RE: Never been so scared in my life!
 

Dude it wasn't just one time. Go back and look. I was sincerely wanting to know.

The rest of your diatriabe....I'll write off. Good luck if you decide to go ahead and bait the bears.......or was that just a misconception, too?;)

RE: Never been so scared in my life!
 

In my limited knowledge of bears,it is a very bad idea to shoot a sow with cubs because the cubs will die without her.

So,if those with experience could confirm,I would let her go untill she has no cubs.

RE: Never been so scared in my life!
 

WOW, im glad that one didnt get ugly!! It could have!!

RE: Never been so scared in my life!
 

I've been between a sow, and cubs. Never a good, nor fun experiance.

Yes sir. (Only) 17% of a bears diet is meat. They prefer berries, plants, and acorns as Steve elluded to. Is there a lot around? This is a reason many people in MN don't get their baits hit.

This depends, of course, on how old the cubs are.

RE: Never been so scared in my life!
 

IMO the cubs will be fine as long as there in good shape If a sow was shot. Some states allow a sow with cubs to be shot, some don't. If the cubs are that tiny when they den up with the mother they won't make It through hibernation anyway. If there in good shape they'll make It just fine on there own.

RE: Never been so scared in my life!
 

Awesome, and a bit scary, story. I have never seen a bear in my life, it is something i want to do.

Heres one for you Matt,

Opening day of turkey season this year me and my brother are on a ridge not far from where he shot his turkey two years ago. Its starting to get light and i see a doe scamper by at about 10 yards. About a minute later, i hear some more rustling and 2 German Sheppard's run by on its trail. The first dog was normal size and color but the second was absolutely huge and almost all black. They get out of sight without seeing us and we resume hunting. About 30 minutes later 2 does come flying by on the trail again. Knowing what was coming i turn around to see the two dogs hot on there trail. Before i could do anything they are out of sight again. We kinda felt like wewere inthe movie "The Sandlot";).

That 2nd German Sheppard was not normal and it still kinda freaks me out how close they got without seeing us. He had to weight at least 150 lbs, because my lab/Sheppard mix weighs 100 and its dwarfed by this beast.

RE: Never been so scared in my life!
 

that would be scary! glad your ok!

rick

RE: Never been so scared in my life!
 

Consider yourslef lucky, you could have ended up in a bad place if you were to come between her and her cubs, it would not have gone over as well as it did. But you did the right thing by making yourself appear larger and making enough noise. Bears do not like human interaction. I have had several run ins wiht bears and the best thig to do it not panic, make a ton of noise entering and leaving the woods, and make yourself look big. You may want to invest ins some bear pepper spray or consider carrying a pistol, nothing smaller than a .44 mag. if thats legal for you.

RE: Never been so scared in my life!
 

in my thread Bear hunt '08 i posted pictures of my families bear hunt this year. two of the 3 bears that were shot were spinned witha rifle. both were tracked and walked up on in the dark. one still had a lot of fight in him and charged at the people who were tracking it. the funny thing is that they were crawling on the ground to keep the track in the thick brush of the north. and came just about face to face with a wounded pissed off bear. needless to say the hunter who apparently has a depth perception problem shoots this thing 3 more times. i guess he and his tracking partner backed out leaving it till the morning. came back out and found it half eaten by the wolves. this guy wasted 1500. on a bear hunt to tag a spoiled half eaten bear. all because he cannot shoot straight.

RE: Never been so scared in my life!