery? NY
I hit a back bear with my bow tonight at 5:45 in western ny. The first 25 yard shot was a little far back but good for height. It was slightly quartering away. Got about 10-12" penatration. No smell to the blood on the arrow. Ok blood trail for the fist 10 yard then found arrow and backed out. The bear snapped and growled when hit.Then ran about 10 yards then curled up (poss pulling out arrow?) for 5 seconds then walked for 25 yards stopping twice for a few seconds. Then i shot it again in about the same spot on the body as the first at about 30 yards broadside. The bear did not snap and growl when hit the second time. It sounded like it ran a few yards down to a small creek and did not hear anymore noise. It was raining before i shot so the leaves were not crunchy. I left the stand at 6:20 and checked my first shot on the way out . Any idea on what i may have hit? Little info on the web for bear tracking. Would the arrow smell if i hit the liver. Would you get any blood if you hit the guts? Will this bear be dead in the morning?
Last edited by skillet01; 10-23-2010 at 07:00 PM.
10-23-2010, 07:07 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,592
If your bear died and was within hearing distance, you would have heard a moan or as some call it a death rattle. Possibly gets some friends with rifles and look in the morning. One stay preferably on the trail and another off to the side. If your state allows, use a dog as well. Often a wounded animal will head: 1) down hill or take a trail of least resistance, 2) head for water. Bears may also lay down and face the trail they just travelled. Take care and be careful. Good luck.
10-23-2010, 08:33 PM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Wherever liberalism must be eradicated.
Posts: 2,734
What has happened is possibly a very dangerous situation has been created. The estimate of 10-12in. of penetration places the broad head at about the lung area. Depending on how far back the arrow entered. Like littlearrow stated get a couple buddies with guns to go with and find that bear.
10-24-2010, 04:13 AM
#5
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,762
My guess is that you probably hit, as worse, the liver. A bear's vital are pretty much the front half of the body. So depending on where you hit you probably did get one lung. And by waiting overnight that bear is more than likey dead. I'mnotg an expert but I have shot several bear and IMO they are not as hard to kill as deer. But a poorly hit bear can travel a long way before stopping. But in any event, you didn't push it so it probably didnt go too far and laid down. Next time use a heavier bow or a cut on contact broadhead for more penetration.
Last edited by bronko22000; 10-24-2010 at 04:15 AM.
10-24-2010, 06:17 AM
#6
Spike
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 2
I had a similar situation about a month ago with a bear in Virginia. Shot him a little far back, trailed him for about a mile and lost all signs of blood in a thicket. Spent most of the night looking for him, and the following day. My only guess is that I just hit meat and no vitals. Needless to say I was sick that I didn't find him.
