Saw a bear deer hunting... should I have shot?

[Jonathan_S]

I would find it difficult to criticize someone for not taking a shot he didn't feel comfortable taking.

Going prepared means knowing what is legal, and being ready to take it from field to table.

Take advantage of the learning experience and grow from it.

A thought came to me recently that field dressing a road killed animal could be an excellent way to learn, as there's nothing to lose if it goes poorly. There is no legal wastage consideration.

I agree with the first paragraph particularly. Only reason I say he "should" have shot is - in my keyboard warrior estimation - his doubts were unfounded.

Agreed too that it was a learning experience

[bearpaw]

I would find it difficult to criticize someone for not taking a shot he didn't feel comfortable taking.

Going prepared means knowing what is legal, and being ready to take it from field to table.

Take advantage of the learning experience and grow from it.

A thought came to me recently that field dressing a road killed animal could be an excellent way to learn, as there's nothing to lose if it goes poorly. There is no legal wastage consideration.

  I agree, it didn't seem right to him, he made the right decision. All good points! 

[trophyhunt]

No better way to learn how to process an animal than to just do it. My first deer I was by myself, never seen it done at all. I just looked at it like a big fish, I knew how to clean them. Hardest part is the pooper, bladder area, you either hone it out or just saw the bone away so it all comes out easy.  Just don’t poke the bladder and get urine on the meat. Not a game changer if you do, wash it off.  I think bears are easier than deer myself, seem to have less guts.

[WA1232]

I’ve passed on many bears while deer hunting, as it essentially ends a backpack deer hunt. I would rather take a big ol’ buck than a bear any day.

[Lumpy Taters]

Part of learning to hunt also means when to shoot and when not to.   If your partner was too close and you were unsure of your self then you did the right thing.  Never take a shot you are not sure of.  No matter the species, when field dressing the same principles apply.  Try not to contaminate the meat by puncturing the stomach or bladder.  If you are really that new to hunting you should also consider studying the vital areas of all species you plan to hunt for.  Wounding a bear especially at close range would never be a good idea. 

[Scheindogg]

I would also consider it noteworthy that I have never field dressed any animal. I have watched videos for deer but that’s it.

If you saw a deer would you have shot it? Sounds like you weren’t in a position to properly take care of any animal. Theres no real wrong way to get the meat off a animal. Key is keep it as clean as possible, besides that your just cutting the meat off the bone. Experience creates skill. Again a bears not much different then a deer. Again to answer the original question yes you should have shot it and figured it out. It would have been enjoyable experience I promise.

I hav watched several different videos on how to field dress a deer, and the meateater one I’ve watched atleast 20 times, I was definitely confident enough that I would have taken a deer with an opportunity and thought I’d have done well enough on the gutting/skinning Job. Just wasn’t sure on the bear.
That being said I appreciate everyone’s input and it’s exactly what I posted for, to hear what you all think. I plan on taking whichever comes first next time I go out 

[Scheindogg]

Part of learning to hunt also means when to shoot and when not to.   If your partner was too close and you were unsure of your self then you did the right thing.  Never take a shot you are not sure of.  No matter the species, when field dressing the same principles apply.  Try not to contaminate the meat by puncturing the stomach or bladder.  If you are really that new to hunting you should also consider studying the vital areas of all species you plan to hunt for.  Wounding a bear especially at close range would never be a good idea.

I’ve studied the vitals in both deer and bear and their whereabouts. Thanks for your concern. The meateater field dressing video I’ve watched umpteen times also shows you how to not spill the bladder pretty in depth as well and not puncture the stomach.
 

[Henrydog]

I believe you did the right thing.  It also sounds like you were far away from the truck making the dressing and pack out super hard if you have never actually done it. 

[7mmfan]

I was also out on the high hunt this weekend, and also ran into bears. The first bear I saw, my buddy (who was only deer hunting), and I talked about it alot. I knew if I killed that bear our deer hunt was basically over. It actually took a lot of convincing me to go after that bear because I didn't want to ruin his deer hunt. After that stalk fell apart, we talked a little more about it and he basically told me that if I am presented with an opportunity to make a clean kill on any game animal, take it. Opportunities can be few and far between so they need to be seized whenever they are available. That made a lot more sense to me.

That being said, what others have stated about never taking a shot you aren't confident in the outcome of, is spot on. If you have even a sliver of doubt, don't pull the trigger. You can't call that bullet back, and once you've killed that animal you now have the responsibility of taking care of it. So good job on making a good call. Get better versed over the winter and you'll be ready to roll next year.

[Special T]

If were out deer hunting and saw a bear or Cat, I'd shoot it.  Most bear and nearly all cat kills in this state happen while hunting other game.

You did what was right for you, but predators will not get a pass from me.

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[bobcat]

All I know is I would have a hard time passing up a bear at 20 yards. I may regret it afterwards, but I'm pretty sure there's no way I'm not pulling the trigger.

[hunter399]

All I know is I would have a hard time passing up a bear at 20 yards. I may regret it afterwards, but I'm pretty sure there's no way I'm not pulling the trigger.

[idaho guy]

All I know is I would have a hard time passing up a bear at 20 yards. I may regret it afterwards, but I'm pretty sure there's no way I'm not pulling the trigger.

x2 I usually shoot first and ask questions later! The op is probably smarter than me as my approach has led to some miserable days getting the meat out  I would not regret your decision at all. Don't make the meat processing more complicated than it needs to be either. If you can skin and quarter a deer you can also do any other big game. if you think you want to mount it youtube  skinning a bear it's simple but irritating. Sound like it was a cool new experience for you so don't worry about not shooting. I have more respect for someone that doesn't shoot, even if I would have, than someone that goes ballistic on anything that moves just to say they "killed" something 

[Angry Perch]

Bears have the same guts, joints and muscles as deer. They are just a bit more robustly built.

On a deer hunt like that with low expectations, heck yeah you should have shot it! Good job waiting and watching for cubs.

But they look a lot more like a little human being, which is kind of creepy!

[Scheindogg]

I believe you did the right thing.  It also sounds like you were far away from the truck making the dressing and pack out super hard if you have never actually done it.

Yes we were ~3 miles from the car, and 1200feet up. That wasn’t on my mind though because we were prepared for that if we got a deer