Post by: Tiger1358 on August 27, 2019, 11:01:54 PM
Right after sunset, decided to slowly head back to the car, which would take me about 45 mins or so. Right before going back decided to glass the hill side berry patches then head back and baaaam... I hear a bear feeding right below me, about 30-40 yards down.
I stood in the middle of the logging road on top of the hill, took out the call and starting making fawn bleats so he can show himself, otherwise there was no way to get close to him. Heard absolutely nothing for 5-8 mins.
Outta nowhere, I see a bear about 130 yards away from at the end of the logging road. He sees me and starts moving towards the edge of the hill and I had about 2-3 seconds. Although all of my animals were harvested with free hand shots, but I try avoid making dirty shots if the situation allows, but this time the adrenaline kicked in and I just thought I'd miss him if I get down to take a prone position to shoot.
I just aim and pull the trigger, making a free hand shot. Bear jumps in the air, starts rolling for a few seconds, gets up having a hard time running, falls and rolls for a second or two, then then disappears in blackberry bushes, in a nasty nasty place.
The reason I didn't make a second shot is because I initially thought he was pretty much done before he got up and disappeared.
I waited a little, then went towards the bushes. I heard constant "breaking and smashing" noises from the same exact spot about 30 yards below me. NO DEATH MOANS, NO BLOOD TRAIL. after about 15 minutes the noises stopped. I went down there thinking he was just dying, but when I got there, I still heard him moving about 10-15 yards away from me, but so overgrown i can't see him. Finally it got so dark that i barely managed to get out of that nasty spot.
Worst feeling ever...last time i lost a wounded animal was over 8 years ago and feeling the same again really sucks. I think I just made a non-vital shot. :bash: :bash: :bash:
Anyone had similar experience??? Is it even worth going back to check the place. I feel like it was just a dirty shot and he'll live.
Post by: redi on August 28, 2019, 12:26:15 AM
Post by: Eric M on August 28, 2019, 04:25:06 AM
Post by: JakeLand on August 28, 2019, 04:58:09 AM
You owe it to yourself and the animal to go back and look. My :twocents::yeah:
Post by: Jonathan_S on August 28, 2019, 05:13:38 AM
Carry a headlamp, getting dark is not a reason to give up
Dont be afraid of getting cut up by blackberries
Bear is going to die, find it and give it some honor
Post by: Skyvalhunter on August 28, 2019, 05:23:49 AM
Post by: Jason on August 28, 2019, 05:24:43 AM
I don't like being this guy but here is my take::yeah:
Carry a headlamp, getting dark is not a reason to give up
Dont be afraid of getting cut up by blackberries
Bear is going to die, find it and give it some honor
Post by: jasnt on August 28, 2019, 05:44:29 AM
Post by: dilleytech on August 28, 2019, 06:22:05 AM
Post by: boneaddict on August 28, 2019, 06:31:51 AM
Post by: trophyhunt on August 28, 2019, 06:37:53 AM
I don't like being this guy but here is my take::yeah: I'm sure the meat is gone now, but maybe get the head out with the tag? I hope guys don't beat you up too badly, you made a decision and it could just as easily turned out great. It's hunting, sometimes we don't have time to think! I have made the right decision 100% of the time when I had time to look back on my decision. If this post goes to crap, I just wouldn't say it on the net next time.
Carry a headlamp, getting dark is not a reason to give up
Dont be afraid of getting cut up by blackberries
Bear is going to die, find it and give it some honor
Post by: Letmwork on August 28, 2019, 06:40:11 AM
Post by: pianoman9701 on August 28, 2019, 06:41:30 AM
Post by: ctwiggs1 on August 28, 2019, 07:43:49 AM
Go find him today. He's right where you left him.
Bring a flashlight and everything you need to be out all night next time. That'll help prevent you from needing to come back when it gets late and you're trying to find a wounded animal.
All that said... Learn from this and become a better hunter. We've all been in nasty situations and we all had to learn from them.
Post by: tinsleystyle on August 28, 2019, 07:45:07 AM
Post by: Okanagan on August 28, 2019, 07:51:15 AM
Post by: Tiger1358 on August 28, 2019, 07:54:01 AM
But back to the subject. I'm wondering why till the last moment I left, I could still hear him moving if he was going to die. He was still moving in the bushes for more than 30 mins. The time frame would be more than 30 mins between him getting shot and me leaving, when I left he was still moving.
The meat is probably already spoiled if he died, but I will definitely check again, If I find him dead, i'll notch my tag just to feel better. We win or we learn.
Post by: Bango skank on August 28, 2019, 07:56:57 AM
Post by: ctwiggs1 on August 28, 2019, 07:58:33 AM
Were you coming on here looking for people to validate your decision to leave a dying animal on the hillside?
Post by: 7mmfan on August 28, 2019, 08:00:34 AM
And note, many people can confidently take a freehand shot at 150 yards. I'm one of them. If i'm not confident in the shot I don't take it. I have in the past and I learned from those mistakes. I would chalk this up to being one of those mistakes and learn from it.
Post by: bornhunter on August 28, 2019, 08:02:27 AM
You left while you could still hear him moving? If you could still hear him moving then you knew where he was. Why wouldnt you have gone to the noise and finished him off?
Post by: Bango skank on August 28, 2019, 08:02:48 AM
I'm wondering why till the last moment I left, I could still hear him moving if he was going to die. He was still moving in the bushes for more than 30 mins. The time frame would be more than 30 mins between him getting shot and me leaving, when I left he was still moving.
I lost a bear this year too, as have others. It happens. But here you say you left when you could still hear him moving. So you knew where he was, could have followed the noise to him and finished him off, but decided to leave? Thats absurd. You abandoned a greivously wounded animal when you could hear him, so you knew where he was. Why? Why, if you knew he was wounded, and kbew where he was, would you have walked away? The only reason i can imagine you would do that would be because you were afraid to approach a wounded bear in the brush. If youre too scared to follow up on a wounded bear, then you really have no business hunting them. Sorry dude, but thats just not right.
Post by: Tiger1358 on August 28, 2019, 08:05:09 AM
You left while you could still hear him moving? If you could still hear him moving then you knew where he was. Why wouldnt you have gone to the noise and finished him off?The moment he was 15 yards away ,when I say moving I mean walking. I could hear him walking
Post by: Bango skank on August 28, 2019, 08:08:45 AM
You left while you could still hear him moving? If you could still hear him moving then you knew where he was. Why wouldnt you have gone to the noise and finished him off?The moment he was 15 yards away ,when I say moving I mean walking. I could hear him walking
You said you still heard him moving for 30 minutes. He clearly wasnt covering ground too fast. You had ample time and opportunity to finish the job.
Post by: WildlifeAssassin on August 28, 2019, 08:09:04 AM
Post by: ctwiggs1 on August 28, 2019, 08:13:08 AM
You left while you could still hear him moving? If you could still hear him moving then you knew where he was. Why wouldnt you have gone to the noise and finished him off?The moment he was 15 yards away ,when I say moving I mean walking. I could hear him walking
This boils down to a few hard rules. Read carefully:
1) If it's still standing, you're still shooting. I don't care if it's a bear, an elk, or a duck. Don't ever think "yeah that one shot is probably fine" if it's still on it's legs.
2) If you are close to it AFTER shooting it, the animal is fatally wounded. No game animal is going to be within 20 yards of you after being anything but fatally wounded. Get in there and finish the job.
This was a learning experience.
Post by: bobcat on August 28, 2019, 08:14:14 AM
Post by: X-Force on August 28, 2019, 08:23:45 AM
Not to be a jerk, but some comments don't make sense saying "you should carry a headlamp" and stuff.It's not the first day, I have not just one, but 2 plus a flashlight and don't think there's anybody here that can say "I can confidently make a 130-140 yard free hand shot from 300 Win Mag at a vital spot". At the moment, that's your best decision and and we do the best we can. it's easy to say what you could've done better, but we all know that you wouldn't have done any different.
But back to the subject. I'm wondering why till the last moment I left, I could still hear him moving if he was going to die. He was still moving in the bushes for more than 30 mins. The time frame would be more than 30 mins between him getting shot and me leaving, when I left he was still moving.
The meat is probably already spoiled if he died, but I will definitely check again, If I find him dead, i'll notch my tag just to feel better. We win or we learn.
I have been in areas where you shoot a bear and 10 min later another bear is coming through the same area. So who is to say if it was the same bear or a second bear moving and you still didn’t put much effort into retrieving the bear. If he was still moving and you know it was him and you could hear him why not close the distance and see if you can get a finishing shot?
My brother and I have crawled through blackberry bushes for hours knowing we had a bear down. We have found them 10 yards from the shot balled up in a depression under 10 feet of bushes and down the hill 100 yards an going through hell to get them. My guess is your bear is dead and with some effort you can find him.
The meat should still be good. Even if it was a poor shot the shoulders and hams should still be fine. It hasn’t been that long or that hot.
Post by: Ridgeratt on August 28, 2019, 08:28:47 AM
Why ask for advice if you don't want to listen?
Were you coming on here looking for people to validate your decision to leave a dying animal on the hillside?
Who say's it's dead This person could have very well left a wounded bear on the hillside for the next person with kids schlepping thru the woods to encounter.
Post by: Rainier10 on August 28, 2019, 08:35:46 AM
‘Nuf said.
Post by: h20hunter on August 28, 2019, 08:39:35 AM
Post by: headshot5 on August 28, 2019, 08:40:36 AM
Post by: Angry Perch on August 28, 2019, 08:41:54 AM
Not to be a jerk, but some comments don't make sense saying "you should carry a headlamp" and stuff.It's not the first day, I have not just one, but 2 plus a flashlight and don't think there's anybody here that can say "I can confidently make a 130-140 yard free hand shot from 300 Win Mag at a vital spot". At the moment, that's your best decision and and we do the best we can. it's easy to say what you could've done better, but we all know that you wouldn't have done any different.
But back to the subject. I'm wondering why till the last moment I left, I could still hear him moving if he was going to die. He was still moving in the bushes for more than 30 mins. The time frame would be more than 30 mins between him getting shot and me leaving, when I left he was still moving.
The meat is probably already spoiled if he died, but I will definitely check again, If I find him dead, i'll notch my tag just to feel better. We win or we learn.
Wow
Post by: baker5150 on August 28, 2019, 08:42:45 AM
Go back and look for the bear.
‘Nuf said.
:yeah:
Get back in there this morning before it warms up. I bet you can salvage it.
Turn this into a success thread.
Post by: pianoman9701 on August 28, 2019, 08:49:53 AM
Post by: h20hunter on August 28, 2019, 09:12:54 AM
Post by: Buckmark on August 28, 2019, 09:38:34 AM
Post by: mountainman on August 28, 2019, 09:47:21 AM
Post by: follow maggie on August 28, 2019, 11:31:54 AM
1) If it's still standing, you're still shooting. I don't care if it's a bear, an elk, or a duck. Don't ever think "yeah that one shot is probably fine" if it's still on it's legs.
This was a learning experience.
[/quote]
I always preach this to new hunters I take out. It's better to eliminate necessary tracking if you can.
Post by: jackelope on August 28, 2019, 05:40:13 PM
Not to be a jerk, but some comments don't make sense saying "you should carry a headlamp" and stuff.It's not the first day, I have not just one, but 2 plus a flashlight and don't think there's anybody here that can say "I can confidently make a 130-140 yard free hand shot from 300 Win Mag at a vital spot". At the moment, that's your best decision and and we do the best we can. it's easy to say what you could've done better, but...
If you can’t take a shot you’re 100% confident with, don’t shoot.
Post by: BGhunter on August 28, 2019, 05:47:31 PM
Post by: Bango skank on August 28, 2019, 05:47:49 PM
1) If it's still standing, you're still shooting. I don't care if it's a bear, an elk, or a duck. Don't ever think "yeah that one shot is probably fine" if it's still on it's legs.
Even if its not still on its legs. If i shoot a bear and it hits the ground, im still shooting again. They can be such a PITA to track. Id rather give it an unnecessary double tap and maybe ruin a little meat, than lose the entire bear.
Post by: frogman338 on August 28, 2019, 05:49:59 PM
If you went to search for him, which I hope you did, I'd love to hear the results. If you end up not finding your bear, it's most likely still eating berries, worst case scenario the nature is the ultimate predator, yotes, birds, etc will get it and it won't be wasted. It's just a good lesson and experience for ya that most hunters have gone through. I can't really give any solid advice or criticize you since you were the one in that situation but I hope you'd learn something from this that will make you better. Just my :twocents:
Post by: KFhunter on August 28, 2019, 06:25:12 PM
It's hard to say where you hit him, you might have just nicked him if you didn't find any blood at all. Just because it jumped and rolled doesn't necessarily mean it was fatally wounded. Your bullet might have hit the leg or butt and it had a hard time moving and covering some ground.
If you went to search for him, which I hope you did, I'd love to hear the results. If you end up not finding your bear, it's most likely still eating berries, worst case scenario the nature is the ultimate predator, yotes, birds, etc will get it and it won't be wasted. It's just a good lesson and experience for ya that most hunters have gone through. I can't really give any solid advice or criticize you since you were the one in that situation but I hope you'd learn something from this that will make you better. Just my :twocents:
I disagree, if you read the narrative again by the OP
Quote
Bear jumps in the air, starts rolling for a few seconds, gets up having a hard time running, falls and rolls for a second or two, then then disappears in blackberry bushes, in a nasty nasty place.
that sounds like it busted a shoulder
Quote
The reason I didn't make a second shot is because I initially thought he was pretty much done before he got up and disappeared.
must have been hit pretty good for the OP to have the confidence (and the time) to pass up on a following shot, if it were just a nick the bear would have been gone before a follow up shot could be done, even on a lever gun.
Quote
I waited a little, then went towards the bushes. I heard constant "breaking and smashing" noises from the same exact spot about 30 yards below me. after about 15 minutes the noises stopped. I went down there thinking he was just dying, but when I got there, I still heard him moving about 10-15 yards away from me
So from the shot it presumably took the op a few minutes to walk/jog the 130 yards, then "he waited a little" so add time there, then walk 30 yards through thick poky brambles, then wait 15 minutes. So from shot to time he last heard the bear 15 feet away could have been 20 to 30 minutes.
Which tells me the bear was hit solid, most likely a shattered shoulder. I think a head lamp here could have saved the day and perhaps phone a friend.
Post by: jasnt on August 28, 2019, 06:40:53 PM
If any one ever needs help in the ne corner I’m happy to help as best I can.
Post by: bornhunter on August 28, 2019, 06:45:19 PM
Post by: bornhunter on August 28, 2019, 06:46:57 PM
Yup I’d bet if you posted the story and that you wanted some help recovering the bear at least a few guys from your area would be willing to drive up and help. Several times I have dropped what I was doing and headed out to help pack/recover critters.
If any one ever needs help in the ne corner I’m happy to help as best I can.
Yl :yeah:
Post by: frogman338 on August 28, 2019, 07:02:22 PM
It's hard to say where you hit him, you might have just nicked him if you didn't find any blood at all. Just because it jumped and rolled doesn't necessarily mean it was fatally wounded. Your bullet might have hit the leg or butt and it had a hard time moving and covering some ground.
If you went to search for him, which I hope you did, I'd love to hear the results. If you end up not finding your bear, it's most likely still eating berries, worst case scenario the nature is the ultimate predator, yotes, birds, etc will get it and it won't be wasted. It's just a good lesson and experience for ya that most hunters have gone through. I can't really give any solid advice or criticize you since you were the one in that situation but I hope you'd learn something from this that will make you better. Just my :twocents:
I disagree, if you read the narrative again by the OPQuoteBear jumps in the air, starts rolling for a few seconds, gets up having a hard time running, falls and rolls for a second or two, then then disappears in blackberry bushes, in a nasty nasty place.
that sounds like it busted a shoulderQuoteThe reason I didn't make a second shot is because I initially thought he was pretty much done before he got up and disappeared.
must have been hit pretty good for the OP to have the confidence (and the time) to pass up on a following shot, if it were just a nick the bear would have been gone before a follow up shot could be done, even on a lever gun.QuoteI waited a little, then went towards the bushes. I heard constant "breaking and smashing" noises from the same exact spot about 30 yards below me. after about 15 minutes the noises stopped. I went down there thinking he was just dying, but when I got there, I still heard him moving about 10-15 yards away from me
So from the shot it presumably took the op a few minutes to walk/jog the 130 yards, then "he waited a little" so add time there, then walk 30 yards through thick poky brambles, then wait 15 minutes. So from shot to time he last heard the bear 15 feet away could have been 20 to 30 minutes.
Which tells me the bear was hit solid, most likely a shattered shoulder. I think a head lamp here could have saved the day and perhaps phone a friend.
Honestly, we don't have to stick to every single word he said, we've all been in crap and nobody likes to be criticized to that point, we've all messed up before and learned from it. I'm pretty sure he posted his story to get some advice from people and not to be criticized, which he knew was coming. He said he heard the bear from 10-15 yards in light, but didn't see him, that must've been a bad place. I can't think of a reason he wouldn't approach the bear and finish him if he's already that close to him, he was almost right next to him. I feel like he needs to add some details to his story so we can all picture the whole story. I just hope he comes back with a good story.
Post by: Ridgeratt on August 28, 2019, 07:07:06 PM
Perhaps he needs a visit from them.
2. Waste of Wildlife: You may NOT allow game animals or game birds you have taken to recklessly be wasted.
By not following up this is a violation.
Post by: huntnfmly on August 28, 2019, 08:13:15 PM
Sorry to the OP that this happened it's a learning experience.
So to all of you guys who were so supportive to a fellow Hunter isn't it better to back out and let a animal lay down and die instead of bumping it?
The answer and you know it is yes and if you don't you're lying.
Wasn't he past shooting hrs?
Yes
Could he have been given a ticket for shooting after hrs if a warden was waiting for him at his vehicle? Yes.
I really can see why our recruitment for new hunters and why our numbers are going down because we have all kinds of elitists who think thier way is the only way and instead of offering guidance they jump on people. Flame away I really don't care but for the record most of you I've read enough of your posts thru the years and truly respect you but I think missed the boat on this one.
To the OP hang in there man it happens
Post by: dscubame on August 28, 2019, 08:20:46 PM
Post by: KFhunter on August 28, 2019, 08:23:00 PM
Nothing wrong with backing out at dark with a possibly wounded bear with low visibility in fact it would have been stupid.
Sorry to the OP that this happened it's a learning experience.
So to all of you guys who were so supportive to a fellow Hunter isn't it better to back out and let a animal lay down and die instead of bumping it?
The answer and you know it is yes and if you don't you're lying.
Wasn't he past shooting hrs?
Yes
Could he have been given a ticket for shooting after hrs if a warden was waiting for him at his vehicle? Yes.
I really can see why our recruitment for new hunters and why our numbers are going down because we have all kinds of elitists who think thier way is the only way and instead of offering guidance they jump on people. Flame away I really don't care but for the record most of you I've read enough of your posts thru the years and truly respect you but I think missed the boat on this one.
To the OP hang in there man it happens
I didn't bash the guy, my guidance was/is:
1) carry a good strong head lamp and
2) phone a friend and
3) go back up in the morning at first light
going up three days later to notch a tag on a rotten bear does no one any good at all. Learn from this and be committed to moving heaven and earth to retrieve your game, even if you gotta give up a super secret honey hole to get help do it.
Post by: frogman338 on August 28, 2019, 08:32:45 PM
Nothing wrong with backing out at dark with a possibly wounded bear with low visibility in fact it would have been stupid.
Sorry to the OP that this happened it's a learning experience.
So to all of you guys who were so supportive to a fellow Hunter isn't it better to back out and let a animal lay down and die instead of bumping it?
The answer and you know it is yes and if you don't you're lying.
Wasn't he past shooting hrs?
Yes
Could he have been given a ticket for shooting after hrs if a warden was waiting for him at his vehicle? Yes.
I really can see why our recruitment for new hunters and why our numbers are going down because we have all kinds of elitists who think thier way is the only way and instead of offering guidance they jump on people. Flame away I really don't care but for the record most of you I've read enough of your posts thru the years and truly respect you but I think missed the boat on this one.
To the OP hang in there man it happens
He said he heard the bear right after sunset and shot him after around 10 mins, that's pretty legal, in fact it's pretty common. I mean we don't even know the guy, he might have been a better hunter than a lotta of the guys that were jumping on him. I honestly felt bad for the dude who simply asked to share similar experience to see what'd be the best solution and get all these replies from people who might have done a lot worse if they were in his shoes. People tell him to turn the headlamp on, approach the MOVING BEAR in pitch black (that's what he said in his last reply, he said the bear was moving in the brush) when he couldn't even see him in the brush after sunset. I don't know how legal it is to shoot something that you can't even see in the daylight. And who said it was his bear? Just because he said he went down to get close doesn't mean it wasn't a diferent bear feeding that didn't give a dang about his gunshot that happened 30 mins ago.
Post by: dmoua on August 28, 2019, 08:36:48 PM
Post by: boneaddict on August 29, 2019, 06:47:15 AM
Be respectful of the game you hunt. Its not all about notching a tag.