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.