Two nights in a row I let bears walk.

[D-Rock425]

Sunday night's bear was no question not a shooter bear but last night's maybe has me questioning if I'm getting soft maybe.  A few years back I would've never thought twice about pulling the trigger on the bear I saw last night.  40yds away broadside multiple times I just couldn't do it.  Told my daughter about it when I got home and she thinks somethings wrong with me.

[headshot5]

She's right.   Something is wrong with you. 

[Elkrunner]

Sunday night's bear was no question not a shooter bear but last night's maybe has me questioning if I'm getting soft maybe.  A few years back I would've never thought twice about pulling the trigger on the bear I saw last night.  40yds away broadside multiple times I just couldn't do it.  Told my daughter about it when I got home and she thinks somethings wrong with me.

She is just figuring this out?  I thought everyone on Hunt-Wa already knew something was wrong with you? LOL

[D-Rock425]

Bad cell phone pic of Sunday night's bear.

[ghosthunter]

There comes a time in every hunters life , when you realize the reason you are hunting isn't about making the kill.


On our Cook Shack wall in our camps is written.

"If you came for the meat.
You came for the wrong reason."

There is nothing wrong with you. You just arrived at a different level in your hunting.

[Molon5labe]

I let a bear walk last week. It was getting late, I was 2.5 miles back, alone, and I had been running on empty all day. I knew I would be back there for several hours dealing with a kill and I just didn't want to deal with it. I realized then i shouldn't have even been back there to begin with if I wasn't willing to follow through. Of coarse today I regret it though.

[bknilvr00]

Teach me! Make me your taller, more handsome pupil!

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[headshot5]

There comes a time in every hunters life , when you realize the reason you are hunting isn't about making the kill.


On our Cook Shack wall in our camps is written.

"If you came for the meat.
You came for the wrong reason."

There is nothing wrong with you. You just arrived at a different level in your hunting.

While I agree completely with the above statement.  I really think predators need to be taken out as often as possible (fill those tags).  We have a surplus of predators in this state, and while they are eating berries for the most part now, it was only a month or two ago, when they were eating fawns/calves.    

[D-Rock425]

Teach me! Make me your taller, more handsome pupil!

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[theleo]

This is bringing to mind a saying that an old timer told me in regards to easy to draw/OTC tags, "Never pass on opening morning what you would happily take closing night." Tag soup doesn't eat as well as bear sausage.

[7mmfan]

I think for me when I see a bear (not that I've seen a bunch) especially a smallish one, I feel kind of bad at the thought of shooting it. They remind me a lot of black labs. They also have so much personality. That being said, I've yet to see a legal game animal and think twice about shooting it. Its usually afterwards that I feel some regret. That's usually short lived as well.

My only consideration currently is that its so flipping hot out and having to deal with a bear in this heat can be a pain.

I'm planning on going out after work today, up in that general area. If you want someone to eliminate the temptation for you, just let me know, my 7mm-08 is ready to bark.

[dune]

Me too I'm going in about 5 miles hope if I get one the meat isn't cooked by the time I get it out

[jason stevens]

Hey buddy you can take me and and my kid out and put us on her first. Weve been getting close but no clear shots .

[Threewolves]

Shoot it then buy another bear tag. It  is that easy. My wife wants any bear to have the hams smoked, then she says I can hold out for a big one.

[Ripper]

It's a long season,  you'll have more chances. Bears are so cool to watch, I'd have no problem passing on one. I've passed on a few before, I just wish I could get better pictures of them. I don't want the bulk and weight of a camera in my pack.

[Widgeondeke]

Blind fold me and takeaway GPS. I'll shoot it fer ya   
 

[Taco280AI]

Haven't read up on WA bear hunting in years. Can you have more than one tag? Otherwise fun ends when you take the shot. Other than filling the freezer hunting isn't about the kill, is about the hunt.

[D-Rock425]

Haven't read up on WA bear hunting in years. Can you have more than one tag? Otherwise fun ends when you take the shot. Other than filling the freezer hunting isn't about the kill, is about the hunt.

you can have two tags

[HvyHorn338]

Some of my best memories of Bears have been the one's I've watched instead of killed but don't get me wrong,  I like whacking them buggers.  Congrats on seeing them. 

[luvmystang67]

You're probably just afraid to shoot that big new gun you have.

Must be odd moving from a childs weapon to a mans...  Its okay, the kick only hurts for a second. 

Maybe you should try to kill it with your leprechaun rainbow power if you're afraid of that 300WM.

[bknilvr00]

You're probably just afraid to shoot that big new gun you have.

Must be odd moving from a childs weapon to a mans...  Its okay, the kick only hurts for a second. 

Maybe you should try to kill it with your leprechaun rainbow power if you're afraid of that 300WM.

Holy cow, talk about workin the ribs. Gna be hard to recover from body shots like that...

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[Karl Blanchard]

I let a bear walk once..............right into a better shooting lane

[Elkrunner]

I let a smaller one walk last year.  Never again.  It's been bugging me all year long

[180-GRAIN]

There comes a time in every hunters life , when you realize the reason you are hunting isn't about making the kill.


On our Cook Shack wall in our camps is written.

"If you came for the meat.
You came for the wrong reason."

There is nothing wrong with you. You just arrived at a different level in your hunting.

I like that well said 

[7mmfan]

I let one walk the other night. Right after my 139 gr Interbond wizzed by his head.   

[D-Rock425]

We watched another bear walk out of our lives last night.  Getting a little to dark and in a thick cut.  Just couldn't get a shot lined up in time.

[Igottanewknee]

I've let them walk every day..... Gotta get out soon...
Won't happen for a couple months though, detached retina and can't go above 1000 feet elevation till early to mid October. Gas bubble in my eye that holds everything in place. 

[konradcountry]

There comes a time in every hunters life , when you realize the reason you are hunting isn't about making the kill.


On our Cook Shack wall in our camps is written.

"If you came for the meat.
You came for the wrong reason."

There is nothing wrong with you. You just arrived at a different level in your hunting.

While I agree completely with the above statement.  I really think predators need to be taken out as often as possible (fill those tags).  We have a surplus of predators in this state, and while they are eating berries for the most part now, it was only a month or two ago, when they were eating fawns/calves.   

This is definitely true. Something has been preying on our backyard herd in Chehalis. Haven't seen a single fawn this year.

[JeffRaines]

We watched another bear walk out of our lives last night.  Getting a little to dark and in a thick cut.  Just couldn't get a shot lined up in time.

You want to take me hunting drock? 

[D-Rock425]

We watched another bear walk out of our lives last night.  Getting a little to dark and in a thick cut.  Just couldn't get a shot lined up in time.

You want to take me hunting drock? 

you're about 27th in line. 

[JeffRaines]

We watched another bear walk out of our lives last night.  Getting a little to dark and in a thick cut.  Just couldn't get a shot lined up in time.

You want to take me hunting drock? 

you're about 27th in line.

Potential career opportunity?

[D-Rock425]

No way.  Would take to much time away from my own hunting.

[csaaphill]

Sunday night's bear was no question not a shooter bear but last night's maybe has me questioning if I'm getting soft maybe.  A few years back I would've never thought twice about pulling the trigger on the bear I saw last night.  40yds away broadside multiple times I just couldn't do it.  Told my daughter about it when I got home and she thinks somethings wrong with me.

Nothing wrong with letting one walk now and then.

[D-Rock425]

Has another bear in the scope Sunday evening couldn't really judge size wall was in the super thick stuff.  Never could get a shot angle.  Watched him for almost 45min.

[buglebrush]

There comes a time in every hunters life , when you realize the reason you are hunting isn't about making the kill.


On our Cook Shack wall in our camps is written.

"If you came for the meat.
You came for the wrong reason."

There is nothing wrong with you. You just arrived at a different level in your hunting.

While I agree completely with the above statement.  I really think predators need to be taken out as often as possible (fill those tags).  We have a surplus of predators in this state, and while they are eating berries for the most part now, it was only a month or two ago, when they were eating fawns/calves.   

Kill predators every chance you have.  It's our responsibility!

[Bow tech hunter]

Has another bear in the scope Sunday evening couldn't really judge size wall was in the super thick stuff.  Never could get a shot angle.  Watched him for almost 45min.

Oh man if you need someone to pull the trigger I am game on joining u I am still looking for a first bear goodluck

[csaaphill]

Has another bear in the scope Sunday evening couldn't really judge size wall was in the super thick stuff.  Never could get a shot angle.  Watched him for almost 45min.

I'm sure you'll find the right one at the right moment and then it'll be a monster.