notched my tag tonight

[rebal69972]

I didn't notch my tag yet I was thinking the same thing what if I did get checked. I don't want harassed. I feel bad enough not being able to find it. I'm not carring anything more then 40 s+w bear spray. I have to get to work. I did get an hour and a half in looking for it this morning and still didn't find anything I've looked in stumps, under brush piles, in the trees. I just don't know where it could have went. The shot was good. I keep playing it back in my head. The only thing I should have done differently is I should have shot it in the head with my side arm but at the time I just didn't want it getting any closer to us. Blood stopped under 75 yards. Does anyone know what I need to do now so I don't get into trouble. I new this would happen sooner or later. I was really hoping for much much later.

This makes me sick to my stomach  I hate wasting the meat and the life I took      I am going back on Friday for my daughter to hunt I will look more then.

[Huntbear]

Look under every fern, in every depression.  Get down on your hands and knees where the blood quit, and go inch by inch if you have to...  that bear may be right there, in a hollow spot under a limb or a fern..

[h20hunter]

I don't see what you can get in trouble for? The choice to "notch" your tag and be done is yours to make. However, if you decide that you are "tagged out" I would simply report that you did not kill a bear and stop hunting. If you report a down bear I suppose that would be technically false reporting since you have not confirmed the kill. Whether or not you keep after them is up to you.