I hate having standards when it comes to shooting animals sometimes! LOL

[ydeardorff]

I was hiking a mountain road, and heard what I thought was deer or elk getting spooked through some water. I figured what the hell, and figured Id stalk that, since I wasn't seeing a damn thing, and couldnt hear anything else besides the rain. A couple hundred yards later I find myself staring at the butt, of a beautiful adult black bear. But I couldn't risk a gut shot, and the bugger wouldn't turn. Kind of caught in the moment, I forgot to make a noise or something to make him turn. He didn't even hear me, 70 yards away, and all I got is butt!
I had stumbled upon this big guy. His rear was as high as my waist (Im 6 foot tall). He was ambling along, ears up, and in no hurry. I had him in my cross hairs for probably 15  seconds at maybe 50 to 70 yards. I was downwind of him, and he was walking into the wind. Only after did I realize I couldn't have cleared my throat or, made some other noise to make him turn to look, and I would have nabbed him.
He then walked aimlessly away into some brush that was akin to a pile of spaghetti noodles, and I couldn't follow.

Ive been kicking myself in the butt ever since, over not taking that risky shot. But I suppose its better that I didn't.

[boneaddict]

Thanks for not forcing a shot.

[dscubame]

Texas heart shot comes to mind.

[ydeardorff]

  eeeew 

Its not that I didn't take the shot thats killing me, its that I could have made a noise, and he/she would have turned and Id ev had em.

I got so caught up in the moment, not shakes or jitters, just captivated on how close I was, and he didn't even know it. I didn't even think, about making a noise to get his attention.
How often does that happen? 

[seth30]

Texas heart shot comes to mind.

[high country]

Congrats! That is called ethics, if you do not feel confident in the shot, pass. All of us are comfy with different shots, but to pass a marginal shot is good for the soul.

You will have bad dreams for a while.

[ydeardorff]

Thanks,

I plan on revisiting that spot, tomorrow even if I have to sit all day just to see if he comes back. Who knows I might have a picture to post soon.

I do wonder though what black bear ranges are like, and how often they frequent the same areas. Deer are pretty predictable in their daily patterns, but bear seem to do what ever is on their mind at the moment.

[boneaddict]

If there is food he will be there.

[boneaddict]

How often does that happen?

Happens all the time with my camera.  I sit there taking in the scene and forget to take a photo.

[jackelope]

Texas heart shot comes to mind.

Lack of ethics comes to mind.

[dscubame]

Texas heart shot comes to mind.

Lack of ethics comes to mind.

Your way to serious around this camp fire, go to bed.

[840dc]

  you will get the next one!

[dscubame]

If there is food he will be there.

For sure.  Waiting for the appropriate shot will make the experience that much more gratifying and is what the little fella deserves.  Keep us posted!

[SamKilo]

Don't know if you saw my thread, but I felt the same hurt for a little bit last week. I'm over it now, and more than ever, all I can think about is getting back out there!! 

[ydeardorff]

Thanks!
Im gonna go back tomorrow, see if I cant nab him. It will be my first bear if Im successful. But no hunting buddies so Ill be alone

[rebal69972]

good luck getting back on him/ her. better to not have shot then to take the shot and have a wounded animal. every encounter with an animal you learn something now next time he decides to moon you  you know what to do 

[ydeardorff]

When I saw him the only thought I could muster was "Junk in the trunk"

This bear has a seriously large back side.
Then came the thought how am I gonna get this thing back to the car. 

[boneaddict]

also....normal bear behavior would have been for him to run away straight ahead, then turn and stand.  In the thick stuff that is a killer.  No need to kick yourself. You just got yourself another hunt out of it.

[Alan K]

You were the only one there, so only you know what the right decision was. 

At just 50 yards though if you had a tree near you to get a rest against I'd have felt very comfortable opening up the back of his skull!

Good luck getting on him again, sounds like he was a whopper!

[ydeardorff]

Sunday madness led to no animals at all today.
I went back out again to check the spot, and every kid with a gun within 10 miles it seems was shooting stuff, up. So everything was gone today. Ill try again in the middle of the week after things calm down.
This is where being a full time student helps. I can get up early in the AM on weekdays and go hunt, rather than work

[PolarBear]

Thanks for not forcing a shot.

[CplRaines]

Had a similar shot on a 6 by 6 bull on Mt St Helens last year during the modern season. The bull was trotting downhill away from me at about 30 yards and all I could see in my scope was ass and horns.

I won't take an up the chute shot on an animal. The horns/trophy are not important enough for me to risk ruining any meat with a round through the stomach.

Never got another opportunity last year, but don't regret my decision one bit.

Oh, and it would have been my biggest bull to date.
Such is life.... such is hunting.

[Helix]

In all my bear encounters hollering "hey bear!!!" has made them look at me for long enough that I could have taken a shot.  It's just too bad that all those encounters to date have taken place out of season so no shooting.  Usually after they determin you are not food they haul a$$ for the next county.  had one big boy so close I could have spit on him this spring and had my .45 in hand if he decided I looked like food but he sauntered off into the woods after me and my buddy hollered at him for a few hair raising seconds.  a minute later we saw his little brother same story.  hollered and he booked it.  good call on not taking a butt shot.  you have to go through a lot of bear to get vitals at that angle.  I think you would have probably had a pissed off bruin in those woods for some time if you had pulled the trigger. 

[buschcrawler]

eeeew 

It not that I didn't take the shot thats killing me, its that I could have made a noise, and he/she would have turned and Id ev had em.

I got so caught up in the moment, not shakes or jitters, just captivated on how close I was, and he didn't even know it. I didn't even think, about making a noise to get his attention.
How often does that happen? 

I've done the same thing with a few deer! kick myself in the @$$ everytime i do it. oh well it's still awsome getting that close.

[ydeardorff]

Well I went back out today,... again nothing...
No tracks, no sign, its like they got up and moved out.
Its very hard to access this place; where the bear is located. Thick brush and every conceivable trig to step on making a nice solid "SNAP" with ever step. So after sitting in this spot hidden behind some logs for an hour I decided to look for an alternate route into the area that would be downwind in the AM.
i found a long grass laden way in, but the biggest problem with this area is the wind. It changes with every passing minute. Mild air movements to be sure, but constantly switching N, S, E, and west. This may be a necessity for a stand hunt for any success, provided the bear are even there any more.

Seems after this last weekend,  all activity stopped. Not even a deer foot print can be found.

Perhaps it might be time to look higher?