close!!!

[Bama76]

Being a new guy, I wanted to have something worth sharing.  Well here goes.  Today my wife and I went out and after glassing for hours in the north side of a burn, we moved to another spot.  By this time the rain is coming down in buckets and Judie decided to sit in the truck and wait until I got back or she heard my rifle.  I left my .357mag (this would be missed later) with her since I wasn't comfortable leaving her alone in the truck.

I couldn't have been more than 15min of hike time into the burn and was thinking to myself: "Probably need to get a couple of miles back in here before seeing anything since the we're right next to a main road."  It was about then that I heard a cub let out a sharp bawl in some brush right next to me off the FS road.  Then momma starts huffing and popping.  It's raining hard and all my optics are almost useless.  I really wanted to get a look but I didn't want to get mauled either.   They were not more than 15-20yds away in a small stand of brush, but I couldn't see any of them.  I tried using my binocs (they were totally fogged) to see if I could see them running uphill and then realized that she could charge and sideswipe me and I wouldn't see it coming.  She obviously didn't retreat because she start huffing and popping some more and it also sounded like she was slapping something with her paws.  I thought that I stepped on a stick or something, but it was her throwing a tantrum in the brush. 

Finally I decided that we'd all had enough of each other and I didn't want to be forced into shooting a sow with cubs and I definately didn't want to get attacked.

[stumprat]

Wow. Where were ya.

[Bama76]

The biscuit burn in SW Oregon

[billythekidrock]

Right on..glad you made it over here. But I you should have explained you are down in Oregon.

Hope you got your shorts out of your throat.. lol
Keep at it and keep us posted.

[cascademountainhunter]

was this recently?

[cascademountainhunter]

oh never mind duh i should pay more attention while reading

[rasbo]

sounds like an adrenalin rush forsure

[Bama76]

Now a question for you experienced bear slayers.  I scouted this area in the winter and thought a boar lived in this stretch, but obviously it was her sign I had been seeing in the snow.  This road is gated and you can only access it by foot, horse or bicycle.  This works OK for me because I can handle a little hiking and most hunters around here wouldn't dare pursue anything more than a couple of miles from the truck.

How much further do I need to go past her turf to possibly get at some boars or cub-less sows. 

[Timberstalker]

Thats hard to say as every area is different.  It has to do with the time of the year mainly and also food sources.  I have seen up to 5 bears on the same ridge and other times I have walked 5 miles to see 1 bear.  There are many variables here.  One thing is for sure, that sow will move out with her cubs if a boar shows up, because of the fact that the boar will kill the cubs for dominancy

[Pathfinder101]

Welcome to the Great Northwest Bama...

"...lions and tigers and bears Oh My...."

[Bama76]

Thanks for everyone for the welcomes.

[boneaddict]

He could just as easily be right there.  WELCOME

[billythekidrock]

He could just as easily be right there.  WELCOME

I agree. Just 'cause there is a sow in the neighborhood doesn't mean that papa bear is not nearby.
Go get him.

[rasbo]

Now a question for you experienced bear slayers.  I scouted this area in the winter and thought a boar lived in this stretch, but obviously it was her sign I had been seeing in the snow.  This road is gated and you can only access it by foot, horse or bicycle.  This works OK for me because I can handle a little hiking and most hunters around here wouldn't dare pursue anything more than a couple of miles from the truck.

How much further do I need to go past her turf to possibly get at some boars or cub-less sows. 

I see them in the same area,the boar is looking to get laid,if he takes out the cubs mama goes back in heat so he can breed her,If your in the spring!they cross paths alot

[Bama76]

Fantastic! I just ordered a cub bawler bear call.  I'll have to try to find another way into this area so I can try to get in under the radar and see if I can get him to come to me.  Luckily there are some good areas with great visibility near my encounter.

[Rob]

I see them in the same area,the boar is looking to get laid,if he takes out the cubs mama goes back in heat so he can breed her,If your in the spring!they cross paths alot

That is also why sows with cubs are so on edge and willing to attack so easily.

My advice - take it or leave it...  If you hear jaw popping, put the binos down and calmly exit stage left ASAP!  That's like driving along and having the oil pressure drop, and the engine temperature rise... engine failure is eminent!  if you hear huffing, stomping and jaw popping, an attack is eminent!  These are warning signs that she does not want you in the area.

[Bama76]

I see them in the same area,the boar is looking to get laid,if he takes out the cubs mama goes back in heat so he can breed her,If your in the spring!they cross paths alot

That is also why sows with cubs are so on edge and willing to attack so easily.

My advice - take it or leave it...  If you hear jaw popping, put the binos down and calmly exit stage left ASAP!  That's like driving along and having the oil pressure drop, and the engine temperature rise... engine failure is eminent!  if you hear huffing, stomping and jaw popping, an attack is eminent!  These are warning signs that she does not want you in the area.

If that ever happens to me again, I'll definately be more cautious.  Especially since I just read this horrifying tale in Game & Fish about a Pennsylvania bowhunter getting mauled by a sow with cubs.  It definately made see how differently things could have turned out. But on the other hand, I've always had crazy luck when it comes to dangerous critters.  Either way, the story of the bowhunter's ordeal sent a cold chill up my spine.

[rasbo]

I see them in the same area,the boar is looking to get laid,if he takes out the cubs mama goes back in heat so he can breed her,If your in the spring!they cross paths alot

That is also why sows with cubs are so on edge and willing to attack so easily.

My advice - take it or leave it...  If you hear jaw popping, put the binos down and calmly exit stage left ASAP!  That's like driving along and having the oil pressure drop, and the engine temperature rise... engine failure is eminent!  if you hear huffing, stomping and jaw popping, an attack is eminent!  These are warning signs that she does not want you in the area.

If that ever happens to me again, I'll definately be more cautious.  Especially since I just read this horrifying tale in Game & Fish about a Pennsylvania bowhunter getting mauled by a sow with cubs.  It definately made see how differently things could have turned out. But on the other hand, I've always had crazy luck when it comes to dangerous critters.  Either way, the story of the bowhunter's ordeal sent a cold chill up my spine.

fight back with blackie