Sow with cubs shoot or no?

[6x6in6]

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

His reference to calves was not pointed toward the angus variety.   

[bankwalker]

Thank you for your rule Bankwalker.   Thats something I touched on last year with a pic of a pig of a sow.   All of a sudden little babs showed up.    Accidents happen, but if people just calm their jets a minute, many could be avoided.  INCLUDING woman in blue coats.

Thanks Boneaddict

I called in a decent amount of bears last year. And seen 13 this season. I noticed very quickly that cubs are very rarely close to mama. The sows I've seen out in open clear cuts or high mountain slopes obviously had cubs within view. And I wouldn't hesitate to shoot in those situations. But low land wooded areas my rule stands and that's for anyone hunting with me.

My uncle accidentally shot a sow 3 seasons ago. It dropped dead in it's tracks. 1 hour later finally making their way to the dead bear and 2 cubs were sitting with their dead mom. They were maybe 1 year old cubs. Right or not the 2 other guys shot and tagged the cubs

[IBspoiled]

ABSOLUTELY NOT!   and I hope that if someone does it on purpose that they are cursed with bad Karma for the rest of their hunting LIFE

Yes I saw your post about not shooting cows or doe's.  So is this your same stance towards people who do?  I'm not trying to argue I am just thinking most hunters would take a cow or doe to fill a freezer.  I didn't realize most people on here were against it.


 

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.

I being a girl hunter, have bear fears (along with cougars) and I think along the same lines as this.  I have never shot a bear, but I think the way our state manages them without the use of hounds anymore has added to their numbers and I think they could use a little thinning. 

[boneaddict]

No, because of my latter statement about being on their own and or herd mentality etc.  and YES, speaking of ridiculous....I was referring to elk and not Angus. 

I commend the guys for making right when they killed momma by accident (yes accidents do happen to great people) and tagged the cubs as well.   Being humane is good.

[Buckmark]

Some of the repsonses on this topic are eye opening, especially after reading responses of other topics throughout out the years.
*
So let me throw this out, kinda the same as my wolf scenario.
Coyotes, year round season. Female with pups are your shooting her?
It is perfectly legal with no mention of being "urged" not to....

[boneaddict]

I am curious if folks realize the difference between a pack...a herd and a solitary animal.   And do folks realize the role the male takes in raising bear cubs?   Its interesting the comparisons people are trying to bring up to justify shooting a sow with babies.

[Austrian Hunter]

Bear hunting is my #1 passion.  Maybe because I actually kill one every year But I could not and will not shoot a sow with Cubs, "PERIOD"

[BOWHUNTER45]

I will tell ya this ...If you would it will be the most pothedic day of your life ...I have once and not on purpose ...I was Elk HUNTING one year and just got to elk camp and I set up camp to stay a week and I was all alone on this trip ..1st morning out I was walking down a horse trail while it was still kinda dark . I came to a tree across the path and I started hearing snort like sounds and something stomping the ground  Next thing I know I see something big coming around the tree and it was peesed I was there ...After it finally registered I was O SHEET ITS A BEAR ..and a very unhappy one ...I yelled at it several times and even threw a couple pine cones at it ..Well that made it worse ..She came up to me a 5 ft while I was at full draw and looking down the arrow ..she was foaming at the mouth and snorting mad ...I had no choice but to let fly  She ran about 20 yrds and flipped over ...I went over to her to find 2 cubs sitting above my head just balling their heads off ...I was sick to my stomach ....I drug her down the hill So I could get away from hearing the cubs and that did not work because that sound traveled for miles ...I still think about it today and I wish that at no one unless you are a gutless hunter...Seriously you do not want to experience this !

[IBspoiled]

I can give you the same story with two young fawns!  My hunting partner and I were in a doe hunting area.  My partner took a shot at a doe and after she fell, the fawns wouldn't leave.  We hadn't seen the fawns before shooting.  It was very sad to see them seem so lost.  That is why I brought up the subject of cow's and doe's being shot in the fall.   

[Ripper]

I put in for doe tags and cow tags every year. I love game meat, and I hate buying tasteless beef from the store. I have shot does that may have had fawns and cows that may have had calves. I don't know what it is with people that think they are holier than thou for stating they wouldn't take this animal because of this but would take that animal because of that. I personally think that at least half the people on this site just state "opinions" because it's what other people want to hear. Man up and speak your own mind! some people may not agree but who cares. Your opinion is supposed to be your true opinion! I shoot does when legal, I shoot cows when legal, and I shoot bears when legal. If wolves were legal and I saw one I'd shoot it, pups or not just to get the fawn/calf killers taken out. Same with yotes, I'd shoot a female with pups then shoot the pups! As for sows with cubs, like I've stated before, I wouldn't knowingly shoot a sow with 1st year cubs but I'd have no problem with 2nd year cubs.

[Atroxus]

I am toying with the idea of buying a second bear tag, that way if I see a sow with a cub, I can just shoot and tag them both. Course if I don't see any bears at all, that means my tag soup will be $24 more expensive than it would have been with just the one bear tag. 

[6x6in6]

Holier than thou?
You have stated your position, personally.  I have no issues with your personal choice.  In fact, more power to you if that's what you choose to do.
I too have stated my position, personally.  I will never shoot a doe and I will never again shoot a cow elk.  That is my personal choice.  I love game meat but it just is not that important to me to have a freezer full of it.   

[Ripper]

And I respect your opinion. Some people just like to push their opinion on others. If you're not one of those people then that statement is not directed at you. the holier than thou know who they are!

[Buckmark]

I am curious if folks realize the difference between a pack...a herd and a solitary animal.   And do folks realize the role the male takes in raising bear cubs?   Its interesting the comparisons people are trying to bring up to justify shooting a sow with babies.

Not sure if this is directed at me, and not trying to start a debate, but what difference does it make?
Predators kill ungulates, bears kill deer and elk, fawns etc
Cougars kill as solitary animals...
Covey of birds?                                                                                       
A pack will kill ungulates (pack of wolves) , packs kill as a group for the good of the pack.
Herd animals are social groups, ungulates.. deer, elk, bovines, sheep etc
A solitary boar will kill cubs, not have a thing to do with raising them...
Humans have a conscience animals do not, they kill to survive. We can choose to or not too, animals do not.
A pack of coyotes could care less if your pheasants are just babies.
I am not pushing my morales or opinion onto other people, but i am also not judging either.
I "Choose" to not kill sows with cubs,  but to tell other people they are evil, or should burn in hell, wish bad karma on them is being very judgemental in my opinion...

[Houndhunter]

You can't compare predators to prey, they are both totally different in the way they live their lives. Shooting a cow with calves is way different than shooting a sow with young cubs imo. Just saying when people try to compare or reference that, you really aren't proving or making a point.