Karl Malone -- KILLS HIMSELF A BEAR ... With a Bow and Arrow

Karl Malone has something in common with Davy Crockett ... they kill bears.

The Mailman bagged himself a beast during a recent hunting trip with his son ... and then posed for a photo with the post-alive majestic creature.

Karl Malone Jr. -- who plays football at LSU -- just tweeted about the kill ... saying, "S/o to my dad gettin him a bear with his bow."