Ornery Sow

[Navyhunter]

Took a buddy of mine out bear hunting Wednesday and Thursday.  He'd never been bear hunting before and I've had some decent luck over the years.  Drove from Chehalis to Skagit Valley, starting at 1:00am, we got to "my spot" at 4:30 and got ready.  Right at first light we saw a sow with two cubs about 400 yards down in the bottom of a bowl.  We drive up the road to the next spot, didn't see any sign and no bears.  We took a 20-something mile drive to another spot I knew.  We were driving along BS'n, not really paying much attention because the brush was too thick to see anything...like usual when two guys aren't paying attention, we come around a corner and there's a good bear standing in the road.  It runs about 20 yards, stops and looks at us for two seconds and then disappears in the thick stuff.  We continue on and get to where I wanted to glass.  We're there no more than 3 minutes and I can hear a bear down and to my right.  There's no way I could see it and it couldn't smell me, the wind was in my favor.  I tell my buddy to get his gun and come over to where I was.  We listened for a couple more minutes and hear some brush breaking and a couple "huffs" this time a little closer...silence...more brush breaking and the tell-tall "huffing" closer still....silence.  Then, the brush is MOVING about 10 feet down and directly in front of us.  We both back up, separtate a little bit and it gets quiet again.  At this point we're about 75 yards from the truck, he's got his 300RUM and I have my 1911...silence.  Then about 20 yards to our left, a tree shakes, some branches break and it huffs again...the bear put itself between us and our truck!  We go wide on the road and walk to the truck.  When we get there, the bear is there (in the brush) waiting for us.  I tell my buddy "Get ready to shoot, it's comin'"...a fir tree is shaking, then the willows on the side of the road start shaking.  I still don't have my rifle, and he's only got one shell in his (I know, not smart).  The willows stop shaking, we hear another round of huffing.  So, thinking that I could get the whole thing over with, I huff back at the bear.  That did it.  Two seconds later there was a bear the size of a monster black lab standing on the side of the road looking at us...and then it was gone.  Just like that, our encounter was over.  Right after she dove back down in the brush, a small fir tree shook where she'd gone in and then the willows shook where she'd just been....it was a sow with a cub.  That's what I'm thinking anyway because of the two trees shaking pretty much at the same time.

So hears my question(s):
Why do bears make that "huffing" noise?  What's the purpose of it?  A challenge?
Did I do right by huffing back at her? 
What would YOU have done? 

[h20hunter]

Gosh, what a rookie! First off I wouldn't have a single shell, probably would have forgotten to load the damn thing all together. Secondly, when I first realized we were cut off from the truck I would have clubbed my buddy in the back of the head with my empty rifle and left him to distract the bear while I ran away.

Actually sounds like you handled it great. I think the huff is a warning, just like the snapping of teeth to say back off.

Good times and I'm love'n me some bear hunting. Looking forward to my first bear.

[wapiti hunter2]

I can't believe some of you guys.  Bear hunting with one shell in the gun.  ARE YOU NUTS?    The other day there was a thread here where the guy encountered a bear and forgot to load his rifle.    Who taught some of you to hunt?     This isn't a universal observation but.....

[Jeremy S]

One round is all it takes.

[woodman]

One round is all it takes.

That's all it took for me yesterday!

[Jeremy S]

One round is all it takes.

That's all it took for me yesterday!

I'm jealous!

[BlackRidge]

One round is all it takes.

True, but not always. I'd hate to be the one to find out the hard way

Thats why I go stocked like an entire platoon 

[ratherhunt]

Wow, Great story

[Gringo31]

If a guy were to get in trouble, I'd rather have one round than a broadhead.


Cool Story!

[boneaddict]

She is communicating with you, any other bear that is listening and the cubs. 

[Kain]

They dont like when you huff at them.   

Charging Black Bear At Pink Mountain Outfitters

[woodman]

They dont like when you huff at them.   

Charging Black Bear At Pink Mountain Outfitters

This is my absolute favorite calling video, how can I save it to my computer?

[jackelope]

I can't believe some of you guys.  Bear hunting with one shell in the gun.  ARE YOU NUTS?    The other day there was a thread here where the guy encountered a bear and forgot to load his rifle.    Who taught some of you to hunt?     This isn't a universal observation but.....

You're an idiot.

I hunt with a T/C Encore.

 

Lots of people hunt bears with T/C Encores. Some even go so far as to hunt them with a muzzleloader.

[carpsniperg2]

man that was funny stop calling! then they call. stop calling then they call. last thing you want to do with a bear is huff at them when you want them to leave!

as far and the single shot goes, there is nothing wrong with hunting with a single shot. if its not for you, then don't do it. don't judge others for there choice. i hunt with a muzzle and i know i could be a hell of a lot quicker with a t/c encore then a t/c muzzleloader

[wapiti hunter2]

Sorry Jackalope but you don't know crap. Muzzleloaders have extra bullets typically in speedloaders unless you only take one bullet to the field, then too, you are an idiot. I hunt muzzy myself.  Archers have, what 5-6 extra arrows.  This guy just plain ignorant of what he was doing and was hunting with a rifle.   They were to busy BSing ( "We were driving along BS'n, not really paying much attention because the brush was too thick to see anything...like usual when two guys aren't paying attention, we come around a corner and there's a good bear standing in the road")  to even load their gun.  1 bullet with a sow and cubs is a great way to end up very badly hurt.  A charging sow is not to be trifled with.  Loaded guns and not paying attention and you defend this behavior. Like I said  

[runamuk]

They dont like when you huff at them.   

Charging Black Bear At Pink Mountain Outfitters

dang thats way cool and she is sure a beautiful bear and two nice cubs as well..awesome video...those guys were funny..

[Kain]

man that was funny stop calling! then they call. stop calling then they call. last thing you want to do with a bear is huff at them when you want them to leave!

"Da-ad?"    "Stop or Ill shoot"    

[carpsniperg2]

  the old saying of you mess with fire you get burned comes to mind, or you mess with the bull you get the horns.

but in there case you mess with a sow and cubs you get the claws and teeth dddddaaaaadddddd

[runamuk]

man that was funny stop calling! then they call. stop calling then they call. last thing you want to do with a bear is huff at them when you want them to leave!

"Da-ad?"    "Stop or Ill shoot"    

I know was he threatening the sow or his dad 

[jackelope]

Sorry Jackalope but you don't know crap. Muzzleloaders have extra bullets typically in speedloaders unless you only take one bullet to the field, then too, you are an idiot.

I know enough crap to know that you said:

I can't believe some of you guys.  Bear hunting with one shell in the gun.  ARE YOU NUTS?    The other day there was a thread here where the guy encountered a bear and forgot to load his rifle.    Who taught some of you to hunt?     This isn't a universal observation but.....

That essentially means to me that anyone with 1 bullet in their gun is nuts. Is that not what it reads?
Maybe I misjudged what your point was. Call me crazy(or nuts I guess, whatever's clever) since I hunt with 1 bullet in my gun.

[haugenna]

That guys sounded like an old timer.  I am guessing he has done that a few times to his son.  LOL. 

Regarding all the other stuff going on in this thread, if you have one bullet and the bear is at 20 feet, the only thing your going to need the second bullet for is to end your suffering because if you don't make the first one count, the second one won't help. 

[Kain]

I wouldnt be worried about only one bullet for protection too much but you really should have the ability to have another shot in case the first hit was not an instant kill and the animal is suffering.   You could probably use your knife to slit the throat of a deer but you might not want to try that with a predator.  Lesson learned and a good story for the camp fire anyways.

[boneaddict]

Lets see....when I got attacked I had a single shot pistol.  It seemed to work becasue I bore you with my drole all day.  

also all of those Ruger ones out there must be worthless.  

If I was to tease the fellar though, Huffing at a bear is about as bright as sticking a fork in an electrical outlet and hanging on.    He probably figured that out though

 

[haugenna]

Lets see....when I got attacked I had a single shot pistol.  It seemed to work becasue I bore you with my drole all day.   

Can you explain a little more.  It's late and my brain shut off an hour ago.

[jackelope]

Lets see....when I got attacked I had a single shot pistol.  It seemed to work becasue I bore you with my drole all day.   

Can you explain a little more.  It's late and my brain shut off an hour ago.

The bear died, Bone did not.

[carpsniperg2]

i think he is meaning, that he is still here to post everyday! and not in a pile of bear crap in the woods.

and bone, you never bore us! the pics are great keep up the good work with the camera and on the site

[ICEMAN]

I wouldn't want to bash the hunter for being caught off guard with only one round in his possession. Sheeit happens...

As far as worrying so darned much over having only one round on them while "big scary bear hunting"....for fear of dismembement.... Calm down a bit. I bet a second quick shot from a muzzy is not going to happen quick enough anyway... And that second arrow in the quiver would be the last thing on some guys mind as a bear chases your butt over logs and brush...

Does any one here actually recall an incident where a HUNTER had a close encounter with a bear and was mauled, disfigured or worse from the encounter? Bone, your soiled undies don't count... Besides, you are not a normal hunter any way you figure it...

[rasbo]

I growled at one in the off season and he came in harder,had to stand and shoo him off with a 44 pointed at his head..My partner was pissed at me for growling...so the huff and a grrrr noise is in my bag of tricks..one bullet has always done it for me,but they always get two..people do some funny things and forget stuff sometimes..me Ive forgot my gun,forgot to load it while calling..no big deal.That doesn't make me any less of a hunter,just not perfect...Hey campfires would be boring if wasn't for folks like me doing something wrong or what some might consider stupid...If want things to get interesting,call in dark thick places,where first sight is 50 to 30 feet,it can make your ass suck moss foresure...

[boneaddict]

I was puckering too much to soil Ice.

I was photographing.  The bear wasn't in the mood.  Camera went down and pistol came up.  Bear did some false charges, huffinf, throwing dirt etc.   I stood my ground.  He charged.  I hit him in the chest.  He had enough momentum that he hit me like a mack truck and sent me endoing down the mountain.  He knocked my hat off when he hit me.  Thats what he pounced on and perforated.  As I was rolling down the mountain I was digging for another round and reloading. I came up to one knee and stuck another one into his quartering shoulders as he mauled my hat.  He dropped.  I dropped.  Couple things to bare in mind.  He closed the distance in a speed that can only be described but not understood until you see it in person.   The odds of making that shot again,  I wouldn't want to stake my life on it. i probably have more composure than the average person but yes I was puckering.  I knew what was coming.  I was prepared for it.   If the camera had still been in my hand, I'd be bear *censored*.  If I had a bow in my hand and though I shoot instinctive I probably couldn't have gotten off a kill shot.  If I had, it probably wouldn't have had the impact or trauma as a slug.  Don't think all these things down come to mind.   
Why I got attacked.......shortly after regaining my composure that I remarked I had so much of, I went back to my truck which was about 150 yards away.  There standing there on his hind haunches was a bear, which had scratched the whole hood of my truck.  He galloped off.   The bear that had attacked me had been fighting, and I believe he smelled this bear which was behind me.  Its my only explanation.    Idabooner and I had got between a boar and sow during mating season quite by accident.   If we hadn't been on horseback, we'd have been in a braul.  I thought we were going to have a bear in our lap as is.  That would have been interesting to say the least. Knowing animals quite well, U am surprised we made it out of that one without too much of a catastrophe.

[boneaddict]

There are two stories there by the way, NOT related.   Rasbo is right.  All the bear hunters out there that decide to call, I hope you are prepared for what comes in and HOW they come in.   You have to remember you are acting as food.  Coyotes generally have a little shyness to them.  Bear do not necessarily.  You want something big and furry and ready to eat in your lap.....I hope you are prepared to deal with it. 

[woodman]

I was puckering too much to soil Ice.

  He closed the distance in a speed that can only be described but not understood until you see it in person.

Very interesting story, glad it ended like it did.

A person has a mental picture of how it might come down  but that changes when it actually happens. I had a sow with two cubs charge right to me this spring and you are right, it is very sobering how absolutely fast they can get to you and how much power they exert to get there! Something one never forgets and one gains a greater respect for them.

[epq21]

Amen on that ! The speed and power I witnessed on my last bear was simply indescribable. I have a whole nother respect for these awesome animals.

[epq21]

I growled at one in the off season and he came in harder,had to stand and shoo him off with a 44 pointed at his head..My partner was pissed at me for growling...so the huff and a grrrr noise is in my bag of tricks..one bullet has always done it for me,but they always get two..people do some funny things and forget stuff sometimes..me Ive forgot my gun,forgot to load it while calling..no big deal.That doesn't make me any less of a hunter,just not perfect...Hey campfires would be boring if wasn't for folks like me doing something wrong or what some might consider stupid...If want things to get interesting,call in dark thick places,where first sight is 50 to 30 feet,it can make your ass suck moss foresure...

HMMMM that's why you put the greenhorn in front, "right." So you can club him and run when you don't have your gun... Its great being bear chum... Love the stories, besides sometimes bringing less is better than bringing the whole kitchen with the kitchen sink.

[one-eyed Ross]

I enjoyed the story for a variety of reasons, not least of which was the fact that it was human.

We've all had those days, when we do a lot of things wrong...sometimes in spite of ourselves we bag the game, sometimes that game gets away.  But, being able to laugh at ourselves when we live to talk about how big a mistake we made is a good thing.

Also, maybe someone else learns a good lesson in the passing along of great stories.  This is one I'd be happy to have to share, if it had happened to me.

[Alchase]

I can remember watching a bear calling seminar at the Puyallup Sportsman's show that showed bears coming in at extreme velocity! It is amazing how fast they can move over clear cut brush and stumps that would take us forever to navigate. Then add all the damage they can do in the minute or two it takes to die even after being shot through the heart.

Huffing or popping your teeth at a bear that is close enough him huff and pop is not the smartest thing to do in my book. That is like asking for an attack. Remember fight or flight, that is an open challenge to fight.
Even my dog gets pissed when I pop my teeth at her, it is the only time she will show her teeth...though playing, lol

[tlbradford]

I agree with what everyone said.  Back to the original post, you handled it perfectly except for the huff.  If you thought it was a boar and you were trying for a shot, than it was perfect.  If you thought a huff would run it off, than it was a mistake.

I'm like Rasbo when it comes to having some instances where I forgot to load my rifle or forgot to chamber a round, etc.  However, that has all been coyote hunting.  When calling bears I am loaded at the truck and between all stands, so that is never an issue.

I think those guys were idiots only because she had two young cubs and they should consider that shooting was not an option to protect themselves if she would have charged.  Their only saving grace in my opinion is that the cubs were behind the sow. 

[DRDANTDC]

I can't believe some of you guys.  Bear hunting with one shell in the gun.  ARE YOU NUTS?    The other day there was a thread here where the guy encountered a bear and forgot to load his rifle.    Who taught some of you to hunt?     This isn't a universal observation but.....

You're an idiot.

I hunt with a T/C Encore.

+1
 

Lots of people hunt bears with T/C Encores. Some even go so far as to hunt them with a muzzleloader.

[woodman]

I think those guys were idiots only because she had two young cubs and they should consider that shooting was not an option to protect themselves if she would have charged.  Their only saving grace in my opinion is that the cubs were behind the sow. 

Why was shooting not an option to protect thenselves? I was told by a game warder this spring that it is okay to shoot a sow with cubs to protect yourself if she is trying to attack you. He said that if you do, let them know and they will trap the cubs and get them to a safe place.

[tlbradford]

I wasn't saying they couldn't shoot her, I was trying to say that they shouldn't consider that an option because knowingly shooting a sow with cubs is illegal in most areas and poor management in all areas.

[tlbradford]

Also, with budgets stretched, I would be willing to bet that instead of trapping cubs, some are probably just shot.

[woodman]

I wasn't saying they couldn't shoot her, I was trying to say that they shouldn't consider that an option because knowingly shooting a sow with cubs is illegal in most areas and poor management in all areas.

The game warden told me that it was not illegal in self defense. The same warden had told me that he was involved with trapping cubs earlier this year.

[tlbradford]

I wasn't saying they couldn't shoot her, I was trying to say that they shouldn't consider that an option because knowingly shooting a sow with cubs is illegal in most areas and poor management in all areas.

I didn't say it was illegal here.  The game regs say "hunters are urged to not shoot a cow with cubs."

I also didn't say that they didn't trap cubs, but that some are probably just shot.

You are not reading what I am saying very carefully.   

[woodman]

I wasn't saying they couldn't shoot her, I was trying to say that they shouldn't consider that an option because knowingly shooting a sow with cubs is illegal in most areas and poor management in all areas.

I didn't say it was illegal here.  The game regs say "hunters are urged to not shoot a cow with cubs."

I also didn't say that they didn't trap cubs, but that some are probably just shot.

You are not reading what I am saying very carefully.   

I am reading very carefully what you are writing, that is why I am answering.

[woodman]

I wasn't saying they couldn't shoot her, I was trying to say that they shouldn't consider that an option because knowingly shooting a sow with cubs is illegal in most areas and poor management in all areas.

I didn't say it was illegal here.  The game regs say "hunters are urged to not shoot a cow with cubs."

I also didn't say that they didn't trap cubs, but that some are probably just shot.

You are not reading what I am saying very carefully.   

I am not trying to argue, just trying to follow the conversation. I will let it go if it is bothering you.

I am reading very carefully what you are writing, that is why I am answering.

[tlbradford]

No it wasn't bothering me at all.  I think it is just one of those internet things where you can't really understand the point a person is trying to make with just the written word.  I reread your posts too and the second time through they didn't seem arguementative, just adding to the conversation.   

[woodman]

No it wasn't bothering me at all.  I think it is just one of those internet things where you can't really understand the point a person is trying to make with just the written word.  I reread your posts too and the second time through they didn't seem arguementative, just adding to the conversation.   

Thanks!