Bows and Bears

While I am not new to hunting, I am new to dangerous game hunts and also larger deer, moose, elk and caribou. My question is, since I cant think of or find anywhere or anyone else better to answer it than here, is as followed.

Would a 50 pound longbow with bodkin points effectively penetrate a bear and kill it and do the same with larger deer? On the basis, since bodkin points penetrated chainmail in medieval warfare. Or would you need 58-70 pounds of draw weight for bear and larger deer, no matter what point you use?

I am just a bit concerned and don't want to hunt bear this year if the bow wont penetrate.

 

No. Deer heads are wide for max blood flow, bear tips are tiny for max penetration. Minimum legal for deer varies by state, but here it is at least 1&1/2" (iirc). Minimum poundage here is @50 lbs but higher is better on both animals. Deer tips will not do more than piss the bear off.

 

Bodkins are for penetrating steel, not for hunting. I would look up bear hunting arrowheads, or copy the natives. 55lb minimum in my state, where bear hunting is illegal? Not really sure about that poundage law...huh.

I personally would go with a double edged broadhead with a chisel grind. I would also go for mass in the arrow, but I have my preferences, and you will hear a few others.

 

The question is would a bodkin point work with a 50 pound longbow for bear? Not really concerned about bison or large deer, as there are none that I know of in NC. Min draw weight for dear is 40 or 45 here but the question is concerning bear. I heard you need 58-70 pounds of draw weight with a normal broadhead to kill bear or large deer.

 

Single flat blades have the best penetration of all, but can plane on the wind), bleeder blades cut down on the resistance in the flesh allowing for deeper penetration. Use the heaviest arrow you can shoot accurately and the heaviest poundage, you can handle. Heavier arrows penetrate much better than lighter faster arrows.

 

You will not make it through the skin and the fat to hit anything vital.

 

Yes I know what a Bodkin point looks like. They're made to work like a wedge and punch through steel.

 

So would a bodkin and a 50 pound longbow work or should I avoid bear season this year possibly? (Not sure I can afford a 58-70 pound bow this year.)

 

First off a bodkin point would not be legal in any state I know of.
Second bodkin points are not really even designed to kill their designed to maim. Because every injured man requires at least one to haul him off the field of battle. Thus removing two or even three fighters from the fray.
Bodkins are designed to split chainmail wide and punch holes in armor, not hunt game.
Use razor heads in compliance with your local laws. (Use the right tool for the job)

 

Ok. Ill just wait on the bear hunt for awhile.

 

Razorheads for bear, are just larger than the shaft, for minimum drag. (I know a bow/bear hunter) the head is about the size of my pinky finger tip, and sharp enough to cut a stray thought in twain.

 

So 58-70 pounds with a Thunderhead. thanks.

 

North Carolina hunting regulations

"Archery
● Archery hunting is limited to longbows and recurved bows having
a minimum pull of 40 pounds, com pound bows with a minimum
pull of 35 pounds and crossbows with a minimum draw weight
of 100 pounds. Only arrows with a fixed minimum broadhead
width of 7/8 inch or a mech an ically opening broad head with a
minimum width of 7/8 inch in the open position may be used for
taking bear, deer or wild turkey. Blunt-type arrowheads may be
used in taking small animals and birds, including but not limited
to, rabbits, squirrels, quail, grouse, pheasants. Poisonous, drugged,
barbed or explosive arrowheads may not be used for taking any
game. Bolts must use broadheads as described for arrows"

 

Or use a back up hunter with a 12 gauge shotgun...

 

Bodkin will largely plug up the hole, and will drag through the fat and hide instead of cutting it.

That style of bodkin is good against "chainmail", they used a shorted style against plate. It is capable of putting a hole in something that otherwise would be uninjured, but it does not amount to much. So, no, it won't do the job.

@kellory: stray thought in twain? LOVE it. Haha.

 

Use a 125 gr muzzy broad head it will do the trick but the trick is shot placement.

 

Traditionally, you hunt in packs, with1/2 archers, 1/2 spearmen, and armed with back up firearms and weapons...