Sow bears and boo boos - let's see them.
- Thread starter The Hedgehog
- Start date
Pucky Freak
Well-known member
After reading all @Greenhorn ‘s reasons not to shoot a small bear, I still headed out for my first bear hunt thinking, “I will be lucky to even see a bear…I’m not going to be picky.”
Then a few days later I got to see a very small sow with 3 cubs at close range in the Tetons. It was definitely an eye-opener. I think I’d struggle to pull the trigger on a bear that’s about 24” tall at the shoulder and only slightly bigger than my dog. The desire to shoot is a lot less, and I wonder about how it would feel to walk up on the carcass too.
Then a few days later I got to see a very small sow with 3 cubs at close range in the Tetons. It was definitely an eye-opener. I think I’d struggle to pull the trigger on a bear that’s about 24” tall at the shoulder and only slightly bigger than my dog. The desire to shoot is a lot less, and I wonder about how it would feel to walk up on the carcass too.
Bambistew
Well-known member
Do the emojis at the end mean punch a teddybear in the face?
blueridge
Well-known member
We have a 100lb live weight/75lb dressed weight requirement here in VA. I honestly don’t know that I could tell a 75lb bear from a 125lb bear. Had a “big burly” one walk through my yard this morning. Let my dog out after it and they were about the same size. 
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PAGOAT
Active member
Not what I expected my first bear to be, they look bigger alive
. Hunting the riverbank for doe and saw her 60lbs
blueridge
Well-known member
Had one bluff charge me and my dog on our hike this evening. Started to climb a tree then decided we weren’t worth the effort. Sure made it seem bigger than it probably was. In all seriousness, when there’s a state regulation with a minimum weight, how would someone who has never hunted bear even know how to estimate?
(My phone camera sucks in low light.)
(My phone camera sucks in low light.)
RyGuy
Well-known member
If it’s big enough to be on its own, it’s legal.
Khunter
Well-known member
cubby killer. LOL
David Gough
Well-known member
Have your fishing guide friend take a really close picture to make it look large.
Hilljackoutlaw
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 15, 2019
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Don't know the killer, but this Lil fella made the big time a tavern wall.
elkduds
Well-known member
Chad Gus
Well-known member
Looks like my PTR-91. Killed my first 2 elk using a similar rifle and iron sights. Still bring it along as my back up, but sure glad I have a lighter rifle now! Looks like a nice bear!Don’t forget about taking advantage of any handy stump! Because this was my first opportunity at a bear of color, I just couldn’t resist..
BTW - as this mid-80s photo shows, I was a pioneer in the use of the MSR for hunting. I wish I still had that rifle.
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BAKPAKR
Well-known member
It was an authentic H-K.
The Hedgehog
Well-known member
First dead bear my son ever saw was killed by a very good friend of mine in the infamous Bear Trap. This photo was taken the next morning when we recovered the bear we assumed was a "decent" boar with a big white patch on it's chest. Turned out it was a tiny sow with small white patch. My good pal would not pose for a photo.
We left my son and daughter in the car. Daughter was 1. Son had a radio and called me, "Dad - Olivia pooper her pants and it stinks in here!" We got in position to shoot across the river. The bear was on a very open hillside and kept disappearing, for minutes at a time. Then just magically reappearing. Had we watched more carefully, we'd have noticed all that was happening was it stepping behind sage brush that was taller than it.
The next morning the boys were laughing and talking while we dressed the bear. "Wow Bears are WAY smaller than I thought!" "Yeah, kind of looks like my grandpas dog Maddie" Maddie was an Australian Shepard. When hiking out on the trail, the boys took off way ahead of us and I told them to wait up there were bears around there.
"We're not afraid of bears no more!!"
We left my son and daughter in the car. Daughter was 1. Son had a radio and called me, "Dad - Olivia pooper her pants and it stinks in here!" We got in position to shoot across the river. The bear was on a very open hillside and kept disappearing, for minutes at a time. Then just magically reappearing. Had we watched more carefully, we'd have noticed all that was happening was it stepping behind sage brush that was taller than it.
The next morning the boys were laughing and talking while we dressed the bear. "Wow Bears are WAY smaller than I thought!" "Yeah, kind of looks like my grandpas dog Maddie" Maddie was an Australian Shepard. When hiking out on the trail, the boys took off way ahead of us and I told them to wait up there were bears around there.
"We're not afraid of bears no more!!"
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Derek44
Well-known member
The Hedgehog
Well-known member
This one’s making the rounds..
Alf got shot RIgHT In THE FUGGIN HeAD.
HIGH FiVE!!
Alf got shot RIgHT In THE FUGGIN HeAD.
HIGH FiVE!!
RyGuy
Well-known member
That dudes face! 
he looks like he knows
he looks like he knows
