Question: If a black bear is still with cubs during the November PA bear season and the mother is shot will the cubs make it through the winter? How long do cubs stay with mom? Can I make a judgement by cub size? I would not want to shoot a mother if cubs wouldn't make it. It is legal to shoot cubs in PA but faced with shooting a 300 lb mom or a 50lb cub, of course I'd opt for the larger.

In Alaska it is illegal to shoot a cub or a sow with cubs. The definition here of a black bear cub is a bear in its 1st year of life. That means if it was born in the spring, it would not be legal until the next spring season. It is pretty obvious to tell the difference between a first year cub, and a 2 year old bear.

I'm almost certain that any hunter would tell you not to shoot a sow with cubs or a cub however. I realize that people shoot doe deer with fawns all the time, but the cubs do depend on their mother for the first year of life. I would hold out for a different bear.
ArcticBowMan's Hunting Photo's

Good Advice Arctic ...its not like a deer those little guys need Mom for another year or so.

Hard to determine. In VA. it's illegal to shoot a sow with cubs. Period. However, dog hunting is allowed. A sow will put her cubs up a tree or in a den and then draw the dogs off. We stand hunt, so sometimes a bear is shot before it's treed. How do you know if a bear has cubs or not? I have never shot a bear out of a tree and don't plan to. The law state's 100# live weight or 75# field dressed. I don't know about wintering over, but a bear just isn't that important to me. I would like to think I would opt to let her(it) go. Just for the cubs sake. Just my $.02.

Good Luck. Capt Brad.

here in washington it is not illegal to shoot a sow with cubs but they tell you in the pamphlet to try not to shoot one... if i saw a big sow with some yearling cubs i would shoot one... i shot one already... other wise go ahead and hammer one if you see it

2 years ago a guy shot a sow,her cubs ran up a tree.He called his buddies & they shot the cubs.I think it's unethical although legal in Pa.I refuse to bear hunt in Pa. anymore if you want one go to British Columbia spot & stalk you won't regret it!

Well, Turd that is indeed unethical in my opinion. We have made the decision NOT to shoot a sow with cubs, period. We do have plans for a combo deer bear hunt next year, probably in New Brunswick. We don't like the baited hunts, we are looking for a good spot and stalk type hunt. If you have any specific info, please pass it along. This year with money being tight we will hunt PA. We have a camp up near the Clarion area. We have seen many bears up there, now it is just finding the right one. Thanks for answers and good luck to all this season.