Going Bear Hunting and have broadhead dilemmae

[jcprintz]

I was drawn for a Bear Permit in Maryland . The season opens on the 20th.
My dilemma is which broadhead to use. Razorcap or Stinger 4 blade.
I'm shooting a 58" double carbon centaur longbow 53# at my draw with carbon express arrows 100 grain insert and 125 grain head equalling 550 grains total. Both the Razorcaps and Stingers shoot great. I've never shot a bear so I'm torn as to whether I should go for more penetration  (Stinger) or bigger hole (Razorcap). I'm leaning heavily toward the razorcaps but would like the opinion of the Trad Gang.

[Cory Mattson]

razorcaps

[beachbowhunter]

Razorcaps and Stingers are my main broadheads too. For bear I would go with Razorcaps because penetration is not a problem. This is what they do to bears....

 

[p1choco]

A picture is worth a thousand words.

[wtpops]

Razorcap, i say this with out ever using the Stingers but i do like my Razorcap

[O.L. Adcock]

Razorcaps...This one was taken with a Snuffer from a 45ish# bow, 10 yard shot, 12 yard run. They aren't hard to penetrate..O.L.


 

[FerretWYO]

I dont think you can go wrong with either. I am a stinger 4 blade fan myself. As OL said they are not hard to penatrate.

[Gordon martiniuk]

I have taken bear with Snuffers hands down nasty big hole short blood trails and good flight why ask for more oh yea make sure they ar scarry sharp good luck!

[ron w]

The best one is the one that flies true and is sharp,sharp, did I mention sharp. Good luck and pick a spot in all that black.

[Chimaster]

I've taken many bears with a 160gr snuffer on cedar shafts. A snuffer leaves a monster hole. Roger knew what he was doing when he invented that head.

[John3]

black bears are not thick skinned.. Any sharp broadhead that will kill a deer will kill a bear. Shot placement is very important... I've seen too many wounded bears never recovered.  guy's get excited and don't wait for the right angle. Only shoot broadside or slight quartering. Single lung hit bears will NOT be recovered. Take your time and good shooting.

Mid body 8" circle behind the shoulder equals dead bear everytime.

[Curveman]

Any broadhead you would use on a deer. If the bear is broadside let him move that shoulder blade forward thus opening up the vital area more before shooting.

[wingnut]

Imagine a volleyball suspended between the bears elbows.  Pop the ball and you have a bear.  They are thin skinned and pretty easy to kill.  Go with the bigger head if it flys good.  A big hole on both sides is a very good thing.

I used to run a bear outfit in Washington and saw too many poorly hit bears not recovered.  Pratice your shot, Wait for your shot, execute the shot that you practiced.

Good luck,

Mike

[jcprintz]

Thanks guys for all the information and encouragement. I've settled on the Razorcaps. Been touching them up this weekend and now have no hair on my arm.

[vermonster13]

Good luck!

[JoeM]

Give us an update after the hunt!!  Maybe some nice pics with a big bear on the ground.  Joe

[Don Thomas]

As others have said, shot placement is more important than broadhead choice. Nothing goes down quicker than a perfectly hit bear. Nothing is harder to recover than one that is hit any other way. Bears are thin-skinned... but they have heavy bones and it's easy to nick a bit of the scapula hidden beneath all that black hair. (It's much harder to visualize the anatomy on a bear than a deer.) For that reason, I opt for broadheads that penetrate and prefer 2-blade heads. Of course, this is an old argument we won't settle today... cheers, Don

[d. ward]

Pratice pratice pratice....as mentioned shot placement is key to harvesting any critter...Any good shooting sharp broadhead will do the job quickly.Good luck and keep us posted on how it's going.bowdoc

[flyfish1]

I prefer three blade heads also, and as others have said focus on sharp heads and shot placement.

[Brian Krebs]

sharp sharp sharp !!!