Bear and expandables.....WHAT!

[BT]

This is yet another pet peeve of mine but one that I just saw - again and for the umpteenth time

Aside from idiot guides making decisions based on idiotic clients from the past who couldnt shoot straight....what could be the thinking behind this so called common knowledge that you shouldn't hunt bears with expandables?

Here is the truth from my perspective.

There are a certain number of priority's that any hunter must face when hunting bear or any potentially dangerous game animal.

#1: The guides welfare comes first!
Assuming that you are using a guide , once that bear is hit , you are now in the rear and the guide is up front on the trail.
Why wouldn't you want that animal hit with the biggest head possible that will inflict the most significant damage possible?

I am a bit tired of the old saying that an expandable can fail

Hell!....I test fixed heads that fail far more in terms of percentages than those expandables which everyone tries to avoid like the plague
Whats the mind set here?

If an outfitter had a hair on his butt he would require that certain heads only be used and not types of heads.
That's what I am referring to when I say dumb ass outfitters

Here's what I am thinking
I am thinking that expandables are the said cure all for the inept and therefore they are used in larger number by said inept.
It is that lack of skill in large part and not the head that is the root cause of all these supposed wounds that get all the lip service.

I know a number of big outfitters who stand by their policy's and they will get all red faced and bent out of shape when I tell them this fact
But the anger is due to ignorance and a big dose of don't know Jack S... , which leaves them using examples of what they have seen as opposed to reasoning based on fact

Besides....it's not their butt crawling through the brush , follow a thin blood trail

Anyway.....Thanks for letting me vent

[Greg Krause]

I think people think bears are much tougher skinned and bigger than they really are. I mean they aren't one of the "BIG 5". In reality most are the size of a large deer. I have not taken a bear, but know a few who have and they said that pass thoughs were cake on the ribs of a bear. Heavy bone is a different story and I believe that nearly any head would would have some trouble. For the most part we are talking 20yds at a feeding bear.........hand me the spitfires!

[SPIKER]

I was told by a guy who has shot quite a few bears with the bow not to use expandables on them, and he uses the Jack Hammer SST almost exclusively. He claims that the bears hair will prevent the head from opening properly. Just telling you what I heard , not whether or not I believe it.

[BT]

spiker said:

I was told by a guy who has shot quite a few bears with the bow not to use expandables on them, and he uses the Jack Hammer SST almost exclusively. He claims that the bears hair will prevent the head from opening properly. Just telling you what I heard , not whether or not I believe it.

Don't make me put this theory to a test



In truth...If that were your concern you could opt for a head such as the Sniper 2 blade and there would be no issue on that front

That aside...I have yet to see hair that will over come 55# K.E.

[Greg Krause]

Even if the hair compressed and slowed the opening down, it would still have to open once it hit the hide.

[BT]

Well here is one....

Sheep wool is the worse case scenario for any head .... period.

Should I do it and would it put that theory to rest if I did?

[Greg Krause]

I can ask my buddy and see if he has any sheep to butcher...........

[BT]

If you had a full coated Hampshire or such , that would be an equivalent that would best a bears jacket

[SPIKER]

I'd like to know before I try to stick a bear with one. I've been hunting them the last couple of years with no luck yet.

Maybe expand (no pun intended) the test to find the "BEST "head to use on a bear!

[michihunter]

Hey Spike, want me to tell ya which head I would use? ;D ;D