One of the joys of living where i have lived for as long as i have is that i come to understand some of the rhythms and patterns.
I can glass some great country from my yard, and depending on the time of year i can watch elk, moose, deer and spring bear.
Early last night i caught sight of a decent bear in my binos. Broke out the spotter and thought it might be the decent colour phase boar that i had watched last spring. I had been on the bear for a couple of minutes trying to figure out which bear it was as it fed in an open grass patch when i caught motion in a tree about 60 yards behind and uphill.
I watched and realized it was twin cubs that were about 50 feet up a tree. The sow would swing her head around to look in their direction every few minutes and i'm guessing would "woof" at them to keep them up the tree.
They were up there for almost fifteen minutes before she led them down and to the next grassy spot 200 yards to the North.
Mature sows (she is a nice sized bear) will not always have first year cubs within reach. A buddy of mine that has since passed on was a guide that had a sport shoot a great bear (squared almost 6'7"). He swore it was a good boar, and they watched it for almost 20 minutes before he gave the go ahead.
He always said it was the worst hour of his life as those cubs squealed in a nearby tree while they skinned the "boar" that was a sow.
Be patient and confirm what you are killing. Even if sows with cubs are legal in your area (not in BC), it is still a poor look for hunting and conservation.
I can glass some great country from my yard, and depending on the time of year i can watch elk, moose, deer and spring bear.
Early last night i caught sight of a decent bear in my binos. Broke out the spotter and thought it might be the decent colour phase boar that i had watched last spring. I had been on the bear for a couple of minutes trying to figure out which bear it was as it fed in an open grass patch when i caught motion in a tree about 60 yards behind and uphill.
I watched and realized it was twin cubs that were about 50 feet up a tree. The sow would swing her head around to look in their direction every few minutes and i'm guessing would "woof" at them to keep them up the tree.
They were up there for almost fifteen minutes before she led them down and to the next grassy spot 200 yards to the North.
Mature sows (she is a nice sized bear) will not always have first year cubs within reach. A buddy of mine that has since passed on was a guide that had a sport shoot a great bear (squared almost 6'7"). He swore it was a good boar, and they watched it for almost 20 minutes before he gave the go ahead.
He always said it was the worst hour of his life as those cubs squealed in a nearby tree while they skinned the "boar" that was a sow.
Be patient and confirm what you are killing. Even if sows with cubs are legal in your area (not in BC), it is still a poor look for hunting and conservation.
