Crossbow Vs Grizzly Bear:

5 things to know when Crossbow hunting a grizzly bear

If you have recently taken into archery you know how fun it can be. As you move up the archery class the challenge gets steeper and this is the time to stop practicing your aim with still targets and start hunting or shooting at moving targets. You need lots of target practice before you eventually learn how to put down any game. Big or small, if the target can move you can miss. As a crossbow hunter, you will discover that hunting for a small game is worlds apart compared to hunting for a big game.

Grizzly bears are dangerous and rarely let go of dear life without fighting back. Therefore hunting such a big game requires more experience than you imagine. A timid hunt can turn to a life or death situation making you become the hunted.

1) Get a permit Crossbow Vs Grizzly Bear

Most big game hunters come under lots of scrutiny for hunting grizzly bears for sport. As a result, most states are against the hunting of bears. Grizzly bears are however legal to hunt in some states. You should, therefore, hunt in the approved areas only.

2) Type of Crossbows when Crossbow Vs Grizzly Bear

The kind of game you are hunting determines the type of crossbow and the arrows to use. There are two common types of crossbows.

-Recurve crossbow

The image that pops to mind when thinking of a crossbow is the recurve crossbow. Its simple design makes it different from a compound crossbow in many ways. To begin with, recurve bows have no cams or cables hence will be very light compared to a compound bow.

Because of the lack of cables and assisting pulleys, there is less weight on the front. The less weight is an advantage and comes in handy when you are in stealth mode and patiently waiting for the accurate shot. Bearing the weight of the crossbow becomes easier and increases your accuracy.

A recurve bow has wider limbs (Upper and lower) and a wide barrel as well so that it can generate the necessary amount of power to the crossbow bolt. The tips of recurve bow curve away so that it gets more power to the shot as well.

The simple design means it has less moving parts and this offers reliability in any environment. hunting grizzly bears requires that you go deep into the woods and in very remote areas. The nearest pro shop can be miles away. A recurve bow is less demanding in terms of adjustments and repair. You can fine-tune your own crossbow without the need to visit a pro shop to get parts.

Compound crossbow

The design is complex and for good reason too. It helps draw in more power. Between the recurve crossbow and the compound crossbow, a compound crossbow is more powerful.

The compound crossbow appears more compact than the recurve bow but it is heavier. Whereas it is smaller, shorter and the more powerful, it is a bit noisier when firing. This is a disadvantage if your first shot is not perfect. But what it lacks in silence it gains in reload. It is faster to reload a second arrow compared to a recurve crossbow because of its compact nature.

3) Learn the anatomy of the grizzly bear

Know all the critical zones and make them targets if you want to take down a grizzly bear fast. Aim for the heart or lungs. A bear has a pair of lungs big enough and it should not be difficult to hit. You can also aim at the heart. You should know where the critical zones are when the bear is standing either on its two hind legs or on all fours. Often, in a crossbow vs. grizzly bear contest, the bow has an edge because it strikes first and fast. The strike, therefore, should be fatal.

Skill is an advantage. Getting the bear with an element of surprise is possible if you know how to track a bear in the woods. Give yourself an advantage by allowing yourself more time to aim. Always try getting the bear with a single shot.

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4) Work your way up

Practice with non-threatening animals. Before you take on a grizzly bear, try an equally large game that has an equal layer of fat density and thick hide but less dangerous than a bear. Practice your kill shots with a moose or Cape buffalo. See how your crossbow performs before you stand less than 50 yards from an enraged bear charging at you. You have very few seconds to get out a second shot.

Grizzly bears are extremely fast despite how heavy or slow they may appear. You probably have one chance to get your shot right. If possible, always avoid a confrontation between you and a grizzly bear. But if the appeal is too great to pass, do it right.

5) What crossbow is suited for hunting a grizzly bear?

Both crossbows in the right hands can hunt grizzly bears and kill them successfully. However, the compound crossbow has an upper hand because it demands no physical power to cock and fire arrows.

In terms of design and functionality, the compact bow makes easy navigation in dense and thick areas. Shooting larger bears need more power and an arrow with a heavy grain to pierce the bear’s thick skin. A compound bow can fire an arrow with a heavy grain at far better feet per speed (FPS) than a recurve crossbow.

Make sure you have lots of practice with both crossbows if you are still undecided. What matters above all else is your ability to fire accurately when the opportunity presents itself.

In the end, choosing a crossbow is entirely based on your needs. The differences lie in size, stealth, weight, speed and reload. The two crossbows can be compared to a driver’s tastes and preference when choosing the car to buy. It can be a manual car where you feel in control of every situation or an automatic car with many automated controls to make driving simpler.

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