Black bear setup

[Tim Finley]

I helped run a bear camp in NW Manitoba for 16 years I was on a lot of blood trails and I can tell you lots of stories but from what my experiences were, don't use a two blade .  Beas are easy to kill and a good double lung will usually go down with in 30 yards, but not always, we had some go further some more than 150 yards. In the thick bush you need a blood trial and a lot of the times with the 2 blade you wont get it .
  It was in the 80s and 90s when I was there and  thunderheads in 3 blade were popular and they worked great good blood trails. Some of us used 125 grain Snuffers they were probably the best.
   My wife used a Bear Razorhead and the last bear she shot with here 45lb. longbow she got a pass through and the arrow was stuck about 6 inches into the ground . Bears have thin skin and small ribs they are easy to shoot through don't worry about penetration with good arrow placement, but if you hit the heavy bones of the shoulder it doesn't matter what rig you have your not going to get through. If you get a marginal hit a big three blade is best .

[Bowguy67]

Kinda surprised I’m seeing such far distances. I skinned for years in 2 bear camps. Been on many many recoveries. More were compound kills than styks but I don’t think really any made it past 40. Most were about 25-30, some real close like 10-15 yards.
They seem to be soft and I don’t think draw weight within reason would be a problem. Hit bad they’re hard to find, even w a tracking dog.
I believe the only animal that dies quicker in my experience is a rabbit.
Don’t over think this. If you hunt you’ve got the gear

[beemann]

Good info from all.  I would add adjusting your aiming point on bears stay away from the shoulder .  I would wager that most lost bears where the hunter feels he made a perfect shot are to far forward.   

[David McLendon]

I don't expect to kill any more bears, but the ones that I did were shot with a 160gr Snuffer and 83# at my draw length. The big Snuffer will give you a plenty large enough opening that won't seal off with fat and hair the way a 2 blade slit can.
 Being older now I still use the Snuffer with a 75gr adaptor and 67# but wouldn't expect to see anything much different than before on a bear.