Shoot or Don't Shoot?

[logola512c]

So a week ago, I'm still hunting and hear brush pretty continuously shaking on the other side of a blackberry bramble about 10 yards away for about 5 minutes.  No apparent concern or awareness that I'm there.  Eventually, a buck just strolls out, looks at me like its an idiot, freezes, and bolts. So this morning, I hear pretty impressive destruction as something is making its way through the woods about 20 yards into the treeline -- sounded like an elk tbh.  I just still hunt parallel to it (wind is good) to the point where its path intersects with a logging road, where I set up and get ready.  Out pops the big old square dome of a black bear.  But just its head.  Can't see anything else, and it freezes when it looks my way.  So I'm looking at this bear's dome (and by looking at it, at this point I mean looking at it through the scope of my 7MMRM at about 20 yards) and waiting for it to show just a little more so that I can make sure it's not a sow with cubs.  And then it bolts back into the think woods, but I don't hear it crash very far.

So... was I right to wait to see more?  Does a sow with cubs ever sound like an elk crashing through timber?  Assuming it was a big bruiser (based on its blocky head), what should my next step have been?  I waited exactly where I was for about an hour -- and didn't see or hear anything else.  Can/will a big bruiser instantly turn on silent mode and sneak away?  Was it just right there waiting for me to leave?  I checked all the trees (as best as I could) to see if it bolted up a tree.  Would a bear smashing through trees that gets surprised by a person just run away or would it climb a nearby tree? 

Thanks, still processing this whole thing.  And having time to consider in hindsight, I'm thinking it was a single bear (based on the sound of it crashing through the woods and the limited sound afterwards) and it's head was mighty blocky.  Wish I'd pulled the trigger...

[buckfvr]

"Be sure of your target" is your guide to clear conscience.   That has been taught to new hunters and old alike since for ever.  You did the right thing.

[jrebel]

When they climb trees, it sounds like they are climbing a tree.....claws on bark and breaking branches.  Much different sound then when they are running through brush.  Head shot a 20 yards on a bear.....I would probably pass.  If you don't brain him, he is likely to run a mile and die of infection or inability to eat.  I say this because I hit one in the back of the head at 20 yards on a follow up shot.  First shot broke both shoulders and he rolled down the mountain.  I caught up to him in the bottom of the ravine and he was very much alive.  One to the back of the dome and he stayed alive for a very long time.  Bears are tough animals so I would think a dome shot is not ideal. 

Sounds like you had a great encounter though....which is most of the fun.   

[fishngamereaper]

Doesn't even sound like you had a clean kill opportunity... bear's have thick skull's...
Right decision for more than one reason...

[logola512c]

Thanks for the feedback.  I actually do feel like it was the right choice, but mostly I just wish he'd taken a few more steps... And it was crazy how loud it was walking through the underbrush initially and then how quiet it was after its initial few steps when it bolted back in the woods. 

[bornhunter]

I think anytime a hunter decides not shoot, its the right decision.
Good on you.

[Duckslayer89]

The experience of orphaning a cub will make you always know that’s the right decision to wait. Better to not learn the lesson.

[Fidelk]

My rifle's zeroed at 300 yards.....where do you aim when the shot is at 20 yards?

[Rainier10]

I think anytime a hunter decides not shoot, its the right decision.
Good on you.

x1,000

[dilleytech]

You should have shot it and had a dead bear.

[dilleytech]

My rifle's zeroed at 300 yards.....where do you aim when the shot is at 20 yards?

1” high

[bkaech]

I could go either way on should you shoot, but I would much rather regret no shot than regret a shot. If you aren't 100% sure wait. To answer your other questions... I do think a sow with cubs, or a young bear, or any bear will make all types of noise walking through or tearing up brush...bears just don't care about the noise they make. I also think they can easily sneak away quietly without you hearing them if they have a path. All that to say, I don't think you can tell anything from the noise if it was a sow with cubs or an old bruiser.

[lewy]

Can’t call back a bullet, air on the side of caution and keep hunting you will always have more opportunities 

[logola512c]

My rifle's zeroed at 300 yards.....where do you aim when the shot is at 20 yards?

I'm zero'd at 200.  1.2 inch high at 100 yards.  1 inch low at the muzzle. I was aiming just above the rearward eyeball. 

[dilleytech]

My rifle's zeroed at 300 yards.....where do you aim when the shot is at 20 yards?

About 1/10th of an inch high.