Sow with cubs shoot or no?

[Dan-o]

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.

I'm just curious what the difference is between leaving an orphaned fawn to die and leaving an orphaned cub to die?   Or am I not understanding?

[Houndhunter]

What your not understanding, take no offence just my views, is a calve will live with the herd despite if its mom is dead or not. Deer depends, some situations id put them with bear but others will live with the mom or not. Depends on the species of deer imo, as some herd and others don't tend too. But with out a doubt, a young bear cub depends on its mom and there's no disputing that.

[Kioti]

If I needed the meat I would..but sense I dont I wouldnt...I'd come back next year and get her.

[IBspoiled]

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.

Ripper, I think you have it correct.  I don't think demonizing people for doing what is within the laws of hunting is what we as hunters should be doing. 

Wife

[motg9_6]

why cant people just go buy their meat at the store where no animals get hurt!!     
HA that one always gets me fired up.
Ive killled lots of cows (elk) no does and would not hesitate to shoot a sow with cubs if they appreared decent size. Humans are at the top of the food chain, you wont see a bear cougar coyote or wolf descriminate baby or no baby so i wont either.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

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....

I will shoot any coyote on sight...including the pups.

[brackens]

My brother had a sow run toward him and his boy in an itimidating fashion, ie I'm coming to get you.  He shot her.  her cubs were 3/4 the size of her.  They were going to make it.  Or at least were not destine to die.  Is it just me or doesnt she boot them before she goes in to the den for the winter?

[boneaddict]

Which part do you agree with in that post IBSPOILED, the point where you are holier than though if you speak your mind, or the part where you should man up and speak your mind?     

[boneaddict]

Buckmark....yes and no, not particularly you specifically but along the same lines......Grapes versus pears....apples and oranges, tennisballs to testicles, elk versus black angus.   Folks are trying to relate one topic to another and they really don't fit.

[boneaddict]

and by the way......JUST because I said I have NEVER killed a cow or a doe, doesn't mean I won't or that I am against someone else doing it.   The question was asked, and I don't do it or haven't. 

[IBspoiled]

Which part do you agree with in that post IBSPOILED, the point where you are holier than though if you speak your mind, or the part where you should man up and speak your mind?     

Wow bone, I am somewhat dismayed at how you have treated others and what you have said regarding this issue.   I have always respected you and your opinions on this forum and think that mostly you are middle of the road and fair with most others on here.  What I was saying was that yes I agree hunters shouldn't act holier than thou because they choose to NOT do something that others would do as long as it was within the legal laws of hunting.  If you don't agree that people should shoot a sow with cubs than maybe we need to work to change the laws in WA.  But then from what others have said it is sometimes hard to determine if it is a sow with cubs at the time.  As sportsmen/women I thought we were suppose to support each other.  I only brought up the other issue's because I feel they are similar and wanted others opinions in that area.   I have been confronted by other hunters regarding putting out salt for our camera's and they STRONGLY shared their opinion with us that it was wrong.  It is legal so they can have their strong opinion, but again as sportsmen/women I don't think we should be attacking each other on such issues.  And yes I also agree that you should be able to man/woman up and share your opinion, without the attacks and demonizing. 

Wife 

[dscubame]

One day I plan on a full mount cub but I am not sure about fending mom off once I take the cub.  Then I thought about 2 hunters with two tags but then again there are usually two cubs leaving three bears...  dang this could get complicated.

[boneaddict]

I was being funny, or trying to be IBspoiled(wife).  By the way, we need to get you signed up, membership is cheap.    I may be fairly short as I have about 60 seconds here and there to touch base here.  I read Rippers post then read you agreed to it.   I thought it was a good time to point out what I thought was funny.  Maybe that was mean.  I was going to say I thought he was drunk, but that probably would have been meaner.   Gotta go.  I'm sure I rile your feathers with that one.

[boneaddict]

And by the way, if you shoot a momma bear with known baby cubs, I will think very lowly, lowest of low.  Piece of *censored* even would have higher value than that individual.  Judgemental maybe, you be the judge.   But I am speaking my mind.   

Not considering self defense or accidents, though for the most part somewhere in there, you might have been able to prevent that as well.   I am discussing seeing a momma bear with babies and popping her.

[Skyvalhunter]

Well I would agree with Bone, that if you KNOW that you are shooting a sow with cubs you will not be well liked and open yourself up for harsh criticism.. But if for some unknown circumstances you shoot a big bear and it turns out to be a sow and say the cubs were in a tree or hidden then that would be accidental and not intentional.