The bear everyone hopes to not get

[Tracker0721]

Stupid mistake on my end resulted in my tag being filled on this little guy. Another year or 2 and he would’ve been a great bear. Good color, super fatty, way back in the Kettle crest. Here’s my list of things to make sure you don’t do it too.

1- a nice bear ran out in front of us and bailed into a ravine. I took pursuit with my 30-30 and when I saw a bear across the ravine I figured it was the same bear based solely off the fact it was a bear. Different color, way too far, wandering and feeding not booking it or even looking back. First bear musta been the mom and it was still in the creek bottom.

2- I was using my open sights and didn’t have my bino’s. Even traditional bow hunting I carry bino’s to make sure game is legal before a stalk. A single look with magnification at 150 yards would’ve showed the Mickey Mouse, brown, 1.5 year old.

3- my gut said don’t shoot! My gut said let it walk. I dunno why, I could hear rocks and such below but thought it was the raging creek. The bear had the wrong attitude for just being jumped. The color was different but I thought it was the setting sun. Just overall I didn’t like it.

But most of my hunting life has been filled with opportunities to take game and I always pass so I can keep the hunts going. This year we’re trying to fill freezers and I felt the pressure to bring home game and I just shot. I’ve practiced to 200 yards with my 30-30 and my range guesstimates are usually darn good. Had it at 150 which we ranged later and it was 157 yards. Dropped him in 1 shot which makes sense with his size now...

The pro’s of this though #1 lessons learned, #2 we’ve got some good meals, #3 one less predator. I still don’t feel good with it but I’m picking up my second tag tonight and will hopefully go forward with better judgement and never make such a bad call again.

[h20hunter]

Clean quick kill on a legal animal that is tagged and bagged and will be utilized.


Nice job.

[greenhead_killer]

That’s a tough go. I had a big sow and two cubs equal to that size at 20 yards this last weekend while scouting and almost shot, then saw them all and had to let walk. Kind of bitter sweet. You’ll find another. It’s like shooting a spike buck, it happens. I wouldn’t beat yourself up too much about it

[Mudman]

Coulda shoulda.  Still its a bear down to be respected and made good use of.    No judgement here.  Now go get another.  Size can deceive your eyes.  I know that for a fact.

[bobcat]

No need to worry now that you can buy a second tag and get another bear.
Good shooting!

[BeerBugler]

Looks like a bear to me.

[BreezyBear]

Bear is a Bear!  No suffering, good eats, it's all good!  Trophy hunt with tag #2 

[Ridgerunner]

I wouldn't feel bad, the bear will be utilized and there is one less predator out there, good job thinking through what you would do differently next time for yourself, but no reason to beat yourself up at all. 

[trophyhunt]

I took my daughters boyfriend out bear hunting last weekend, new hunter and never shot at any animals yet.  We had a nice bear at 360 yards, the bear had no clue we were there.  He shot just under the bear, the bear flipped and ran down hill, we thought he just shot his first bear! So excited..... till we saw it walking away, unhurt uphill about 2 minutes later.  So, he would definitely trade stories with you!  Every hunter out there misses or makes mistakes, you did neither, you legally took a bear! Good job, congrats and get that second tag! 

[ThurstonCokid]

A bear is a bear! Not a super easy animal to harvest. Don’t beat yourself up. Completely legal and will partially fill the freezer! Good luck with second tag!


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[HillHound]

It happens to the best of us. Good luck on your second tag.

[robodad]

At least we're not reading you claiming this is a 300lb'er and that knife in the pic is actually a machete !

Don't let it bother you too much just sharpen up your judgement skills and get back out there and get a few more !!

[pianoman9701]

You had a good shot with a clean kill and saved dozens of fawn a year. Way to go! Nice bear down. 

[Angry Perch]

By the title I assumed you shot a sow with cubs. Absolutely zero reason to feel guilty on this one as far as I'm concerned.

[Angry Perch]

That’s a tough go. I had a big sow and two cubs equal to that size at 20 yards this last weekend while scouting and almost shot, then saw them all and had to let walk. Kind of bitter sweet. You’ll find another. It’s like shooting a spike buck, it happens. I wouldn’t beat yourself up too much about it

Ouch. That stings!