The bear everyone hopes to not get

[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!

I didn’t mean for that to come out bad if it did whoops. . In 2015, 30 min into opener of deer, I had a spike buck jump across the road in front of me. I instinctively shot without thinking anything other than it was legal. Nice work on the bear!!

I was totally kidding, although I’ve shot a half dozen spikes!

[Angry Perch]

Hey, if you have kids, they could take the hide to Build-A-Bear at the mall!!!
Kidding!!

[Angry Perch]

Tracker, this is a great example of how not to do it.

You did everything right.

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,242189.0.html

[Bango skank]

Get that sucker up in the 2019 bear thread.
  https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,241490.45.html

[pashok23]

I shot about same size bear on my spring hunt in MT this year Bear is bear. 
 

[yakimanoob]

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


Nice job.

FWIW, I stalked a bear cub in GPW two years ago (because I'm a noob and didn't realize it was a cub in my scope) and passed on it.  Saw a bear in the same spot, with the same color pattern the next year, and decided not to stalk it figuring I'd give it another year to "grow up."  I still regret it. 

Lessons learned and a humane, legal harvest.  Good work. 

[h20hunter]

If I ever bag one that small you can bet I'm getting a full body mount. Seen some cool ones.

[idaho guy]

Bears are hardest animal in the woods to judge. I shot one this spring that had some ground shrinkage    I am getting to the point I almost prefer a smaller bear (within reason) just because they are easier to deal with and I think better eating or it seems like that to me. I don't need another bear mount or rug. I might be a little different because I really like the meat and 1 medium to even smaller bear is perfect for that. My kid usually gets one too so that's all we need. Congrats on getting some meat and Go get another one 

[crowinghen]

You saved a lot of fawns and calves.
Legal harvest of a predator   Plus it should be tasty!

[dan11011]

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.

 

[dandjclements]

I did a similar thing, Bear was 25 yards away through a 4X scope. Looked big until I got to it. So I figured its the only Bear I could afford to do a full body mount on
[

[JJB11B]

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.

 

I like it!

[JJB11B]

I did a similar thing, Bear was 25 yards away through a 4X scope. Looked big until I got to it. So I figured its the only Bear I could afford to do a full body mount on
[

how much did it cost to have the cat mounted? mine has been getting on my nerves

[follow maggie]

It’s good meat in the freezer. I don’t see the need to feel bad.