Kenetrek Boots

Big bear: woud you?

Interesting. I hadn't thought of that. I looked up the CO statute:

You know what the purpose of that law is. Now if you want to try using this against this guy then I guarantee you are guilty too. Have you ever Hiked in the dark using a headlamp while carrying a loaded gun?
 
In the BS I watch showing them taking the Cubs out with Mom there she is always half asleep until they drug her. Was this Boar also in a daze from his body slowing down for his winter sleep? That is what puts it from being like a Bear or Cat in a tree. John
 
Might be a stretch, but would it not be considered spotlighting to be using a flashlight inside the den?

Yes, it'd be spotlighting IMO.

That being said, I think it would be a load of fun to track bears to their dens and kill one. It'd take a lot more skill and boot work than shooting one flipping over rocks on the beach. No real difference in my opinion of setting up on a known bear den and shooting the bear when it crawls out in the spring.
 
You know what the purpose of that law is. Now if you want to try using this against this guy then I guarantee you are guilty too. Have you ever Hiked in the dark using a headlamp while carrying a loaded gun?

Hiking with a headlamp is a little different than using artificial light to assist in accurately aiming your weapon.

Obviously the DOW did not feel that the regulation applied in this case.
 
In 1986 I was hunting deer/elk in Montana over Thanksgiving weekend and it had snowed about 2 inches. I noticed a large pile of dirt at the base of a tree and strolled on over for a look. I looked into the hole at the base of the tree and saw a bear denned up. It would open its eyes and moved around a little. I had a bear tag, season was open, but I never even thought about killing it. I do have some pictures around here somewhere of it though.

I think this is a case of coming down to personal ethics as I dont see a problem within the law. I also dont see how B&C could deny the acceptance of it either, with the exception of maybe the light. But, the bear wasnt shot before or after legal shooting light...
 
I see two differences between the two. First, you can't confirm (unless you go climbing over the adult) that there aren't any cubs further back in the den. Second, it's probably a little more dangerous for people to go digging around in dens than chasing animals into tree. The second reason doesn't really concern me. We'd probably be better off as a species if we weeded out the folks willing to go into a den to shoot an animal.

I think the principles of the hunt are the same. Find a track, follow that track until you find animal, and then shoot said animal. Both a den and a tree are places of security and the animal isn't usually moving in either situation (this is an assumption since I've never been on a bear or lion hunt). I think some could even make the argument that what this guy did is more sporting than guys hunting with dogs. At least he tracked the animal himself.

If you're going to make the argument that we shouldn't be able to chase bears or lions with dogs then I think you could also make the same argument for bird hunting. Same principles to the hunt except this time you're shooting a moving animal, which is probably even less ethical given how many birds hunters wing and don't recover.

Like others said, it a question about ethics. I don't think I have it in me to shoot a bear or lion, but I understand why others would want to. Just not something I think I'd enjoy. My hate for hunting with dogs is actually just limited to the rednecks back home (Virginia) who run deer with dogs. It ruins the hunting for anyone else hunting within miles of those idiots. I'd hate to know how many deer are wounded from dog hunters in Virginia. We have several hundred thousand to spare and they're doing everything they can to increase harvest, but it paints a pretty ugly picture about hunting for the nonhunting crowd when they drive down the road and see a dozen guys sitting on their tailgates with their antennas out and shotguns ready.
 
Don't know what I would do in the "bear in the den" scenario. There might be a difference if I tracked it in there myself vs. just stumbled upon a sleeping bear in a den. If it was done legally, I don't have a problem with it.

I'd like to shoot a lion some day. I definitely wouldn't consider it sporting though. I've got quite a bit of respect for serious houndsman..just not the type of hunting for me though. I definitely would never hunt bears with dogs.
 
Well I haven't killed a lion yet, although I spent 2 months running the dogs everyday to get them in shape, shoveled a mound of dog crap from the kennel, and have spent 6 days snow mobiling and hiking looking for a track and have yet to put one up a tree,,,seems this cat hunting is easy.

Maybe I could spot one from a plane.
 
A bear in a cave? Count me in! Is it more sporting to wake it up before you shoot it?

I've shot animals in trees, lots of them, and I'm not above ground pounding feathered friends either.
It's very nice to know I'm in the company of some very ethical folks here.

I take it few of you guys have played gas the gopher or nighttime starling tennis or baseball..
 
“I went in about 6 feet, and I could just see the tip of his nose without a flashlight,”

If you spot game with an artificial light, then shoot it in the dark but between the hours of legal shooting light, it should be 100% legal.

I hate guys that use hounds to run dogs then mad I use bait. I hate guys that use traditional and say compound bow hunters are cheaters. I hate Fly fishermen that think spin casters are unethical. I hate..... Well, I guess I'm a hater ... :(

Can't sleep at night ? Seriously ? I'd kill that bear and sleep well. Probably better.

On the cubs.... the law states (in Idaho at least) you can't shoot a sow accompanied by cubs. If you shoot a sow then see cubs after it's 100% legal. That's one of the reasons I like baiting. You can see and observe the bears for some time before flinging an arrow or pulling the trigger. If he didn't see any cubs, it's legal, even if it was a sow.

Is a bear in a tree any different ?

DRAKE..... come on, never hunt a bear with dogs ? I bet if you drew a GREAT tag in the deer wintering range you'd have no issue pulling the trigger on a winter range deer.

I guess we all draw lines. but sounds like most of you have some Crooked ass lines to fit what you can justify or what you think others would judge you with.

Pathetic........

(OK, JC hasn't posted but that should keep you busy for a few pages)......
 
What a lot of upland hunters don't get is how hard it is to limit out on birds with fewer shells than the limit, if your first shot isn't in the dirt. :D

Drake.. coons in the attic, better with a .22 pistol and a case of PBR.
 
DRAKE..... come on, never hunt a bear with dogs ? I bet if you drew a GREAT tag in the deer wintering range you'd have no issue pulling the trigger on a winter range deer.


I have nothing against hunting bears with dogs, or anybody that does. If it's legal..have at it. I just don't want to do it. Bear hunting is one of my favorites, but I wouldn't get excited about chasing them with dogs. Just me though.

No problem with baiting either, I'd like to try it someday. I don't know if I'd like it or not.

I'd love to draw a great mule deer winter range tag.
 
Well I haven't killed a lion yet, although I spent 2 months running the dogs everyday to get them in shape, shoveled a mound of dog crap from the kennel, and have spent 6 days snow mobiling and hiking looking for a track and have yet to put one up a tree,,,seems this cat hunting is easy.

Maybe I could spot one from a plane.

Poor tjones. I'm sorry you haven't found your cat yet. Last time I attempted to cat hunt ,.I put up three different cats. I would say cat hunting is not a difficult sport. It just takes a few resources, a little determination and a little luck. Keep at it, .you'll get one if a wolf doesn't eat your dogs first.

Now, why are you so stuck on this airplane thing? Do you feel left out or something? Speak your mind or quit with all the jabs.
 
You know what the purpose of that law is. Now if you want to try using this against this guy then I guarantee you are guilty too. Have you ever Hiked in the dark using a headlamp while carrying a loaded gun?

How's does walking with aid of artificial light, compare to using the light to harvest big game? As long as you don't use it to kill one, it's not even the same thing. You have a right to cary a loaded rifle with a light, even to spotlight. Ever here of the 2nd Amendment? I wonder if the fact that the bear was killed during legal shooting hours, that it was alright.

I came across a bear in his den a few years back, while elk hunting. As I walked past the hole in a fir tree, he had his den in, and he rolled his head out and looked at me. I was just few feet from him, as I walked by I pointed my .280 at him and told him to stay put. I doubt he knows English, but he just watched me walk by. I had no thought of killing him like that. Just me.
 

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