Passed on this Springer with the bow.

[fair-chase]

Well, if that's not the bear you were looking for you shouldn't have any regrets about letting him walk. Keep after them and you'll find one that you're happy with.

Great pictures by the way. Any more info/pics about walking up on the den?

[wsucowboy]

I'd have let him have it, that's for sure! Especially in bow range! Neat pictures anyways.

[saylean]

Lil black spray paint would have fixed that right up.

Pretty pics.

[carpsniperg2]

Lots of nice pic's

[Decker]

I wasn't brave enough to flash my camera in the den; I went in with my side arm. It was actually quite deep extending back 5-6 feet and then rounding a corner to the right. I only stayed at the entrance (obviously) but had to throw that out there to the folks wondering if I actually went in. It was poor light, but I believe I could seen the shine on his beady little eyes looking around the corner at me. It DEFINITELY smelled of bear. I mainly just took a peek to make sure this was the spot and got out, didn't want to alarm him any more than he already has been. I'm taking today off, just to let the area settle back down and I'll be out tomorrow and Wednesday (my birthday) ...Happy birthday to ME! Wife asked what else I wanted (she already bought me a sweet carbon-fiber bent-shaft whitewater kayak paddle) and I told her I wanted my bear on my birthday so I'm huntin'.

After further review, the call on the field has been over-turned. It appears this bear has a case of muddy butt and I'm going to crawl back into position tomorrow for further inspection. If it is only Dirty Diapers, as I had originally named him, I'll most likely put the smack down. Now...I'm used to judging bears in the fall with more fat and less hair. I think this bear would go 200lbs. What do you all think? Some of the photos make him look leggy, but the one where he's stretched out there's some definite bulk. Dale, I know you're the master at this, what do you say?

[Gutpile]

I think it's an average 5 footer. 200+ lbs this fall, much lighter right now. Thats my take but I have a very hard time judging bears.

[carpsniperg2]

I would guess that bear around 150lbs. He looks a lot like my first bear that was at 140lbs.

[Machias]

I think he's smaller then that, just an opinion, I'd say he's around 130, but I'd like to see something close by for a good comparison.  He looks pretty lean.  I'd give him two or three more years and he'll be a real nice bear.  Just a thought.

[Decker]

Yeah, I'm not the greatest at judging em when they're smaller. When it's a toad, you KNOW it's a toad. I know there's bigger bear in there though, as I've found 3" diameter scat this spring, so I may wait for a bigger one. Plus from what I've heard, things really pick up in the last few weeks of May...that's IF winter is over by then.

[Machias]

Yea, is it EVER going to end this year!!   

[dirty24d]

Lil black spray paint would have fixed that right up.

Pretty pics.

   My thoughts exactly!   

Nice bear, and thanks for the really cool pics!

[Wea300mag]

Great bunch of pics, I would have passed on it too.