Cub Survival Odds

[seth30]

my story on momma with cubs a friend of mine called me and said he was going to shoot this bear that there three together so i asked  him if it was cubs and he said that they were pretty good size so i told i would not shoot a sow with cubs this was his first bear he calls me later and tells me that he shot it and gutted it and we will pack it out in the morning. I talked to my brother his wife's dad is a Fish and Game biologist he said that the cubs will not survive without there mother for food and protection from other boars and preditors the next day we go pack this bear out and the two cubs are cuddled up with there dead mother pretty sad they had eaten all of her guts and would not leave without us throwing stuff and yelling at them if you like this story shoot a mother with cubs i wont and my buddy will never do it again

[ribka]

my story on momma with cubs a friend of mine called me and said he was going to shoot this bear that there three together so i asked  him if it was cubs and he said that they were pretty good size so i told i would not shoot a sow with cubs this was his first bear he calls me later and tells me that he shot it and gutted it and we will pack it out in the morning. I talked to my brother his wife's dad is a Fish and Game biologist he said that the cubs will not survive without there mother for food and protection from other boars and preditors the next day we go pack this bear out and the two cubs are cuddled up with there dead mother pretty sad they had eaten all of her guts and would not leave without us throwing stuff and yelling at them if you like this story shoot a mother with cubs i wont and my buddy will never do it again

x2

[DOUBLELUNG]

I've never had any temptations passing on shooting a sow with cubs.  If I really needed to shoot something, I'd take one of the cubs. 

[Bscman]

I don't know why you would be so conflicted. The idea of shooting a sow and leaving it's cubs abandoned is pretty sad...I don't see how one would even be tempted to do so.

Washington has a large population of bear. If you are putting your time in, learning your prey, and keeping an eye out for sign...you'll come across more than one bear in the season. Take your time, be selective, and for gosh sakes leave momma bear there to tend to the cubs.

I've not yet taken a Washington bear, either so I know where you are coming from.
I've had opportunities several years running, but I find myself enjoying the hunt more so than just needing to pull the trigger...watching these critters and the way the forage and feed is rewarding enough most of the time. When you do see a sow with cubs...sit back calmly and watch the way they interact. It will be much more rewarding than a rug on the wall--and you've still managed to experience something very few people get to experience. Better yet, pack a camera and get it all on film to show your friends.

Once the shot is taken, you can't call it back. If you're not 100% confident in the situation you should have ZERO issues with just saying no. Self control...practice it. 

[840dc]

Happened to me second day of the season, and i passed and it would have been my  first bear.. I am happy with my choice..

[ML_Hunter]

my story on momma with cubs a friend of mine called me and said he was going to shoot this bear that there three together so i asked  him if it was cubs and he said that they were pretty good size so i told i would not shoot a sow with cubs this was his first bear he calls me later and tells me that he shot it and gutted it and we will pack it out in the morning. I talked to my brother his wife's dad is a Fish and Game biologist he said that the cubs will not survive without there mother for food and protection from other boars and preditors the next day we go pack this bear out and the two cubs are cuddled up with there dead mother pretty sad they had eaten all of her guts and would not leave without us throwing stuff and yelling at them if you like this story shoot a mother with cubs i wont and my buddy will never do it again

At this point you and one other hunter should have taken the cubs.  They are dead anyways, your just ensuring they don't suffer any more than what they already had.   

[Hangfire]

My first bear was in the mid  60's. I had hunted bears several years and passed up sows with cubs. Hunting north of Deer Lake in Stevens county, I saw a bear in a elder berry bush eating. I watched for several minutes and did not see any thing but a single bear. I shot about 200 yards and missed. The bear dropped down to the ground, went into a canyon and in a few minutes came out the other side in the open. This was still a single chocolate brown bear. I shot it and watched for several minutes to be sure it was dead as it was thick brush right up to it. As I got up to walk over to it 2 cubs walked out. When I came out of the brush I was 25 yards from the dead sow. The 2 cubs were nuzzling her and making little whimpering sounds. I said whats wrong little bears and they ran off. I gutted her and as I was carrying her out I looked up the hill and saw the two cubs walking up a deadfall one behind the other. When I got to my pickup another car came by. The driver was extremely excited, kept saying over and over you got a bear. I explained I was very unhappy about the situation as she had cubs. I learned later he went down, got a buddy and came back and they shot both cubs.

I really enjoyed bear hunting up to that time. I do not care if I ever shoot another bear. I can still hear and see those little cubs, which were about cocker spaniel size.

[nocklehead]

If you had to shoot one of the three, Id prefer you shoot the bigger of the cubs, than atleast the other cub and sow go on fine...but not hardly ethical unless your starving.

[dirty24d]

ohh kaaaay so on a lighter note maybe you could compare this to shooting a terrorist that has kids.          just kidding.  just trying to lighten things up.

[lewy]

Glad to see most everyone is on the same page here. I passed up a really big sow last night with a single cub, spotted the sow and was able to watch her feed for about 20-30 min. before the cub popped out, that's why its so important to really look em over before shooting. Ended up getting to watch them for 2 hours until dark which was a treat. I promise if you pass on the shot and just watch you will learn something about bear hunting and feel good about your decision later.......Be a hunter not just another prick with a bear tag

[D-Rock425]

Doesn't anyone remember the movie Bear about the little grizzly cub.  That movie was sad when his mommy dies and he's all alone. 

[machine]

As others have siad the cubs have little to no chance.Put the time in and you will get a bear.If you aren't picky shoot a smaller bear,I did last year and would agian.A sow with cubs isn't an option to me. 

[GoldTip]

If they are last years cubs, 60+lbs in size or around 18 months old, there is very little chance that they will be denning with mother this year anyway as she will be kicking them out, so they would have their plain old average chance to survive.  This years cubs will be small, very hard to misidentify this years cubs as you'll be fairly surprised how small they still are, then they have almost no chance of survival.  That being said if the sow is legal with cubs at her side and you want it, then it's up to you to decide if your going to kill it.  Personally, I would have no problem killing a sow that last years cubs with her.  Legal or not I would never knowing kill a sow with this years cubs at her side.

[singleshot12]

Cubs are pretty defenceless in their first year of life without their mom. Other boars,cougars,coyotes,and other hunters usually kill them within a few days after mom is gone.
A buddy of mine a few years back located a nice bear in a big salmon berry patch, he watched it for several minutes, didn't see any cubs and shot it, when he got to the dead bear there were 3 little cubs clinging to her dead body crying like little baby's. It was a sick site to see. Probably the best thing he could of done for them was to shoot them and put them out of their misery.

[h20hunter]

3 little babies clinging and crying. God that would suck. That would ruin everything about the hunt.