Shot placement seems for many around here to be tougher on bear than any other animal. I believe personally that is because bear are frequently shot in dim light conditions, treed and offering a strange presentation to the hunter or shot fast on the ground where the animal is moving fast and/or fighting dogs. That plus the folds and shadows of a black coat make for confusing angles of shot and many first-time or inexperienced hunters simply do not know where to put the bullet. Lots of guys blow it.

Really study the animal's anatomy and be very careful to shoot for the vitals INSIDE, not a spot on the outside of the animal. Use a good-sized bullet that also opens up.

The hound hunter's favorite around here is the Marlin .444 with fast 240 grain loads. On our bear it is a great killer, and those 240 jacketed slugs have a tendency to stay inside the animal and not find contact with an expensive dog on the far side.

Here's my light 9.3 from last September's bear:

And both my buddy's .444's, hard-used, honest killers: