Poll: shoot the biggest bear, or just the boar?

[vandeman17]

Since I have never connected on a bear I will kill the first one without cubs that is within range

[trophyhunt]

Since I have never connected on a bear I will kill the first one without cubs that is within range

You live in bear country and you've never killed a bear? That surprises me, one month and you'll change that!! 

[trophyhunt]

I need to find a way to hunt bears every spring.

I know exactly what you are saying! People will say go to Idaho otc, but I have to believe it’s not close to the quality as wa spring bear.  If your close enough to bait it would be better but our spring bear is a blast.

Unit 1 doesnt have baiting, hounds or reduced price non res tags, or second tags at all.

I hunted a bit in 4,6,7 this spring for the first time.  Couldnt find a bear, saw virtually no sign.  Everybody i talked to would say something along the lines of, "theres bears there, lot of guys baiting" or "an outfitter runs hounds all over such and such".  I feel like the baiting screws things up regarding bears behaving naturally.  Why would a bear need to be out and about feeding during the day when they can just lay low, then go eat a 50 gallon drum of goodies after dark?  I wont be buying the reduced price 2nd bear tags in idaho again since theyre only usable in the bait / hound units.

That is exactly what I was thinking, I mean, it's too bad we have quality bear hunting in this state, but it sure is fun when you draw a permit.  I think Idaho has permit spring bear hunts don't they??  I would think that those hunts might be closer to the quality that we have??  Anyone ever draw their spring bear tags that are draw only in spring?

[ganghis]

This really depends.  If it's a place where I don't expect to hunt often and am thinking about predator control, the sow for sure.  But if it's a honey hole type area I'd like to get back to and have a good shot at a bear every year, then a boar. 

I won't shoot a sow with cubs, but it's kind of funny, isn't it?  If you want to reduce population numbers that's *exactly* who you should shoot.  But it seems heartless.  Kind of a parental, emotional (human, maybe?) response.

[jstone]

I still haven’t shot a bear. I will shoot whatever one walks in front of me

[Seabass]

Which of the 2 bears produces babies?

[Hillbilly Zen]

First tag: Bigger bear.  More meat.  If I ever get to a second tag I can get philosophical on my role in predator control. 

[7mmfan]

First tag: Bigger bear.  More meat.  If I ever get to a second tag I can get philosophical on my role in predator control.

Man, I'm the complete opposite. First tag, just kill one. 2nd tag, maybe then I'll think about holding off for a bigger one. We're different folks though, it takes all kinds to make the world go round 

[callturner]

When you cant bait or hound hunt, sex id'ing a bear is even tougher, so if you wack a sow without cubs oh well it happens. That being said I personally would kill the boar unless its a dink.

100% right! The liberal uninformed public voted out our hound hunting and bear baiting. You could pick and choose your bear. Now it's a not solid guess. I spent 22 years of my life chasin hounds and still miss it. While I never hunted over baits I videoed many bears and you could at least tell a sow from a boar and the size of it.

Mike

[konradcountry]

I voted shoot the bigger female for the meat and rug.

I don't hunt bears for the purpose of predator control.

[High Climber]

I voted shoot the bigger female for the meat and rug.

I don't hunt bears for the purpose of predator control.

Well if you did, you would shoot the same bear.

[hunter399]

Just shoot the first bear you see.Big/small it don't matter.
You got two tags ,save your second tag for the bear you want to shoot.

[konradcountry]

I voted shoot the bigger female for the meat and rug.

I don't hunt bears for the purpose of predator control.

Well if you did, you would shoot the same bear.

Yea I'm saying I wouldn't bother with trying to determine gender since I'm not doing it for predator control.

Even if they were the same size and they just mated I would shoot the one with the cleaner shot.

[Hillbilly Zen]

First tag: Bigger bear.  More meat.  If I ever get to a second tag I can get philosophical on my role in predator control.

Man, I'm the complete opposite. First tag, just kill one. 2nd tag, maybe then I'll think about holding off for a bigger one. We're different folks though, it takes all kinds to make the world go round 

Oh yeah I hear you.  This was in response to being presented with TWO bears at once.  One bear in my sights: I’m not getting fussy. 

[7mmfan]

First tag: Bigger bear.  More meat.  If I ever get to a second tag I can get philosophical on my role in predator control.

Man, I'm the complete opposite. First tag, just kill one. 2nd tag, maybe then I'll think about holding off for a bigger one. We're different folks though, it takes all kinds to make the world go round 

Oh yeah I hear you.  This was in response to being presented with TWO bears at once.  One bear in my sights: I’m not getting fussy.

Got it. Right there with you. I plan on having 2 tags in my pocket when I hit the hills this year so if I'm presented with this opportunity, well, maybe I can just make the decision easy and shoot both.