Killing a denning bear? What say you?

[steeleywhopper]

This guy is truly stupid or has some huge ballz!

[Machias]

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.  

I think you may have put a little more emphasis in my questions then what I was intending.  I wasn't trying to "silence" anyone, I was trying to understand why the folks who were critical...were critical.  I totally understand it's not everyones idea of how they want to harvest a bear, lion or any animal for that matter.  Just wondering, for those that found themselves in the same situation what you thought the guy should do.  I totally get the guys and gals who say nope, don't seem fair to me, I applaud you, I also applaud this guy, that's all my post was about.  heck this whole site is about the discussion and giving our points of view....maybe sway an opinion or change a person's mind along the way.  It's actually happen to me a time or two.    The reference to being safe in the hole is me wondering why you wouldn't shoot a bear in a cave, obviously, maybe not so obviously, if he's in the hole/cave you deem him off limits...err safe?  

[boneaddict]

I am along the lines as Ray.   I'm not sure anyone was even being critical of him.  Just it wasn't their cup of tea.   i don't think there was even any divide or conquer.   I've seen alot of bear in the middle of the winter and their bodies have basically shutdown do to natural causes.  I don't think I'd enjoy killing an animal that is not at its finest.   I didn't say crawling into a hole after one was either not sporting or briliiant.   Theres a badger hole up the road.  Anyone want to go in head first and see if badgers sleep in the winter or not.    It is very possible to disagree with someone without having to be considered critical.  half the people that will weigh in on this thread probably don't even understand hibernation, or have ever even seen a bear den, let alone with one in it.  If its legal, then he was well within his rights to do so.

[Skyvalhunter]

Intresting way of thinking.

[steen]

I think he put his life in danger and it could have been the other way around--dead hunter.  That being said.  I don't think it is any different than killing a treed bear or a baited bear.  It was a trophy and you work a little harder and even do dumb things to get it.  I just wonder in his tracking of this bear if he knew it was a blackbear.  If I came across tracks that big I'd want to know nor sure that I am shooting a black bear and not a griz and not try to figure it out in the den a few feet from it's nose.

[BIGINNER]

I am along the lines as Ray.   I'm not sure anyone was even being critical of him.  Just it wasn't their cup of tea.   i don't think there was even any divide or conquer.   I've seen alot of bear in the middle of the winter and their bodies have basically shutdown do to natural causes.  I don't think I'd enjoy killing an animal that is not at its finest.   I didn't say crawling into a hole after one was either not sporting or briliiant.   Theres a badger hole up the road.  Anyone want to go in head first and see if badgers sleep in the winter or not.    It is very possible to disagree with someone without having to be considered critical.  half the people that will weigh in on this thread probably don't even understand hibernation, or have ever even seen a bear den, let alone with one in it.  If its legal, then he was well within his rights to do so.

THATS BECAUSE THERE IS NO BEARS IN WASHINGTON TO MAKE BEAR DENS,   SO ALL YOUR ARGUEMENTS ARE INVALID   

[Machias]

I guess I'm using all the wrong words today.   

[boneaddict]

Bad Fred

[Machias]

 

[rasbo]

wow through the whole story,I was wondering what kind of grease or oil the hunter used to get his balls in the den..I gotta feeling his hunting partners job is carrying his nutsak.Or a shoe horn to assist getting them in the den..That being said,he has more nads than I or a hound hunter that has a bear treed with dogs...It was legal so more power to him,not my cup of tea..

[Ray]

I was thinking Rasbo would be the first guy I'd send in. Meanwhile I'd man the camera.

[d-rock]

All I can think is:
1.  There will undoubtedly be a law against it next year or shortly thereafter.
2.  That is how our hunting rules and regs become so restrictive and confusing. (i.e. u can shoot an animal but only if ALL the following criteria is met...)
3.  I imagine that through excessive legislation we will slowly loose more and more hunting rights.   
&
4.  Should be a non-issue because how many people can say they could track a bear to its den AND THEN have the guts or lack of brains (don't really know which) to go in after him?  Can't be a large % of the hunter population. 

[Austrian Hunter]

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

 

[krout81]

If it was legal accroding to the game department then he is a stud.  I guess every state has confusing game laws.  Dont shine a light on wildlife with a loaded weapon seems pretty straight forward, but obviously there are exceptions like following a bear into its cave and shinning I light to see where it is then shooting.   

[Hornseeker]

Could you shoot this?? Awwwwwwwww......

I didn't...well...except with my Olympus!