TravelinHunter

A couple alterations to your ideas about the barrel. If it looks like you could stuff it all in a steel 55-gallon drum, it's a big one. If it's back is taller than the drum standing up it is a giant and you are not likely to see one that big. The real key is to shoot the bear you want and be happy with it. That may be the only bear that presents a good shot opportunity. Spring bear hunts in Saskatchewan with a good outfitter are as close as you can get to a slam dunk in bowhunting, but there are still plenty of things that can go wrong. Have fun and pick a nice bear to have on your wall. For some good reading material, check this out: Bear Baiter's Manual | Bow Hunting Road

The real key when hunting bears is to get an exit wound so penetration is the most important factor when choosing a broadhead. Bears have thick fur and a heavy layer of fat that can clog up the bleeding and many bears have been lost because the arrow did not pass all the way through which leaves a much better blood trail. A lot of outfitters will tell you that they have had a lot of bad experiences with hunters using expandable broadheads and some won't even allow them in their camp. (Better ask before your bring your Rages. However, that is changing. Today's bows are fast and the Kinetic Energy is really improving. Most of today's bows shooting nearly 300fps and 75 KE will blwo even a expandable through a bear. I killed two bears in 2012 with the Ulmer Edge and saw one kiled with a Rage and all were recovered. So some expandables will work on bears if you have plenty of KE but if you are shooting 50 pounds, you probably shouldn't be shooting a mechanical broadhead, it's just a matter of time before you have a problem.

Nice color!