What Crossbow for Moose and Brown Bear

[Sourdough]

Since I am looking into getting a handicapped permit to use a crossbow, and the Advisory Commitee found out, I have been tasked with writing a new proposal to send to the Game Board, for crossbows to use here in Alaska.  I know very little about crossbows, and have only used vertical archery equipment.

The animals we hunt range from foxes to Brown Bears.   Now I know my little 45# recurve will take a Black Bear, Wolf, or a Caribou.  But I don't want to use it for Moose or Grizzly Bears.  Let alone those big monster Brown Bears down on the coast.  So I don't expect a one size fits all here.  What I need is info on what you guys would use to hunt these animals.  Also conditions in Alaska is far differant from hunting in the lower 48.

Seems I read somewhere a few years ago that you needed a minimum of 350FPS to hunt Grizzly or Brown Bears.  Can't remember where I read that.  For the average Moose in Alaska think of the biggest Elk you ever saw on steroids.  The big boys are even bigger, think of a Clysdale.

If we make Crossbows legal, the general public is going to use them for everything they can.  We don't need to have some guy go out with an inadiquate crossbow and after shooting a bolt into a Brown Bear, getting eaten.

Also aiming or sighting devices.  Peep site, Red dots, Non-Magnification Scopes, or full blown Scopes.  Which would be best?  nAll info would be appreciated. 

Rog Hunter   

[Hunter2]

I checked several sources and here is one of the charts they give for ther energy needed to take certain game. Just remember the longer the shot the slower the arrow is going which lowers the K/E. Personally I would want the hardest hitting for most game in case the shot isnt perfect. The longer the shot you will have less K/E.


Recommended Arrow Energy For Bow Hunting
25 ft. lbs. Small Game
25-41 ft. lbs. Medium Game (Deer, Antelope)
42-65 ft. lbs. Large Game (Elk, Black Bear, Wild Boar)
65 ft. lbs. Toughest Game (Cape Buffalo, Grizzly)

[Rick Teal]

In Ontario, the moose /crossbow regulations require a 120 lb bow, 12 inch draw length and a head with a cutting width of 7/8 inch.

Crossbows like all archery equipment kill and penetrate by cutting.  Forward momentum whether interpreted as fps or kinetic energy is of secondary importance.  A 120 pound bow is more than enough to kill a moose.  The main advantages of greater velocity are trajectory and in reducing the time for the animal to react and jump the string.  Crossbows are quite noisy, so velocity and range have to be watched closely.  A flatter trajectory is of obvious advantage when you aren't absolutely certain of the range (as it is with a vertical bow).

I'd suggest contacting Bill Troubridge of Excalibur - he once killed an elephant with a body shot from a crossbow.

As to sights, I'd still be using open sights if my vision were better.  I tried scopes and didn't like them, so I've settled on red dots.  I've seen a friend take the head off a grouse at 40 yds with one of the special crossbow scopes, but in the excitement of the moment, I don't want to have to choose which line above or below the main crosswire I should be holding on target.

[semperfi1970]

I would not shoot a brown bear with my crossbow even though it generates 129 foot pounds of kenetic energy if I didnt have a guide backing me up with at least a 45/70 and a .357 mag bare minimum on my hip. Wounded or not a brown bear can run faster than any human sprinter ever dreampt of. I wouldnt use any crossbow with less than 120 KE to hunt brown bear. Imagine a brown bear with an arrow in his shoulder from a bad hit from a bow lacking energy to punch through. I wouldnt attempt using a expandable broadhead as well. You need bare min. the energy needed to take russian hogs to fool with brown bear with a crossbow. Go to crossbownation.com, they can inform you there.

[Redhawk1]

I think every crossbow with a 150 to 175, and above draw weight will work.  The larger the game the more weight you want in your bolt and broad head. Also shooting range should be kept to 40 yards MAX.  I have watch a few shows with people killing  big moose while using a crossbow for hunting. Now brown bear is a different story, I would want a good back up or guide with a rifle, no matter what.  Tred Barta killed a nice brown bear with his long bow, so it can be done with a more powerful crossbow.

I have used Horton, Ten point , Parker and now use a Excalibur.  Any of the crossbow would work well, I personally like the Excalibur as it is so easy to replace the string in the field if needed. Shot placement is more critical than what the foot pounds of energy or velocity of the bolt is. Any crossbow with a draw weight of at 150 and above with have enough speed and energy to reach the vitals of a brown bear with good shot placement.