Should ya, Would ya, Could ya - Bear Den

[The Hedgehog]

Weeks ago while hunting elk, I crossed a fresh bear track in the snow, up high in the Madison Mtns. I started to follow, mostly to size it up. After a few hundred hards and under a few fir trees, it was obvious it was an extra huge black bear. The elk hunting was dismal, so I kept following the track, often times through 3 ft of snow. It kept going up the drainage, and along a north facing blowdown infested hell hole. I assumed it was heading back to a den site, and decided my day was a bear hunting day now. The track was very fresh, hours at the most, I slowly followed, carfully looking for tracks going in, and coming out of piles of downed timber in the snow. After about 1.5 miles it looked like it went in, and there were no fresh tracks coming out, but some older tracks around. I figured this was it. I set up and started doing my best fawn in distress call.

 

[The Hedgehog]

 

[MTGomer]

@Southern Elk this is what I meant when I said “and? lol”
Although I was joking…. GH may not be.

 

[The Hedgehog]

The shot would be 15 yards. I called until I lost my voice and nothing. I decided to poke my head under that snag.

Turned out it wasn't the den, the bear walked over the log and the fresh tracks headed out and up, where I couldn't see them. I followed uphill another hundred yards and found the actual den. While I was calling, the bear had came out, sidehilled and obviously saw me, then continued down the ridge at a brisk stride. I followed lower, close to another mile, and could tell the bear was headed up to dry patches. I called it a day, and was spent.

 

[Straight Arrow]

Selfie with slumbering fat black?

 

[The Hedgehog]

So I had weeks to think about this. Go back or not. Thought about it daily and asked lots of friends. Opinions varied, all across the board.

So the questions remain.. should ya, would ya, could ya.?

 

[JCS]

Of coarse

 

[Johnny Bravo]

Crawl in and wait for it to come back? LOL

 

[Gerald Martin]

I could have but I didn’t.

 

[The Hedgehog]

I could have but I didn’t.

We’re you sheep hunting? Had it been an XXL boar - would you have? That doesn’t appear to be a bear you’d have shot at any time, den regardless.

 

[Southern Elk]

Was that before the last big snowfall? Do you think you can still get in there?

 

[D4570]

WOW! What a decision. I have been actively hunting bears for 50+ years and still have no pelt hanging on my wall.
I'm not sure I would have had your restraint...

 

[EYJONAS!]

No questions asked on a big boar. Kind of a bucket list item for me.

Different strokes for different folks.

#sendit

 

[Flatbrimmer]

I could have but I didn’t.

You took that video? That’s pretty cool…..

 

[Gerald Martin]

We’re you sheep hunting? Had it been an XXL boar - would you have? That doesn’t appear to be a bear you’d have shot at any time, den regardless.

This happened a few years back. It was a sow. Had it been an XXL boar it was would have probably died.

 

[Flatbrimmer]

This happened a few years back. It was a sow. Had it been an XXL boar it was would have probably died.

How could you tell it was a sow from that? Or had you been watching her much longer than the video shows?

 

[Gerald Martin]

She came out of the den a few minutes later and headed over the ridge. I got to watch her for a while.

 

[Gerald Martin]

Something tells me @Greenhorn has a more interesting story than mine…

 

[BackofBeyond]

Big boar? Ya. I’d do it.

 

[Oak]

I know the question is about morals/ethics and not laws. But it is illegal in Colorado.

"No person shall hunt, take or harass a bear in its den."

The regulation was adopted after Richard Kendall's infamous hunt.