Badly wounded bear between White Pass and Red Pass (Glacier Peak area)

[buck3m]

A few days ago I was hiking the Pacific Crest Trail and saw a black bear with what appeared to be a broken front leg. He was very near the trail and only about 1/2 mile from a trail crew camp. He obviously was having a rough time, and I think he poses a potential threat to both the hikers and the trail crew.

I'm from Alaska so I don't know the current bear seasons and whatnot, but I hope someone in the area can go in there and find and finish him. Seems like the right thing for the bear and the people using the area.

I am an active hunter as well as a hiker, so this isn't hunter bashing. Still, I hope we will all try to think twice, get in close, and fire those clean, one-shot kills from a solid rest.

The wounded bear was about 1/2 mile north of White Pass along the Pacific Crest Trail, feeding on berries out in the open.

[markts]

Welcome to the site and I hope that bear is taken care of before it gets in trouble

[buck3m]

Thanks. Yes, I hope someone can finish him, too.

[robescc]

Who is to say that he was shot?  That is some rough country.  Dear, bears and elk break legs all the time. 

[turkey buster]

either way I hope someone can take care of it.

[carpsniperg2]

who know's how it got that way, but hope someone get it's.

[buck3m]

There were shots being fired in that area, I heard several myself. There was a bear with a leg it was dragging. Beyond a reasonable doubt, it was a hunter that wounded that bear. Keep in mind that I myself am an active hunter.

Fellow hunters can take any kind of shot they want, as long as they make a clean kill. We all know that the closer we are the higher the odds of making a clean kill, and a good lean makes a huge difference in assuring an accurate shot with a firearm.

[JackOfAllTrades]

A wounded/injured bear that is near an active trail (human used) system is a ticking time bomb. If he doesn't bleed out, he'll be looking for easy meals. That could be the next hiker's prized doggie. Or the hiker.

Let's not make assumptions. "he assumes its been poorly shot"  As Buck3m states, he's a hunter also. So, as hunters many of us can tell when an animal has been 'wounded' or know the difference if that animal has been 'injured' by other causes.

Hopefully the original hunter will get back up there and finish the job.

-Steve

[Grizzly95]

I didn't get  a negative impression on his first post. I think he was spot on in reminding hunters to slow down, take a breath, make the shot count.

Being from Alaska, he may not be able to hunt in the state yet. 

[MikeWalking]

Any blood seen or found?   Bears can fall out of trees, get kicked, loose fights, slip off a ledge, even get tumors that pinch nerves...

[Skyvalhunter]

Hes probably gone now and that is a pretty big area. How was the hike did you get some good pics from Red Mtn?

[dirty24d]

Bears can also get beat up by cows when they get too close!!!   

[Kain]

I didnt see the first post but if he changed it because of complaints maybe that shows he didnt mean to come across the way he did.  I still think it is cool of him to make the effort to come to us for help on this.  It might be a good idea to call WDFW and let them know also.  They can get there dogs on it to see how severely wounded it is before it becomes a human conflict problem.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/contact/

[robescc]

I didn't want to come across the wrong way either.  It's just that some times people jump to conclussions.  Bears are tough animals.  I watched one take 180 grain bullet from a 7mm win magin the shoulder and never saw it again. looked for 6 or 7 hours.  It happens sometimes even with the best shots.

[buck3m]

The state and the feds aren't going to take any action on this because it's in a wilderness area, they said. If I had a rifle and tag, I would have taken care of this myself at the time.

Not trying to offend or point fingers, just trying to do the right thing.

[ICEMAN]

Good job for bringing it up to the forum IMHO.... Throw out the GPS last coordinates and maybe someone with good legs and strong back may take a shot at getting in there and finding it this weekend?