Killing a denning bear? What say you?

[boneaddict]

Crawl into a hole with one in Spetember and see how it turns out. 

[TheHunt]

To each their own.   Good for him.   I have no problem for what he did.  The tracked it, crawled in, no Alaska law law was broken. 

[BLUEBULLS]

I don't have a problem with what he did. Sounds like an exciting hunt, and took a lot of skill in tracking that bear to its den. It's just a bear. Not like there's a shortage of them, and not only that, but it was a huge bear, and probably very old, and may not have lived much longer anyway.

my thoughts as well.

[croix]

Crawl into a hole with one in Spetember and see how it turns out. 

[Machias]

One thing, the title of this thread is not accurate, the bear was holed up, not sleeping.    I've seen several videos of guys following hounds into caves and holes after bears, lions and bobcats.  I have followed a dog in a huge culvert/cave in ID after a lion.  It was NOT a good feeling, but I had to go in and get my dog out.  Cave got so small I couldn't get in any further and I never did know if it was still in there or not, tracks went in but did not come back out.  As long as he was legal, I don't have any issues with it.  Dang that was a HUGE black bear!!  The folks that are critical, what would you have the guy do?  Try and spook it out and then shoot it?  Wait for it to come out?  Wait till spring and then shoot it?  It's in a hole so it's safe?  So would you shoot a bedded deer/elk?  I know you'll say well they could get up and run away.  Trust me if that bear wanted out of that hole there wasn't much going to stop him...except the .45-.70.    I have seen bears and cats on video unass a cave, lickty split!  They have an avenue of escape, might be over you or through you, but if you don't think a 703 pound animal could leave if it wanted to, your wrong. 

[Kain]

I would totally shoot a sleeping bear.  I dont see any difference between that and a bear up a tree, over bait or a five hundred yard shot.  All ethical IMO.  If I saw one snoozing in a clear cut that is just that much less chance of it jumping the string/gun.

We dont have to worry about hibernating bears here since the season only runs into Nov and they dont really do much hibernating here anyways.  I would try to stay away from a den though just because a denning bear is more likely to be a Sow with cubs and I would not like to be forced to shoot a bear because I put myself in a dangerous spot.  That is not self defense in my book that is carelessness.  

[wsucowboy]

I have no problem with what he did. Lucky he didn't get seriously hurt by the bear.Seeing as how no laws were broken it shouldn't be a big deal. He will probably be getting hate mail and everything else like the Idaho hunter who LEGALLY harvested the first wolf in the lower 48. 

[Curly]

I don't have a problem with what he did. Sounds like an exciting hunt, and took a lot of skill in tracking that bear to its den. It's just a bear. Not like there's a shortage of them, and not only that, but it was a huge bear, and probably very old, and may not have lived much longer anyway.

my thoughts as well.

+2

[Ray]

I'll bite 

The folks that are critical, what would you have the guy do?

I wouldn't have that guy do a thing. He can do whatever he wants. But I can also state without having to hide in a corner that I don't hunt animals that way. It doesn't mean I am going to write hate mails, am jealous or the like.

Try and spook it out and then shoot it?

Again, he is welcome to do as he pleases. But since people are talking about it openly I offered up my thoughts. There is a difference between what I would do and what he did. I thought that was what we were talking about. Not what we would have someone else do. People who hunt within the law are no problem for me.

Wait for it to come out?  Wait till spring and then shoot it?

I don't see why not.

It's in a hole so it's safe?

I didn't see a person make that claim that an animal is completely safe in a hole. Probably no more safe than I am in a building I suppose. Not sure where you were going with that one.

So would you shoot a bedded deer/elk?

Yes, Why not? It's not the same as being contained by earthen walls I suppose. I think the example is an attempt at drawing parallels between two examples, but it just doesn't seem to work out to me.

I know you'll say well they could get up and run away.  Trust me if that bear wanted out of that hole there wasn't much going to stop him...except the .45-.70.    I have seen bears and cats on video unass a cave, lickty split!  They have an avenue of escape, might be over you or through you, but if you don't think a 703 pound animal could leave if it wanted to, your wrong. 

I think the for most part you want to silence criticism. I think if the bear wanted to get up and run away he would have ate that guy for breakfast. Seems like he would rather have taken a nap. Well, he certainly took a dirt nap.

My criticism isn't meant to be translated as any sort of outrage. On the contrary. I think it's a fine bear. I also think it's fine to openly state I don't hunt that way and there's no shame in saying that and there's no bush I have to hide behind any more than this guy who killed the bear has to. 

[flinger]

Been in a bear den head first that is some spooky chit never with anything that big though.Killed a big bear cool for him
Should of done it like this though
Skin Grizz

[grundy53]

Been in a bear den head first that is some spooky chit never with anything that big though.Killed a big bear cool for him
Should of done it like this though
Skin Grizz

Thats too funny me and my buddies were quoting that scene the whole week we were hunting in Idaho this year.  " can ya skin griz" "skin that one and i will get ya another one" 

[Ray]

LOL

[Kain]

Pat's black bear hunt.mpg

[Houndhunter]

them dogs didnt know what to do

[FC]

I would totally shoot a sleeping bear.  I dont see any difference between that and a bear up a tree, over bait or a five hundred yard shot.  All ethical IMO.  If I saw one snoozing in a clear cut that is just that much less chance of it jumping the string/gun.  

Same here but I don't think I would be crawling into a big bear's den to see if he was home, that takes either huge balls, a lack of brain cells or some combination of the two.