Standards

[S.O.B]

I'm not trying to call anyone out or anything I just see some small bears being posted, and I was just wandering if anyone else out there tries to only kill mature bears. I know people want to get a bear but are there any standards for anyone. Does anyone else pass on small bears or am I nuts. Just a question not trying to be rude?

[Gutpile]

Some care some don't. Some like to eat the small ones better, guys who've never shot one don't care most of the time.    I shot a 5 foot sow for my first this spring and I was happy as pie. I'll look for a bigger one next time but may not pass on another 5 footer. What meets your criteria for an acceptable bear?? Got pics???

[Michelle_Nelson]

I've never killed a bear.  Personally I'm not holding out for a trophy 300+ pounder for my first Bear.  I can't say I will kill the first thing that walks out.  I'm not going to kill a sow with cubs and I'm not going to shoot a cub.  Once I fill my first Bear Tag than I will be a little more selective of the next one I kill.

[saylean]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,9527.0.html

[boneaddict]

I probably won't shoot one this year unless Its huge or its exceptionally colored.  Thats just my bar though.  Any bear down is one not eating elk calves or deer, so I am happy.

[Diehard0123]

I hope to get my first bear this season, I will not be too picky for my first.  I hope its a big one but it does not matter to me.  After that I will be more selective in the size.

[MountainWalk]

With two tags, unless I come across a monster, I mostly will take a smaller meat bear first. But then again, I havent killed a bear in a few years, as I was being too picky. Maybe I wont be so picky this year/

[Ray]

I'm not going to shoot a cub. Seeing as how my truck just broke down this morning with a fried up electrical wiring setup I might not be finding anything to shoot. 

[Bscman]

 
I don't see in the regs where it says you can't shoot a small bear.

For some, I'm sure it's the excitement of actually getting the opportunity to take a bear--no matter the size. It takes more time to locate and take a bear than it does a deer, and many people will only get a handful of opportunities in their lifetime.
For others, I'm sure much of it has to do with the ability to accurately judge the size of a bear before the shot.
Beyond that, some would rather not pass up a unique color variant...no matter the size.

Personally, I'm holding out for a 300+ bear as well--and in years past I've even past up bears that would've gone 300-325.
I have no desire to take multiple bears, so I want to do it right the first time...and I'll hope I come across a monster with a white splash on it's chest. Most importantly, I want to do it with a bow...

[Ridgerunner]

For some, I'm sure it's the excitement of actually getting the opportunity to take a bear--no matter the size. It takes more time to locate and take a bear than it does a deer, and many people will only get a handful of opportunities in their lifetime.
For others, I'm sure much of it has to do with the ability to accurately judge the size of a bear before the shot.
Beyond that, some would rather not pass up a unique color variant...no matter the size.

 I agree with all of the above.  Bears can be tough to judge when you don't see alot of them and many hunters don't have regular opportunities to take bears, therefore they get trigger happy.  Nothing wrong with taking a younger bear just like there is nothing wrong with taking a spike or fork horn buck if thats what floats your boat.

[TheHunt]

I can tell you that if my son see's a boar he is going to take unless it is a cub.  Then he will pass of course.  But he could careless.

[sivart33]

so i ahve yet to shoot a bear, so why would i want to hold out on the first bear i see (female with cubs and cubs i will not) also with 2 tag hit a small one then go for the trophy.  also prove your worth to a useless comment.

[sivart33]

also if i have not noticed 2/3 bear of this year are first time bears, so why slam them for gettign out there and hunting?

[G.R.K]

so i ahve yet to shoot a bear, so why would i want to hold out on the first bear i see (female with cubs and cubs i will not) also with 2 tag hit a small one then go for the trophy.  also prove your worth to a useless comment.

          Whats the useless comment?I wish more people would pass on the small bears where i hunt.

[MountainWalk]

Obviously, there is no shortage of bears in WA state. I feel there is nothing unethical about taking a smallish bear.  There are big ones every where. Look a little harder, and you will find them. The first smallish bear not with ma, I will harvest. And I will apologize to no one.

[Huckleberry]

I've shot small bears and I've shot decent ones. It's all about how you hunt and what you want out of hunting. Same with anything. Some years I want a kill, nothing goes to waste and from a timber management point of view young sows would be the best to take. I see quite a few bears so my goals now are to pass the small ones and try and shoot a big and a bigger one. My brother on the other hand doesn't make it out as much and hasn't been as lucky/successful as me in the past so he'll shoot the first one he sees with the exception of a sow with cubs (like today). I don't care what other people shoot as long as it's legal, appreciated and used....besides we all have to start somewhere and there are plenty out there. If you can't find a big one because they've all been shot try an area that doesn't see 500 hunters a season

[billythekidrock]

I don't care what other people shoot as long as it's legal, appreciated and used....besides we all have to start somewhere and there are plenty out there.

Well said.

I myself have killed enough bears that I would rather kill a small one (or two). I don't need a mount and I like the meat. I agree, there have been a few small ones posted, but so far I haven't seen any bragging about size so I don't care. I think everyone who kills a small one should be proud to tell their story and share the pics. Just don't bs us and say a 150 lbers "must have been 250".

[billythekidrock]

Here ya GRK

[bucklucky]

And another thing, not all small bears are young either, just remember that. I dont care what people shoot, well with a few exceptions. As long as they are happy with them good for them. I love it when guys bring bears in bragging about hoe its 400 pounds and its really only  a  buck fifty

[GoldTip]

Bears are very difficult to judge, size wise for most hunters.  I personally don't care if people shoot small one's as long as they are legal.  Now, I can't say most of the non hunting public would be terribly pleased to see pics of some of the smaller ones that are shot, because to them they represent a cub being killed, but it's damn hard to make some non hunters happy anyway.  Kill what you want as long as it's legal is what I say.

[Hunting Cowboy]

Personally, a legal bear is fine by me as long as it's used and appreciated as someone has a;ready already stated. I agree with Bucklucky, there are a lot of successful bear hunters who call saying they killed a 300+ pounder only to find out that what they have is a nice 150 - 175 lb. bear (An average bear)

My first bear was an 8-1/2 yr old 225 lb. boar

My second was a 3-1/2 yr old 150 - 170 lbs. boar

My third was a 6-1/2 yr old 200 lbs. boar

All were exciting hunts, we ate the meat and mounted the bear as momentous of the hunt. Judging the size was easy one one and hard on the other two.

Hoping to have an opportunity for my son to get a taste of bear hunting success in a couple of weeks!

[BONE COLLECTOR]

SAVE A DEER...SHOOT A BEAR....DRINK A BEER

[Gobble]

I agree with you guys completely, as long as you are happy with it thats all that counts. I personally have never shot a bear. This is the first year I have been interested in taking one and wanting to actually target them. I've killed lots of deer and 3 elk. I hunt public land 99% time and my family loves venison. I couldn't tell you how many spikes and 2 pts Iv'e shot  just because we do love the meat and its' hard to pass up a animal when its sitting 20 yrds from you. Considering that the success rate is somewhere around 10% you should not feel embarrassed because you took a small animal, that means 90% of everyone else went home empty handed.

[zackmioli]

i have never shot a bear, and this year is my first time even bear hunting. *censored*, i saw my first bear last weekend! i will not pass on any bear i see, unless its a sow with cubs or cub.

[snohohunter]

I'm cursed with only seeing small bears this year, two to be exact.  The first one was about 100 lbs, and I passed.  The second (last night), was I would say, pushing 50 lbs...it was TINY. 

I'm not holding out on a monster, but I'd like to take a decent bear.   I have yet to take one myself, and have been beating myself up over the first one I saw....but it is what it is. 

[Intruder]

I'm not trying to call anyone out or anything I just see some small bears being posted, and I was just wandering if anyone else out there tries to only kill mature bears. I know people want to get a bear but are there any standards for anyone. Does anyone else pass on small bears or am I nuts. Just a question not trying to be rude?

Legit question.  Part of it is definition.  What's a small bear your mind?  When you figure the run of the mill bear is somewhere between 140-180 are you saying smaller than that?  Any bear 200 or > is a pretty decent bear.  When you start pushin 3 bills you're talkin real big.  I don't see any issue with folks killing bears in that 125 - 150 range... especially if they've never killed 1.  As others have pointed out.... they're not easy to judge and quite a few folks tend to over estimate weight.   

[Ellensburg]

Here ya GRK

I'd spit roast that thing and then get the hide tanned. Take the hide and make a nice winter jacket for my weener dog.

[S.O.B]

The above bear was at 245 yrds from GRK and I and to my knowledge is still alive, we have probably 10mins. of video of him and he is in the 110-130pd range. Thanks for all the reply's my questions have been answered.

[bucklucky]

Thats a perty bear

[257 Wby Mag]

What did that bear weigh you and Andy kill last year during buck season SOB? Nice hide on it.

I like my bucks and bulls way better than bear, kill any and all that are legally taken...

[257 Wby Mag]

Here's one for ya, Pard killed a few years ago, 465lbs, lewis county. I have to laugh when people tell me they killed a 400lb bear after being around this brute..

[bucklucky]

See, this is what I'm talking about, people miss judging there bears. That thing is like 200 pounds

What a pig, great picture Jud!

I was only kidding guys

[S.O.B]

What did that bear weigh you and Andy kill last year during buck season SOB? Nice hide on it.

I like my bucks and bulls way better than bear, kill any and all that are legally taken...

That was the brother that shot that one, he was 135pds Andy and I were not there to help him exercise some trigger control. Lucky for him I am always there to through them on my back and take them to the truck for him. I need to find someone bigger than me to the same might be hard at 6'5" 245 though. BTW I love that bear your pard got, thats what Andy and I are looking for.

[catwithboost]

I have a stander to what bear I will shot the milk on the lips have to be dry 

[257 Wby Mag]

What did that bear weigh you and Andy kill last year during buck season SOB? Nice hide on it.

I like my bucks and bulls way better than bear, kill any and all that are legally taken...

That was the brother that shot that one, he was 135pds Andy and I were not there to help him exercise some trigger control. Lucky for him I am always there to through them on my back and take them to the truck for him. I need to find someone bigger than me to the same might be hard at 6'5" 245 though. BTW I love that bear your pard got, thats what Andy and I are looking for.

Might wanna make him pack em out, might help with that trigger control.. grin...
Big bear like the pards are as hard if not harder to come by than a book blacktail. IMO  Too bad he shot it in the head, its head was a bigun, its canines looked like bull buglers. Later

[SHANE(WA)]

Some bears will never hit 300 lbs, just like people, some get huge some will never get big there whole life,We took a bear a few years ago a 18 yr old male that was 200 lbs, healthy bear.