I shot this bear on Memorial Day night. I had run into a sow with one year old twins coming out of a dry creek bottom about 40 yards ahead of me. I got behind a single log that was laying nearby and hid behind the root system as the bears past me, not wanting to shoot any of them. I had one of the 125 lb cubs (1 year olds) broadside at 25 yards. It was windy with winds blowing around 25 mph at that time. After about a 1/2 hour past and they moved into some emerging grasses to feed.
Then this boar showed up and followed the same trail the other 3 bears had taken. The boar watched the other 3 bears feeding and decided to head my direction. I pulled my 454 out of the holster and laid it next to my right leg. He was trotting pretty fast but not running yet. As he came broadside at 20 yards I shot an arrow into the wind from a kneeling position. As it turns out the arrow past just under his brisket. The bear was so surprised by the arrow and the sound of the bow string. He locked on me and came right at me. There was absolutely nothing in between us and I was alone. I shot him head on at 15 feet with one shot from my pistol. He spun around twice snapping and snarling with tremendous furry. I still had my recurve in my left hand when I shot him. I shot a 250 grain hollow point through his nose and into his chest as he came at me.
Pepper spray would have blown right back into my face, the bear was up wind of me the whole time. ( I was told by Game and Fish when we were registering my bear that pepper spray is not very effective on black bears compared to brown bears) He ran about 40 yards and piled up. I waited till Wade came out before I approached the bear. I was pretty shook up at the time.
So I know this was a traditional bowhunt but I was very glad to have the gun back up. At the time this picture was taken, I did not know the arrow had completely missed the bear. I feel very lucky to be able to tell this story. He had an 18 5/8" skull. Wade saw bears every day but did not kill one.