Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: boneaddict on August 14, 2010, 03:23:39 PM

Title: wouldya
Post by: boneaddict on August 14, 2010, 03:23:39 PM: take this one?
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2FAntler%2520Images%2F2010b2.jpg&hash=8206f0ed081097129007b2ca7757f45a517b9f28)
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: Machias on August 14, 2010, 03:28:50 PM: Probably
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: boneaddict on August 14, 2010, 03:30:43 PM: 45 yards.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: NWBREW on August 14, 2010, 03:45:14 PM: 1st tag yes....2nd tag no.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: PolarBear on August 14, 2010, 03:45:45 PM: Next year
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: danceswitharrows on August 14, 2010, 04:22:05 PM: Yup...first legal one in bow range is a dead one 8)
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: saylean on August 14, 2010, 04:38:11 PM: Im with my bow this year...so yes. Absolutely. Obviously, with any bear, you make sure they are free from cubs before you shoot.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: hoyt5199 on August 14, 2010, 04:48:11 PM: Oh yeah!!
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: HuntingFanatic on August 14, 2010, 04:53:10 PM: heck yeah!!!
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: 840dc on August 14, 2010, 04:57:59 PM: For sure :drool:
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: follow maggie on August 14, 2010, 05:04:07 PM: yes
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: KillBilly on August 14, 2010, 05:12:23 PM: I wouldn't take it. It looks like there may be a cub in the picture
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: bowhunterforever on August 14, 2010, 05:22:44 PM: Yep :archer:
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: boneaddict on August 14, 2010, 05:32:27 PM: WELL DONE AL!
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: boneaddict on August 14, 2010, 05:43:37 PM: I suspected after she stood there for about 10 minutes. I REALLY suspected when she started popping her jaws. I wondered how many folks would have shot as there were no cubs seen or heard. She had two of them.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2FAntler%2520Images%2F2010b1.jpg&hash=7212d9fad57a250e617b8b72afbc3980f4add27b)
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: boneaddict on August 14, 2010, 05:44:21 PM: Too small to make it if mom was shot too.
(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fv47%2Fboneaddict%2FAntler%2520Images%2F2010baby.jpg&hash=458c2305f4b0c52064f3c7eea8e26b208dc54a02)
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: Machias on August 14, 2010, 06:09:21 PM: ;) Tricky, plus no with a bow at 45 yards from that angle, but I don't think you were originally asking about taking the shot presented. Nice looking sow, I would for sure pass.....I don't really care how big the cubs are, I don't shoot sow with cubs. Thanks for sharing the photos.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: boneaddict on August 14, 2010, 06:15:09 PM: After the cubs showed up I wondered how many folks would have killed her. There are a lot of people out there that get so hyped they'll plug anything at any oppurtunity. I would have passed on her right off because of her size. I'm not a big bear eating fan. I eat what I kill, but just am not excited about it. I try to only shoot boars. This one was young enough I really couldn't tell. When she started snapping her jaws at me, I assumed there were cubs nearby. That alone would be enough to ellicit bullets from many. I just stood my ground and pretty soon one popped out, then another and off they went.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: MADMAX on August 14, 2010, 07:04:21 PM: cool picture
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: follow maggie on August 14, 2010, 08:13:57 PM: I still can't see the cub in the first picture. Without a cub, I'd shoot, with a cub I'll pass.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: boneaddict on August 14, 2010, 08:17:58 PM: It wasn't in the first pic FM. She stood there for about 10 minutes at about 45 yards at an angle most folks could have punched her. Her cubs were probably up a tree out of sight.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: Ray on August 14, 2010, 08:19:39 PM: I've shot smaller!
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: ICEMAN on August 14, 2010, 08:23:49 PM: I admit it, standing there for a long while with no sign of cubs nearby, I would have shot her. I am a meat hunter and not a trophy hunter. Freezer is on my mind and I would have shot.

Doug, nice exercise. You just may be teaching me to be more patient and look more carefully. Nobody I know wants to shoot a mama with cubs nearby...
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: boneaddict on August 14, 2010, 08:30:21 PM: Quote
I've shot smaller!

Me too.

Thanks Ice. Thats why I did it, not to sound like some know it all or pass judgement. Trying to share a lesson that thankfully I didn't have to learn the hard way. I've yet to have to gut and skin a bear with babies looking on. I've heard stories though.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: follow maggie on August 14, 2010, 08:35:31 PM: I think maybe I should try to be more patient, also.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: carpsniperg2 on August 14, 2010, 09:07:06 PM: yeah makes a guy feel good when he holds off the trigger just to make sure. then when the cubs show up its almost a reward to know you did the right thing. i would never take any sow i knew had cubs, unless in self defense situation. not saying it can't happen or won't but i try my hardest not to shoot a sow.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: Jamieb on August 14, 2010, 09:16:03 PM: I'm not a expert at judging bears by any means so tell me if I'm close.
The thin face says sow
From the Micky mouse ears and looks of the body shape I'd say smaller bear, about 125LB's.
Even close?
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: carpsniperg2 on August 14, 2010, 09:23:24 PM: looking at the build on her, and the face/head says sow to me. if i just saw that bear standing there without the cub i would be 90% sure it is a sow, by the way she looks standing there. as far as weight i can guess then pretty close, if i can see a side shot of them. the hardest andgle to judge weight is a frontal view for me and most hunters. bears are very heavy in the backend and that shows me the size of the bear as well. she looks pretty sleek in the brisket. but i would say your guess is not to far off of what i would think she would way.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: boneaddict on August 14, 2010, 09:30:02 PM: Shes about 95 give or take an ounce or two.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: h20hunter on August 14, 2010, 09:35:55 PM: I say for me, first picture yes, picture with cub no. I am still looking for my first bear and to me the first pic looks like an OK first bear. The pic with the cub is a pretty cool shot. Looks like a little tiny cub.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: boneaddict on August 15, 2010, 09:57:17 AM: Yep, they were little ones. Mom was doing a good job for being such a young gal. There will be some big ones showing up soon, so I am glad she is getting her belly full now.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: KillBilly on August 15, 2010, 11:04:26 AM: Quote from: follow maggie on August 14, 2010, 08:13:57 PM
I still can't see the cub in the first picture. Without a cub, I'd shoot, with a cub I'll pass.

Quote
looking at the build on her, and the face/head says sow to me. if i just saw that bear standing there without the cub i would be 90% sure it is a sow, by the way she looks standing there. as far as weight i can guess then pretty close, if i can see a side shot of them. the hardest andgle to judge weight is a frontal view for me and most hunters. bears are very heavy in the backend and that shows me the size of the bear as well. she looks pretty sleek in the brisket. but i would say your guess is not to far off of what i would think she would way.

Although I used the term picture, my initial thought process was the same as carpsniperg2. It looked like a sow and I would have definately waited to see if cubs appeared. In addition, knowing Doug, I assumed that there was a lesson attached to his question and there was only one correct answer. Thanks for the pictures and the lesson

Al
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: Galpster on August 15, 2010, 11:28:51 AM: WOW, Great lesson for us new bear hunters. I have to admit, I probably would have shot her. Not seeing cubs for 10 minutes, I bet most do not wait 10 minutes to take a shot. I have never waited 10 minutes but have never hunted bear before until last year.

I learned alot, thanks.

Great photos by the way.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: KillBilly on August 15, 2010, 03:09:05 PM: My buddy Jesse just told me that he had walked a closed road the other evening and sat down for a long wait. But not so long after sitting, a bear appeared on the road and began acting strangely. It crossed the road several times and after this, a cub came out of the brush. Whew...it's strange actions saved 2 lives that evening. It certainly wasn't obvious she had a cub but strange actions were a clue to their continued existence.

Enjoy your hunting experiences.
Title: Re: wouldya
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on August 15, 2010, 03:22:40 PM: Knowing it is a small bear, and likely a sow, I'd have tried like heck to make sure there were no cubs. IF I was "sure", though, I'd have shot her. Would probably let her walk and risk losing her, to try and determine if she had cubs. However, with the behavior, probably not shooting even after 10 minutes. So far I'm 3/3 passing on sows with cubs, really want to go 4/4 rather than 3/4.

If I do kill a sow with cubs, I will feel bad, but at least know I genuinely tried to make sure she didn't have any. I do have an advantage in having worked quite a bit around nuisance bears, so have a better idea than the average unsuccessful hunter wanting their first bear. I have registed dozens of bears in WY, and received teeth from dozens of successful WA hunters, so I've had the opportunity to talk with several inadvertent cub orphaners. I have never talked to a successful hunter who admitted they deliberately orphaned cubs; of the guys who killed sows with cubs, I'd say 90% felt really bad, a few are like "oh, well, stuff happens" (some of the latter I suspect knew the bear had cubs, but I am not sure).