Bear Shooter Decisions

[Jpmiller]

I tried doing a Google search but wasn't super successful and figured I'd pick the brains of the folks on here. I've heard large adult cougars kill alot of sub adult cougars and are actually better at keeping the cougar population low than hunting. Is the same true of bears? Would it be better for Fawn and calf survival to Target smaller beats instead of mature boars? I know ive heard of boars eating Cubs and I'd assume it is the older larger animals doing it so reason would dictate leaving those in the population if the target is fewer bears. I'm mostly just making this up though does anyone know if there's any truth to it?

[Alan K]

They all take a huge number of fawns/calves. I'd target a sow if you're truly after reducing predation.  Take care of a current fawn/calf killer plus the future ones she might rear. 

Any boar will kill cubs if given the chance because it will  send the sow back into heat.

Once the fawns/calves drop we'll start hearing of more and more bears taken on the westside sping hunts. The bears will start combing clearcuts in search, making them more visible than usual over here. Watched one push a group of about 12 cows out of their beds in a swampy flat two days ago. I'm sure it was hoping to find some fresh meat.

[skagitsteel]

They all take a huge number of fawns/calves. I'd target a sow if you're truly after reducing predation.  Take care of a current fawn/calf killer plus the future ones she might rear. 

Any boar will kill cubs if given the chance because it will  send the sow back into heat.

Once the fawns/calves drop we'll start hearing of more and more bears taken on the westside sping hunts. The bears will start combing clearcuts in search, making them more visible than usual over here. Watched one push a group of about 12 cows out of their beds in a swampy flat two days ago. I'm sure it was hoping to find some fresh meat.

Agreed target a sow in areas where near density is too high

[j_h_nimrod]

They all take a huge number of fawns/calves. I'd target a sow if you're truly after reducing predation.  Take care of a current fawn/calf killer plus the future ones she might rear. 

Any boar will kill cubs if given the chance because it will  send the sow back into heat.

Once the fawns/calves drop we'll start hearing of more and more bears taken on the westside sping hunts. The bears will start combing clearcuts in search, making them more visible than usual over here. Watched one push a group of about 12 cows out of their beds in a swampy flat two days ago. I'm sure it was hoping to find some fresh meat.

Agreed target a sow in areas where near density is too high

   they eat well too

[jasnt]

I’m just happy to harvest a bear lol

[jrebel]

I can tell you right now that there are way to many bears in Washington.  Since 5/5 of this year, I have had 10 different bears on my camera.  I have also considered the best way to manage them.  Kill the boar??....Kill the sow??....etc.  We have three Sows that are still toating around last years cubs.  The cubs are probably 90-120 lbs at this point.  Two of the Sows are 300+lbs.  One of the boars is likely going to be a 350-400 lb bear in the fall.  I want to thin the heard but also want to maintain a nice huntable population for years to come.  Oh the decisions....

[Jpmiller]

I’m just happy to harvest a bear lol

This is really the spot I'm in too but since I didn't draw a spring tag I have months to ponder my bear season lol

[follow maggie]

This will be my 3rd year hunting bears & I haven’t even seen one. If I see one that isn’t a sow with small cubs, I’ll shoot it.

[Timberstalker]

I can tell you right now that there are way to many bears in Washington.  Since 5/5 of this year, I have had 10 different bears on my camera.  I have also considered the best way to manage them.  Kill the boar??....Kill the sow??....etc.  We have three Sows that are still toating around last years cubs.  The cubs are probably 90-120 lbs at this point.  Two of the Sows are 300+lbs.  One of the boars is likely going to be a 350-400 lb bear in the fall.  I want to thin the heard but also want to maintain a nice huntable population for years to come.  Oh the decisions....

Those are two of the biggest sows I’ve heard of. Good luck this year.