Where To Shoot a Bear
Successfully harvesting a black bear comes down to one critical factor: shot placement. Review the below shot placement animations to prepare.
Bear Anatomy
Bears have thick hides, heavy bones, and layers of fat and fur that obscure where the vitals really are. Bears can also move their bodies in ways other game can’t: they can sprawl, sit dog-like, or hunch—all examples of postures that hide their true shape.
A black bear’s lungs are slightly farther back than a deer’s, and their heart is more protected by bone and muscle. The lungs extend from just behind the front shoulder to the second-to-last rib. Long hair and fat can also absorb blood and distort the silhouette, making pinpoint shot placement tricky.
Black Bear Shot Placement
For black bear shot placement, the goal is always a double-lung shot. This offers the highest odds of a quick kill and reliable recovery. Compared to a heart shot, a well-placed lung shot creates a larger wound channel and offers a bigger margin of error.
To achieve the double-lung shot, you must understand, and be presented with, a “middle of the middle” shot.
The goal is always a double-lung shot. Aim for the middle of the middle of the body, and then just a smidge forward.
Middle of the Middle
A common recommendation is to aim for the “middle of the middle”—both vertically and horizontally on the bear’s body. This again is different from deer hunting, where we are taught to aim just behind the deer’s front shoulder. A “middle of the middle” shot on a deer would be a gut shot—something all hunters want to avoid. It’s not the same for bear hunters.
The “middle of the middle” placement avoids the dense shoulder while maximizing lung impact. Archers especially should avoid hugging the shoulder; rib bones are light, but shoulder bones can stop arrows and bullets alike.
Don’t Shoot Too Low
Another deer vs bear comparison: Deer are known for lowering their bodies at the sound of a shot. In anticipation of this common deer reaction, called “string jump,” many deer hunters aim low to compensate for the movement.
Bears are not as prone to reactive movements, and you do not need to compensate for string jump when bear hunting. In fact, because of their long fur and belly fat, aiming too low risks missing the chest cavity altogether. Aim higher than you would on a whitetail deer.
Shot Angle Animations
Broadside
This is the ideal angle. When the near-side front leg is forward, it exposes the largest portion of the lungs. Aim for the middle of the middle of the body, and then just a smidge forward.
Quartering Away
A solid angle for both archers and rifle hunters. Aim behind the last rib, angling toward the opposite shoulder. Prioritize a pass-through if possible.
Quartering Toward
This angle requires precision and power. The shoulder can block bear vitals. Take this shot only with confidence, high-penetration arrowheads or ammunition, and at close range.
Frontal
“The caveat for a frontal shot would be that you’d want to make sure the bear’s head is up so that you can make sure the bullet gets into the chest cavity, and you typically would only take that shot at close range, like when hunting in a treestand over bait.” — Jack Hedlund, onX Hunt
