Lost my 1st bear

[seth30]

I shot one last year on opening day that charged me, put three holes in him and never saw him again. Spent that day, and the next looking for him, even a few members on the forum helped (thanks again) Its a bad feeling to know you killed or injured a animal and cant find it, and kudos for posting it knowing you would get some slack.  I recommend trying to get around the thick stuff and finding a possible exit from it made by the bear.  Look under every stump, rock, and log that could fit a bear, and dont forgot to check your trees just in case. 

[Alan K]

Go back and look, you owe it to the bear and yourself, do everything you can
then you know you tried. Call in sick whatever but look and keep looking.

 

The difference between looking at night and day is well, night and day.  Definitely get up there ASAP when you have plenty of daylight!

[woodswalker]

My dos Centavos, you have an offer of help, take it and get back out there looking with someone maybe more experienced.  You Took the shot, you owe it to the bear to do your level damn best to find it.

I once shot and wounded a deer, big chunks of ribs and meat all over the area where he was standing when i shot him.... I looked for two solid days in the pouring rain in the Willipa Hills, nforded creeks and crawled/walked miles I never found it nor did i see birds or hear any carrion eaters chortling over free food...I notched my tag and learned my lesson. 

Incidentally, that was the hunt, a week of pouring rain, that convinced me to get a SS/Composite rifle.

So yeah, in my opinion you have more looking to do. Then some inward reflection.

[h2ofowlr]

Just remember for the next time, you don't have to take the shot.  You can't call back the one you took.  I am sure there are many individuals that have lost animals, due to poor shot placements, buck fever and lack of tracking skills.  I think it takes a good hunter to know when not to shoot than one that places his cross hairs on fur and hopes he has enough caliber that it will just drop.  I would head out and see if you can still recover the animal.  Just remember shot placement next time and that it's not all about notching a tag.  Best of luck to you.

[Wea300mag]

There's not much more that I can add, lots of advice here. You are not alone, it happens quite often.

[h20hunter]

Hope all this is helping. I think everyone that has posted has been honest and supporting. Here is another bit that I never knew firsthand. I was with a buddy (D-Rock), and his buddy (BobcatRobcat) for "Bobbys" first bear. He hammered pretty damn hard with a .30-06....twice. It was down and down hard. However, we get up on the bear, very little blood on the ground. I lift its head up and just come away covered in blood. The hair on these critters acts like a huge mop. You know the tick/flea stuff you put on dogs, right behind the head on the neck. Well, it coveres the whole dog soon just by hairs rubbing together. You could have done some fatal damage with many of the wound suggestions made so far and the blood could be just soaking into the bear. Drops here and there don't mean the same thing on a bear as it does on a deer. Deer just don't soak it up like a bear does. I guess I'm saying you can judge a blood trail on a bear the same as a deer. I only know becuase I got to learn that first hand, not because I've shot one myself.

[dscubame]

One less predator good job!  Let it be and go shoot another one they won't all Houdini on you.

[h20hunter]

Really? I think you will get flamed for that more than he will for not making a recovery.

[dscubame]

His efforts have been more than sufficient.     Animals do get away.

[3nails]

His efforts have been more than sufficient.     Animals do get away.

150 yards on a wounded bear is NOT "sufficient".

[dscubame]

Perhaps you missed the 3 hours and it got dark part?  Searching for a wounded bear in the dark?   

[h20hunter]

I don't think people are saying search in the dark. They are saying go back and look. You make it sound like shoot em and leave, one less is one the better. Besides, its up to him of course to decide, nobody has said otherwise other than encouraging him to continue the search.

[Wea300mag]

The mod/admin crew appreciate that this has been a civil discussion so far, let's keep it that way.

[dscubame]

I don't think people are saying search in the dark. They are saying go back and look. You make it sound like shoot em and leave, one less is one the better. Besides, its up to him of course to decide, nobody has said otherwise other than encouraging him to continue the search.

I most definately agree with that.

[h20hunter]

I'm sorry...you agree with shoot 'em and leave 'em? For bears?