Whipped Black Bear

[akdd]

This is my first black bear with at long bow. He was harvested with a Toelke Whip 56# @ 29, Beman MFX 340's with a 50 grain brass insert, 125 grain woodsman with a aluminum insert. The shot was about 12 yards from about 12' up and it was a complete pass through. The broad head stuck in the ground and when the bear spun to leave the aluminum insert snapped off. I found the arrow minus the broad head about 10 yards down the blood trail. The bear only made it about 20 yards before going down.




The setup did a get job but I think that I might go to an aluminum insert in the arrow an a steel insert in the broad head. I should be able to get the same weight up front and maybe have a stronger setup?

[smj]

First - congratulations on the bear! That is awesome!!! I have always wanted to go bear hunting, but have not made it out. It is on my list for sure - way to go! Where did you take it? (just curious)

As to arrow weight and strength, if you can take another 50 grains, try a brass insert. Goldtip make them, probably others do as well -
www.goldtip.com/componentdetail.aspx?page=inserts&cid=152

They come in at 100 gr. if they fit your shaft. They have a couple different diameters to choose from, but really targeted at their arrows. You'd give up about 11 grains for ditching the alum insert, so it would really be closer to 40You could also play a bit and go to a 100 gr broadhead, give up a bit of width, but would keep you fairly close to your current FOC. Like, within 15 grains. Just a thought !

Thanks for posting - great bear! Are you going to mount the head, make a rug??? Post some pics when you get it back, too.

[smj]

PS - Interested in the bow he shoots???

montanabows.com/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=55&Itemid=71

By the way, what length bow is yours, nock to nock? Again, just curious.

[akdd]

The bow is 62". I took the bear about 4 miles from my house in Alaska. On the arrows I have the brass insert but the aluminum screw in adapter for the broad head is what broke. I can't go with any more weight that I have up front or I start losing good arrow flight. So what i was thinking was to replace the 50 grain brass insert with an aluminum one and go to a 75 grain steel screw in adapter. I had the arrow footed with 1 1/4" of aluminum shaft.

[smj]

Sorry to seem dense - but just to be sure I understand...
3 - blade 125 gr Woodsman, glue on. Using an aluminum broadhead adapter, placed in a Beman 50 gr brass insert, stuck in a Beman MFX 340 and about a 30 inch long shaft? 3 fletch, or 4? If I understand right, the aluminum broadhead adapter broke, leaving the tip in the ground after the shot.

Have you looked at the Woodsman ELITE 3-Blade? It is not a glue on, but is supposed to be all steel. I've not seen one yet. You'd only be out the weight of the broadhead adapter - bit lighter (30 to 40 gr or so...) rather than heavier. Up from the 125 gr they do make a 175 gr, which would no doubt put you a bit heavier than the current setup, but no to much. Again, just curious. Thanks !

www.3riversarchery.com/Broadheads+Points+Woodsman++Woodsman%26reg%3B+ELITE+3-Blade+Screw-In_c57_s120_p0_i4225-3X_product.html

[akdd]

The arrow is three fletched and the adapter broke at the threads up in the shaft right where it went into the brass insert. I think that the tip was left in the ground I have not found it. If I remember right the aluminum insert weighs 25 grains. I have not looked at the elites.
There was a lot of force applied to the shaft when the bear left. The end of the shaft and the aluminum footing was also damaged when the insert broke. So by going to a steel adapter and a aluminum insert I might just be transferring the weak point to a different place.

[CopperHead]

Akdd,
Thats a fine bear you have there sir. With heart damage like that no wonder he only went 20 yards.

Are you in your home state of Alaska and do you have to worry about Brown bears at all? And if you see one are bears tags good for either?

Sorry for all the questions but it looks a tad bit ticket in there.


Thanks for sharing. It was nice to see someone still out an about.

[ghost]

Congrats on the bear kill.

Ghost

[akdd]

I have lived in Alaska for 36 years. The bear was taken about 4 miles from my house. And yes there are some brown bears around but I have never really worried about them. In some units a tag is required for brown bears but no tag is needed for brown bears in the unit around the house.

[oldfarmsblueman]

Very nice!!!