How many have you passed on?

[840dc]

Just wondering how many bear you guys have passed on? I have hunted 3 and a half days and seen 4 bears. One was a nice sow with cubs and the other 3 were smaller bear. Just cant seem to find a shooter. Another question was how long do you guys stay in one spot. I was at a clear cut for 13 hours on monday and saw 2 bear. Oh yeah i might have taken one or two power naps in the weeds also

[840dc]

ok so nobodys passin, got another question. Do you guys skinn and gut in the field or do you just gut and pack out whole.  just wondering, i was plannin on skinning and gutting in the field but not sure seems alot of guys packin out whole. I have a 2 hour drive home do you think it would be ok to leave the skin on for  that long in 70 degree weather?

[Michelle_Nelson]

I havn't been out Bear hunting yet this year.  In 08' I passed on 2 Bear because I didn't feel good about the shot.  Both were in the 180 - 200 range.

This is my personal preferance.  If it is this time of year I like to get the hide off.  Take a few large coolers with milk jugs filled with water and frozen.  Put the meat in some alaskan game bags and in the coolers.

If you are going to save the hide for mounting get it off the bear.  Find a shade to lay it in til you are done taking care of the meat.  Than place the fine inside one off the coolers of ice and try and keep it away from the meat.  You don;t want all the nasty crap on the hair getting all over the meat.  When you get the hide home fold it and put it in the freezer or get it to a taxidermist pretty quick.  Here is some more info on what to do and how to take care of the hide.


http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,49969.0.html

[Gobble]

ok so nobodys passin, got another question. Do you guys skinn and gut in the field or do you just gut and pack out whole.  just wondering, i was plannin on skinning and gutting in the field but not sure seems alot of guys packin out whole. I have a 2 hour drive home do you think it would be ok to leave the skin on for  that long in 70 degree weather?

No, Bears have really thick hides and in 70 deg weather you need to skin it and ice as quickly as possible. The meat will be soooo much better  

[D-Rock425]

I've passed on sows with cubs before while elk hunting.  If I'm out bear hunting and see a bear with out cubs I fire away.  I like putting Burger in my freezer.  As far a sitting goes I will sit for a few hours in the mornings or evening's but out of the 4 bears I've shot in the last three years I have aways spotted them walking in to a different spot.

[840dc]

Hey guys thanks for the replys. I talked to a local taxidermist and they said they would not recommend a rug this time of year and said i should do a shoulder mount just wondering what u guys think. i wish some of the taxidermists on here were closer. They do some great work.

[D-Rock425]

Depends on the bear hide more than the time of year.  If the hide is good I don't see why you can't get a rug.  I could be wrong.

[Skyvalhunter]

Well when and if you get one it will depend on the hair condition. If it is rubbed on the sides then maybe go with a shoulder mount.

[Kain]

Most of the bear hitting the ground seem to have nice coats on them.     If a bear has a bad coat now, I doubt it will be much better in a couple of months.  Hair only grows about .25" a month.  Of course if it has a nice coat now it might have an awesome one in the late fall.

[wmunny]

on our spring hunt we saw eleven bears total. of the eleven we could have taken nine.

sometimes it pays to be patient as the bear we took will go in the b&c book.

[bankwalker]

i'd have to see a bear in order to pass on one. but i highy doubt i will pass on a legal bear. maybe after i take a few then i can start passing for bigger bears

[Michelle_Nelson]

Most of the Bears this time of your will not have some of the best coats.  When I say that I am refering to being "prime".  Not that they are rubbed or have bald spots.  The hair is thin.  Same as in Coyotes, bobcat, etc.  The Bear have not put on the winter coat yet.  It is mainly just guard hairs.  There is no under wool.  So yes the taxidermist is correct.

For a wall hanging Bear Rug they do not look all that bad because we add badding to the rug and it makes it look a little more fluffy.  A Bear Rug from this time of year probably isn't one you would want to snuggle with.

[Michelle_Nelson]

I guess I should also mention it can depend on where the Bear was killed and what elevation.  If you are up high and it gets colder sooner in the year the Bears can have a better coat this time of year.  i tend to get the nicer Bear hides out of the Cascades at higher elevations.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

i'd have to see a bear in order to pass on one. but i highy doubt i will pass on a legal bear. maybe after i take a few then i can start passing for bigger bears

Same for me, I just want to see one (other than on my trail camera)

[high country]

I passed a BUNCH up on my spring tag. we were seeing an average of 5-10 per day.

[engelwood]

I havn't been out Bear hunting yet this year.  In 08' I passed on 2 Bear because I didn't feel good about the *censored*.  Both were in the 180 - 200 range.


http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,49969.0.html

I didn't know that their "sh*t" determined if they were a shooter or not?  Sorry, couldn't pass on a golden opportunity to pitch you some Michelle!

[Michelle_Nelson]

  Thats what I get for not checking my spelling.

[seth30]

speaking of that mistake, did any of you guys and gals see the newspaper article where a boy sh*t  a 8 point buck?  The email was titled lucky  to be alive. 

[rasbo]

I usually have a pretty good idea of the size bear Im after,I watch tracks and the trails pretty good and most time it works out.I passed on one last yr and ate the tag..nix on that again..at the price to hunt and the ability to get another tag,its bear down then get picky

[Kain]

I usually have a pretty good idea of the size bear Im after,I watch tracks and the trails pretty good and most time it works out.I passed on one last yr and ate the tag..nix on that again..at the price to hunt and the ability to get another tag,its bear down then get picky

We have no shortage of bears here in Washington.  I think its up around 40,000 bears.  Little ones will taste just fine and are easier to get out of the woods in the warm days.

[zackmioli]

i need to see one before i can decide to pass or not. most likely will only pass if its a sow with cubs. i need to work on finding some solid areas first haha.

[hogsniper]

Usually pass quite a few!  Love being out and will only take one if the conditions are perfect. Have seen up to 20+ in a season but im not really into bears but with nothing better to do i guess if i cross paths with the right one its dead!!!  Im holding out for a color phase this year, just gotta get out and find him now! 

[billythekidrock]

Usually pass quite a few!  Love being out and will only take one if the conditions are perfect. Have seen up to 20+ in a season but im not really into bears but with nothing better to do i guess if i cross paths with the right one its dead!!!  Im holding out for a color phase this year, just gotta get out and find him now! 

Yea, rub it in.....
I haven't even seen one since last July.

[hogsniper]

haha im telling ya this whole school gig is great!!!  Leaves lots of time to get out and about!!!  When I grow up im thinking things will change!!!!   Until then,   BRING EM ON!!!! lol

[Jamieb]

So far this year I've only passed on one bear, a pretty good bear but I'm holding out for a huge bear.
I've got a big rug hanging on my wall from a Alaska hunt I did a few years ago and wont kill another bear unless it's bigger.
I just like to bear hunt but to be honest, I don't care if I never kill another one. I don't like the taste of bear and I don't need another Taxidermist bill.
I skin and quarter at the kill sit. If I have a long pack then I'll bone out the bear.

[840dc]

hey thanks for all the replys. Im not real picky just dont want to shoot a 100 pounder, just an average size one with outcubs would be fine.  But i do realize i may be eattin a tag if i keep this up. 

[seth30]

its hard to pass. 

[50CalJim]

Passed on 13 last year I was looking for a colorphase or a big blackie with a white chest. Found a 260-280 lb Chocolate but I wasn't fast enough to git er done. 

[seth30]

I saw the backend of one last year

[uplandhunter870]

two years ago i passed on 2, one was a huge sow but had a cub the other was passed becuase it was on the other side of a river and we would not have been able to pack it out that night.

last year didnt get a chance to hunt due to work.  have passed on 2 this year so far but both were shot by my hunting partners so i guess i didnt really pass but merely passed them over to another  hunter.  bear number 3 will be dead to rights provided its cubless and we can get it out that same day

[h2ofowlr]

Saw several, but only passed on two that were in range.  The others were out across a canyon.

[NWWABOWHNTR]

several small ones and a couple sows with cubs... this spring.  Haven't made it out yet since the Aug 1 opener!    Heading east on Friday for a little day trip.... scouting for elk and deer.... putting out some trailcams,  might get lucky and get on a bear!   I am sure that one below Matt's stand will work!   

[merlo105]

Its been a pretty good year I have seen 9 bears sence opening and all have been pretty decent just not so speacial when they have cubs with them...

[Thefisherman83]

My bullet passed one on Saturday it decided to kill the branch instead, Does that count?

[180-GRAIN]

Passed on two nice bears this year one around 200 pounds, that one I truly passed on. The second was probably close to 300 pounds it was a big boy but I was trying to get my brother in law his first bear and by the time we new the bear was in the clear cut we were hunting it was a little to late. My bro couldn't get a steady rest because of his excitement and being a little out of breath from the hike in so instead of taking a iffy 225 yard shot we let him walk. It was kinda disappointing but I would rather let them walk than make a bad shot and lose a animal.

[SCRUBS]

One more will be one! I have never came across a bear while i had a bear tag in my pocket, never actually went hunting for bear. I just get the tag, "just in case".

[Jeremy S]

i'd have to see a bear in order to pass on one. but i highy doubt i will pass on a legal bear. maybe after i take a few then i can start passing for bigger bears

 

[snocobearhunter]

passed on three and then i couldn't help myself haven't shot a color phase in like 4 years not huge but a good freezer bear any ways i got 2 tags

[50CalJim]

Very nice! I've been huntin for a big Chocolate for years so I can get a mount done.

[snocobearhunter]

ya he wasn't big enough for that i did kill about a three hundred pound cinnamon about 5 years ago that i had a half body done on

[Curly]

I saw one last Monday while out checking my trail cam.  I can't really say I passed on him though.........all I had with me was my .357 and he was across the canyon from me.  If I would have had my rifle with me I probably would have put a stalk on him to get closer and see if he was worth shooting.....   (I figured if I left the rifle at home I'd see a bear).

[tlbradford]

The season moving to September 1st really kills me.  There are no bears in the area I chase Muleys.   

[boneaddict]

I'll let you know by Monday, hopefully with pictures of all of them.

[840dc]

Nice guys, lets see those pics

[Bscman]

Passed on three so far. All being ~170-200lbs.

I'm not in much of a need for a small bear...though I'd be willing to take a 180lber if it had a nice coat and a big white patch on it's chest.

Meat in the freezer is a good thing, but it's also a lot of work. Hunting in this heat makes for a stressful few hours after the shot...not worth it to me unless is a BIGGUN'.

[boneaddict]

Passed on 4 yesterday, all 300+   (just kidding about the last part)   The big ones weren't in yet.  I was about a week early

[MADMAX]

Passed on 2 one was a smaller one and the other was a sow with cub .
 not including todays nice one sighting which I would have shot if I had a shot

[nocklehead]

havent seen any near Sultan....Id take any 175lb+ as i would love to put it in my freezer.. ???no mamas tho...id sooner take a cub :drool:never passed on one yet tho

[saylean]

I've passed on a few...sow with cub, boar (didnt have a good shot)...few others. (not this year, just overall)