She is a sow about 250-300 lbs and had 3 good looking little cubs about 20 lbs each with her. The cubs looked like they were in better shape than her but I guess that comes with nursing 3 cubs to that size.
Its bow season here in WV. We have been getting lots more black bears in the area and a few years ago they opened up our county for archery hunting and this year I think they are even legal during rifle season with a permit or for landowners. I have posted my land and have always protected them in the past on my place mostly because I don't care for the meat and don't hunt for trophies/hides but they have caused damages over last few years. Several years back one stepped on the valve on my natural gas line where it runs under my neighbor's pasture fence and is a natural game crossing and partially closed the ball valve. I was overseas at the time and my wife bought a new water heater before we found was just reduced gas flow from the bear attack.
My wife had seen them several times but I just saw my first one here in the woods at the back of my place about this time last year. Today I was in my 3 year old shooting house watching 2 little doe fawns under my feeder. Right at sunset the deer suddenly looked up then bolted. I looked behind me where the deer had been looking and the sow and 3 cubs walked on all sides of my shooting house right to my feeder and started eating corn. My feeder holds 100 lbs of corn and is on a cable between 2 trees. Unfortunately there is another tree growing right next to where the feeder is hanging. The sow ate a few kernels of corn then looked up at my plastic barrel and stood up next to the tree. Unfortunately she didn't stop at that but shinnied right on up and started feeding on my corn and I was afraid she was going to tear up my newest and best feeder so I had no choice. I got my weapon and loaded it. Her chest area was behind the tree so my only target was her neck area. One of her cubs started following her up the tree. I drew and shot. The feeder is only about 10-15 yards from my shooting house. Thunk - I missed and hit the tree but the bear did not leave so I reloaded and drew again. This time I hit her right where her neck joins her chest.
Woof - she hit the ground and ran off with all three cubs hot on her heels. If she comes back I will have to use a bigger marble in my slingshot!
You didn't think I would really kill a sow bear with cubs did you? Or any bear for that reason. They don't hurt anything I have and I don't want the meat and don't hunt for trophies so they are safe on my place - I just don't want them tearing down my feeders. If she returns and destroys my feeder I will just have to move and replace it - my fault for putting it where she can reach it. I'll either cut the offending tree or move the feeder at the end of the season.
Yup, you had me going so that makes me your second for today. :) Congrats on a very successful hunt. smiley_thumbsup
Haa, Haa, yes I did think you shot the critter,,, but can't blame you for not,, tough call when they, any wildlife starts tearing up stuff,, I get tired of running off the deer, darn things eat better than I do from the garden, at least this year they did,
Thank you for not killing the old girl. The corn is too tempting. Can't blame her for trying to get it. It is the nature of things.
:D
Quote from: WDH on October 06, 2015, 08:58:17 PM
Thank you for not killing the old girl. The corn is too tempting. Can't blame her for trying to get it. It is the nature of things.
Amen to that! A dog would probably keep them run off from the deer feeder. Don't know why, but black bears seem really scared of dogs.
GF,
I actually discussed taking Sampson, my 13 lb rat terrier and fishing buddy, with me today but, while he might have chased the bear off he would also have protected me from any nice deer coming out too.
My biggest problem is the doves carrying off my corn before the deer get a chance to eat it. That is why I keep a slingshot in each of my shooting houses.
Nice story, I had five under my treestand last October 1st, a sow and two different age classes of cubs. This is the first time I have ever had a bear, let alone more than one under my treestand in WNY so it was a bit of an excited moment or so with me. She caught my scent and took off like a shot but we cannot shoot them if they are in a group here anyway. I'm glad to hear most of you don't mind them around..... but I am seeing less deer than in the past. I think together with the influx of more Coyotes, our deer population is beginning to wane a bit.
I've got a "new" bear up at the cabin. Haven't seen him yet, just the piles he leaves behind after eating berries. He's safe as long as he stays outside where he belongs. The hunters kill a lot of bears in Highland County each year.
Quote from: WV Sawmiller on October 06, 2015, 08:40:33 PM
She is a sow about 250-300 lbs and had 3 good looking little cubs about 20 lbs each with her. The cubs looked like they were in better shape than her but I guess that comes with nursing 3 cubs to that size.
Its bow season here in WV. We have been getting lots more black bears in the area and a few years ago they opened up our county for archery hunting and this year I think they are even legal during rifle season with a permit or for landowners. I have posted my land and have always protected them in the past on my place mostly because I don't care for the meat and don't hunt for trophies/hides but they have caused damages over last few years. Several years back one stepped on the valve on my natural gas line where it runs under my neighbor's pasture fence and is a natural game crossing and partially closed the ball valve. I was overseas at the time and my wife bought a new water heater before we found was just reduced gas flow from the bear attack.
My wife had seen them several times but I just saw my first one here in the woods at the back of my place about this time last year. Today I was in my 3 year old shooting house watching 2 little doe fawns under my feeder. Right at sunset the deer suddenly looked up then bolted. I looked behind me where the deer had been looking and the sow and 3 cubs walked on all sides of my shooting house right to my feeder and started eating corn. My feeder holds 100 lbs of corn and is on a cable between 2 trees. Unfortunately there is another tree growing right next to where the feeder is hanging. The sow ate a few kernels of corn then looked up at my plastic barrel and stood up next to the tree. Unfortunately she didn't stop at that but shinnied right on up and started feeding on my corn and I was afraid she was going to tear up my newest and best feeder so I had no choice. I got my weapon and loaded it. Her chest area was behind the tree so my only target was her neck area. One of her cubs started following her up the tree. I drew and shot. The feeder is only about 10-15 yards from my shooting house. Thunk - I missed and hit the tree but the bear did not leave so I reloaded and drew again. This time I hit her right where her neck joins her chest.
Woof - she hit the ground and ran off with all three cubs hot on her heels. If she comes back I will have to use a bigger marble in my slingshot!
You didn't think I would really kill a sow bear with cubs did you? Or any bear for that reason. They don't hurt anything I have and I don't want the meat and don't hunt for trophies so they are safe on my place - I just don't want them tearing down my feeders. If she returns and destroys my feeder I will just have to move and replace it - my fault for putting it where she can reach it. I'll either cut the offending tree or move the feeder at the end of the season.
smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup smiley_thumbsup
Ann and I love them too.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22511/bear_2011_006.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22511/bear_2011_025.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22511/bear_2011_030.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22511/bear_074.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/22511/Deer_006.JPG)
And friends. :D :D :D :D 8) 8) 8)