To arrow a big boar, you need to work all the angles. Here’s how to perfectly place your shot

If you’re aiming to take a black bear with your bow this fall, it’s important to be extra prepared. Not only must you have a firm understanding of bear anatomy, you also need to spend time practising, and consider where and how to place your set-up for the best shooting opportunities possible. Here’s a brief overview to get you started.

ANATOMY

Knowledge of bear anatomy helps ensures proper arrow placement for a lethal shot, which in turn makes for less tracking afterwards. Bears are built differently than ungulates, with the vitals further back in the chest cavity. So, rather than shooting at the front shoulder, you need to aim for the centre of the bear. Also consider a bear’s long belly hair, which makes the body appear deeper than it actually is.

You also need to know how to judge a boar from a sow. Boars tend to be bigger with long faces, while sows have a smaller stature and narrow, pointy faces. They also have smaller feet that tend to point slightly inward when they’re walking. As well, you must be able to gauge the bear’s age. Mature bears have a saggy belly, while younger bears look leaner and less rotund.

SHOOTING

Practising with a 3D bear decoy is ideal for understanding shot angles. Start by shooting from a stand at a 20-metre target, then inspect where the arrow hits, as well as determine where it would have exited. Make notes on how high you need to aim to get the ideal exit point through the vitals. Some archers prefer a ground blind for bears, since there’s no angle to worry about and a better chance of a clean pass-through. Even if you choose a ground blind, however, it’s still a good idea to practise shooting and be sure of the entry and exit points.

Once you decide on a stand or blind, shoot the 3D target at various angles. This exercise is mostly about paying attention to the front legs. A black bear in a dark forest can be difficult to see clearly—it may seem like the bear is broadside or quartering, but it’s easy to make a mistake. Bears are agile creatures, and they can twist and turn into stances that are quite deceiving.A slightly quartering away shot is always good, but if not perfectly placed, it can result in no exit, with the arrow lodged in the bear’s far shoulder. Pay attention to the front legs to see if they are lined up with, or offset from, the body. This will tell you where the vitals and far shoulder are located.

STAND

Bowhunting bears from a treestand offers improved visibility into the surrounding habitat. If you opt for a stand, first take into account whether you’re a left- or right-handed shooter. Then offset the stand accordingly to allow for an easy, unobstructed draw and comfortable aiming angle. Crossbow hunters should also consider the angles when incorporating shooting sticks, or a rest.

While a taller stand allows you to see more, it also requires a steeper shot angle. That can make it more challenging to take out both of a bear’s lungs to ensure a lethal shot. A lower stand at approximately eight to 10 feet high, on the other hand, reduces the angle and makes lethal shots easier.

Consider also where your bait barrel will be situated when selecting a stand location. That way, you can control the shot distance and angle, and have ample time to field judge incoming bears.

BAIT

Set the stage around your stand or blind and bait barrel with obstacles that force the bear to turn broadside, or otherwise offer the best shot. Logs, rails or a makeshift corral can prevent bears from hiding behind cover (or even lying behind the barrel) when checking out the food.

For field judging, your barrel can offer a good reference point for determining the size of a bear. If a bear standing on all four feet is as tall as a 55-gallon drum, for example, it’s an extra-large animal.

Bears typically knock the barrel over, however, so be sure to have an alternate reference point. Options include erecting an actual measuring stick, or tying flagging tape to nearby trees at specific heights. It’s just one more piece of the puzzle to ensure you harvest the bear you want, in the most efficient way possible.