Sow with cubs shoot or no?

[xXLojackXx]

So, here's a question for thought. My cow elk I shot this year in September had three 1-2 yr old calves with it. They weren't spotted but not full grown either but they werent nursing anymore . So I'm assuming the people who wouldn't shoot a sow with 1+ year Old cubs wouldn't shoot a cow elk with 2 year old calves even though they aren't nursing?? I passed on a sow with BIG cubs this year, only to go back the next weekend and see those cubs on their own. Next time that situation comes about Momma is going down.

[CAMPMEAT]

Absolutely pass. Passed on 3  bears this because too small. All over 150 lbs but was looking for something bigger.

......................do I remember that day !!!

I remember differently. I wanted to shoot and you would not let me.

Campmeat you're just a wolf,  bear hugging softy!

Oh crap, now everybody really knows what I'm like...........sob,sob !!

[Buckmark]

So here is a hypothetical thought or twist on this topic.
*
What if when wolf hunting becomes legal here in Wa, will people still think the same way.
Both bears and wolves are predators and feed on deer, elk etc. So the elimination or reduction of predators helps our overall herd health.
*
So wolf hunting you see a wolf with pups trailing, do you drop her like 8th grade french??
(Yes, yes i did bring the "W" word into this topic).
*
ps: No i don't shoot sows with known cubs.

[pianoman9701]

So here is a hypothetical thought or twist on this topic.
*
What if when wolf hunting becomes legal here in Wa, will people still think the same way.
Both bears and wolves are predators and feed on deer, elk etc. So the elimination or reduction of predators helps our overall herd health.
*
So wolf hunting you see a wolf with pups trailing, do you drop her like 8th grade french??
(Yes, yes i did bring the "W" word into this topic).
*
ps: No i don't shoot sows with known cubs.

Personally, I'm not shooting baby anything. No calves, no pups, no cubs, no fawns, no kittens. Not gonna happen. My own set of rules for me without the expectation of anyone else adopting them. My

[firefighter4607]

So wolf hunting you see a wolf with pups trailing, do you drop her like 8th grade french??
(Yes, yes i did bring the "W" word into this topic).

I would bet they would use similar wording as they have for cougars, "It is unlawful to kill or possess spotted cougar kittens (Usually <80lbs.) or adult cougars accompained by spotted kittens."
Even bears they say "Hunters are urged to not shoot a sow with cubs. Please watch the bear before shooting to see if there is cubs with it."

I have never been bear hunting but it would be hard to watch a bear for a while until I knew for sure if it had cubs or not. If the bear had cubs in tow then I wouldn't shoot. It would be liking having a doe tag and shooting a doe with a fawn. 

[6x6in6]

And to add a different twist to this and along the same lines as Buckmark....

Cougar, it's unlawful to whack one with spotted kittens in tow.
So, if it's unlawful to whack one predator with children in tow, why is it only urged not to on another.
Interesting............

[Ripper]

Excellent question. I know the answer for most, having read a lot of the wolf threads on here. Let's see who has the nads to speak the truth. I'd pop a cap in her! Same for yote's!

[Buckmark]

To keep it easy, lets say the wolf regs say "Urged not to shoot females with pups in tow" so it would be perfectly legal to shoot her.
*
So she has 2 pups with her, 1 shot and you may have removed 3 apex predators and saved countless numbers of deer etc....
*
For example i see nowwhere in Idaho's wolf regs with any regard to pups..

[boneaddict]

So, here's a question for thought. My cow elk I shot this year in September had three 1-2 yr old calves with it. They weren't spotted but not full grown either but they werent nursing anymore . So I'm assuming the people who wouldn't shoot a sow with 1+ year Old cubs wouldn't shoot a cow elk with 2 year old calves even though they aren't nursing?? I passed on a sow with BIG cubs this year, only to go back the next weekend and see those cubs on their own. Next time that situation comes about Momma is going down.

I haven't shot a cow or a doe in nearly 35 years of hunting.  Does that answer that question honestly. 

[motg9_6]

its not my job to decide when that mother ias done doing her job with that cub, if she hasnt kicked him to the curb yet theres probably a reason, just because he is old enough to take care of himself, doesnt mean he can yet, maybe hes slow, dumb, whatever, i was not aware any of us were actual Bear Mothers and knew this stuff  a cub is a cub, if its following momma nope i wouldnt shoot it.

sorrty but if hes slow dumb or whatever hes probably not going to make it anyways. just saying mother nature soley depends on survival of the fittest.

i marked yes because i have seen sows with cubs following that should not have been on the tit. havent done it but if the circustances were correct i would think about it.

[IBspoiled]

Wife here,

I am a little confused on this issue.  You all mostly say no no never on a sow with cubs.  But lets turn it around.  Most of us hunt deer and elk mostly and those are our prized hunting seasons.  So what do you all think of killing cows and doe's in the archery season?  Most of those cows and doe's have just given birth in April/May/June and their young are still nursing.  I have seen year old calves still nursing a cow in the spring.  And then you have to ask yourself what about late season cow tags, when you know those cows are bred?  Just a thought.

[boneaddict]

You saw my post right?

Whole different subject, but calves and does are herd animals and often get fostered or adopted and are capable of self reliance at that time.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

I don't hunt/kill bears because they don't really interest me from a meat nor hunting standpoint. I probably never will kill a bear despite the fact that I have many opportunities each season. That being said, all the research I have found (aside from animal rights propaganda like the Humane Society) say's a normal healthy cub can survive if the mother is killed in the fall. If this is indeed a fact. I don't see a moral/ethical issues with taking the sow.

I also have no issues if someone wanted to legally shoot a cub.

This being said.. I admit to having a distaste for bears because I feel they are seriously overpopulated in many areas I hunt and in those areas I feel like any dead bear is a good bear... I just wished I cared to hunt them....because they definitely need thinning in many areas.

[6x6in6]

Never harvested a doe and the only cow elk I have harvested was back in the mid '80's.
My antlerless points in WA will be there forever.

[motg9_6]

You saw my post right?

Whole different subject, but calves and does are herd animals and often get fostered or adopted and are capable of self reliance at that time.

THIS IS THE MOST REDICOULUS THING EVER    beef cows wont even foster calves unless you put their calves hide on the new one