Big bear: woud you?

[drahthaar]

I'd say dogs or bait give exponentially better odds of killing an animal than finding a den with an animal in it. Just my opinion.

Absolutely, I am just throwing stuff out there for good conversation. I was thinking if you found bear tracks here with snow on the ground late in the season, that bear isn't going to be far from that den, short track, certain death.

And, on an even lighter note, I just can't see you being too proud of a half-yard shot from that ultra mag of yours on a sleeping bear. Now you go in there with one of your Skyblades in hand and kill that bear, then I could see the stories of "that Greenhorn guy" being told 'round the world.

 

[drahthaar]

Interesting question.. I bet it would take me much more effort to find a good bear in a den than to find a good bear out feeding.

Edited.. Looking at the regs, it's illegal to disturb dens.

Well that settles that, I can go back to not thinking of doing such a thing again.

 

[HUNTMAN]

It takes some huge balls to crawl in a bear den.Kudos to this guy!

 

[Oak]

Well I can tell you guys that the DOW already has an issue paper circulating that will make it illegal to kill a bear in a den in CO. That didn't take long.

 

[tjones]

"Willie Landem...fishing guide."

This specie of fish is very easy to hook and even easier to land.

 

[shoots-straight]

I may be stupid or confused but that is for another thread. This discussion is not in our state . I referenced the state this happened in.

Colorado's statute says:

33-6-127. Hunting with artificial light, night vision, or thermal imaging devices.







(1) (a) Unless otherwise provided by commission rule and except as provided in section 33-6-107 (9) for persons owning or leasing land, members of their family, or their agents, it is unlawful for any person to utilize any artificial light as an aid in hunting or taking any wildlife. For the purposes of this subsection (1), the possession of any firearm with cartridges in the chamber or magazine or loaded with powder and ball or a strung bow, unless the bow is cased, while attempting to project any artificial light into areas where wildlife may be found is prima facie evidence of a violation of this section.

You also know the intent of this law, I hope.

 

[BuzzH]

Typical knee-jerk reaction to something that likley happens less than one time per year....more stupid laws.

 

[wingman1]

This bear has me fired up. I have only killed two bears in my lifetime. Both were with a bow. neither were huge. One was a spot and stalk when I was 15 years old. The other one bumped into me elk hunting and I barked like a dog and put it up a tree. I think I will have to give it another go this spring. Time to try to kill a huge boar any way that is legal. Good luck bear hunters this spring.

 

[Khunter]

new sport.....bear noodling.

I like that! but , no, I would not shoot a bear in his den. I am suprised the guy can hear all that criticism after firing a gun in a cave....

 

[Big Fin]

Wow,. seasons have been closed for less than a month and we are already having these cordial discussions. Can't imagine what it will be like come the end of March and cabin fever is at its peak.

Carry on.

 

[Lawnboy]

This bear has me fired up. I have only killed two bears in my lifetime. Both were with a bow. neither were huge. One was a spot and stalk when I was 15 years old. The other one bumped into me elk hunting and I barked like a dog and put it up a tree. I think I will have to give it another go this spring. Time to try to kill a huge boar any way that is legal. Good luck bear hunters this spring.

Should of stuck around one more day and you'd of had a nice chocolate picking around your elk gut pile. I was laying on the hillside in the trees and he walked up on me at 30 yds stood on his hind legs and grunted at me. I was real close to having a bear episode to ruin Randy's elk hunt

 

[Spitz]

Who in their right mind would go into a bear den after a monster bear?

The guy snuck in on a bear, during bear season and cornered it. Could have ended up much worse. The bear had a way out, it was right through the 200 pound animal blocking his exit.

If CO doesn't want bears shot in their dens, the season needs to close earlier IMO.

I don't see that this guy did anything unethical.

 

[Oak]

The DOW person I spoke to today made a good point. Bears will still be killed in dens if a person is motivated to do it. The DOW will never see the kill sites. The only reason they heard about this one is because it is a potential state record.

The fact that this case drew so much publicity kind of backed the DOW into the corner. Hunters would likely lose any ballot initiative proposing to limit any predator hunting in this state. We already lost trapping and spring bear hunting that way. There are just too many non-hunters here these days.

 

[twodot]

If shooting a denned bear were legal, and I found huge tracks going into the den. I would be shooting me a bear. No difference in my mind from stomping on a brush pile to run out a rabbit or pheasant.
I have to say I would consider it my lucky day.
If it were spring, and you saw a bear dig out of a snow covered hillside and step out into the sunshine, how is that any different from a "fair chase" point of view? I wish states would set bag limits and quotas based on the best biology they have and leave the moral judgment out of regulations. Heck, you can trap or snare a bobcat or wolverine, and I don't see them as any "less" magnificant an animal than a bear.
I do think that our hunter in Colorado has made trouble for himself by using his flashlite. Bet it costs him his bear.

 

[Brisco]

Lots of talk about a light being used but the way I read the article was. He was close enough to see the bears nose "without a Flash Light". I didnt see any where he said I crawled in there with a flash light and shot him. Any ways I dont know that I have the cojones to crawl into a bear den regardless.

 

[wingman1]

Should of stuck around one more day and you'd of had a nice chocolate picking around your elk gut pile. I was laying on the hillside in the trees and he walked up on me at 30 yds stood on his hind legs and grunted at me. I was real close to having a bear episode to ruin Randy's elk hunt

Hey Lb, thanks for sharing that info. That's doesn't surprise me. I don't knap well in that place. It is the land of bears and big cats. I saw seven bears in one evening west of your camp this year. I had a sow and cub wake me from a knap at ten feet. Only way I new what it was is because they woke me up when they bounced off the fence . There is one real big all black one that comes through there. Going to try for him this spring.

 

[tjones]

Dang, he spit the hook.

 

[Devil Diver Down]

Wow,. seasons have been closed for less than a month and we are already having these cordial discussions. Can't imagine what it will be like come the end of March and cabin fever is at its peak.

Carry on.

Was thinking the same exact thing. A tone I haven't seen at all the previous 11 months I've been around, but it's a growing trend. And as my wife says about me, I don't get butthurt. I give it. Maybe everyone just needs more holiday cheer?

As for the bear, no way I'd crawl into that den with a bear 700 lbs or 70. Hunting cats and bears has never appealed to me (don't see anything wrong with it either) but there is a big difference biologically (if I'm not mistaken) between an elk bedding down (matter of hours) and a hibernating (much longer stretches) bear. I would say the bear is far from the top of his game in such a case, but everybody has to make that call for themselves. I don't expect others to live by my rules nor do I want them to expect the same from me with their guidelines.

 

[Bucnutz.wis]

If CO doesn't want bears shot in their dens, the season needs to close earlier IMO.

Diddo that - there is no way I'd have the walnuts to go into a bear den with a flashlight to shoot a trophy like that, or any bear... just unethical to me.

I'd maybe chase him out first, then shoot - just not inside his den.

 

[thecrittergitter]

This bear has me fired up. I have only killed two bears in my lifetime. Both were with a bow. neither were huge. One was a spot and stalk when I was 15 years old. The other one bumped into me elk hunting and I barked like a dog and put it up a tree. I think I will have to give it another go this spring. Time to try to kill a huge boar any way that is legal. Good luck bear hunters this spring.

So if i come across a guy crawling around the woods on all fours, barking like a dog, it will likely be safe to assume its you? LMAO