What would you do if you come across a bear while hunting other animals?

[Squamch]

We had a sow popping her teeth at us last bow season. We temporarily departed. She followed us part way out staying just down the hill out of sight.

But if it's just a bear doin bear stuff...carry on unless it's a big one, if that's the case, I'll shoot it and eat it.

[albravo2]

I'd get over my self-righteousness and shoot the bear.

Do you eat your own roadkill? Do you not practice any pest control? Collateral damage is a fact of life. Break eggs to make omelettes.

Judgey much?

This from the guy that complains that HBC has too many critical opinions.

[Fisher-Dude]

I think one of the rifles was found with a "jammed cartridge"!! (straight from the CO who was on site).
So, ya, leave them "In the Chamber" with the safety "ON".
And with partners, they should do the same.
That each gun is ready.
Also, make sure you get to "know your partners rifle" as well, and how "it's safety may differ from yours" etc.

To add, I also have a nice little 12 ga Maverick Security that often wears its 18 1/2" barrel.

Used it as the "guard gun" when I was dressing out a nice WT doe last year solo in g-bear country. A bunch of slugs in the tube and one in the chamber with a quick 2-position cross-bolt safety. Bob's yer uncle.

[Surrey Boy]

Judgey much?

This from the guy that complains that HBC has too many critical opinions.

Yet I still make unpopular posts. There's intended to be some nuance inferred.

[Bugle M In]

Man, the way this thread is going....the OP isn't even want to go and step out of the truck! especially if he is new to the
"lifestyle and hunting".

[tomahawk]

There are black bears everywhere I have hunted over the decades. I never or seldom worry or think about them unless I see them. When I was solely a bow hunter I spent countless days every year putting stalks on blacks to hone my hunting skills in stalking an animal. When I got within 20 yds I would draw my bow and take aim but never would release the arrow, I just called out "boo" and watched each and everyone of dozens of blacks get the heck out of dodge. Some would fall from being so scared and claw at the ground as they regained traction, all ran away from me, some would get into thick bush and growl and snap their jaws and shake trees. I never ever would do this to a sow with cubs or a griz...FYI. When ive got meat in the field I keep my ears and eyes open, had to run a few blacks off my late kill the next morning when I returned to get the dressed meat but not many.

[Bugle M In]

You know, I have had a few close encounters (scares) with Grizz.
Biggest fear is always walking into OR WORSE, finding myself in between a sow and her cubs, OR, walking into a
gutpile from a previous hunters kill that I was unaware of.
NOTE: keep yourself aware of the Ravens around you.
You'll either hear a pile of them, all in one area, near the ground, which will tell you something is dead right there OR,
You will notice ravens here and there, sitting on the trees, but you will realize there are quite a few around, which means there is something dead near by....but....something bigger is now on that piece of meat ie bear.
BUT, this biggest scare I ever had was being stuck in a "Lightning Storm"....up close and too personal for my comfort!

[scotty30-06]

Yup being caught up in a storm is not joke.....hunting a favorite spot of mine....was suppose to drizzle that day nothing crazy.....im 6 hour hike from the truck when over the hill comes wind and absolute down pour...huge banks of fog and just like that my trail back disappears into the storm.....shyyyt....spent that night nessled up under and overhang and waited out the night...woke to a clear blue sky.....and trail laid out infront of me like a golden carpet in the sun....thank god im going home lol

[drbb]

I'd get over my self-righteousness and shoot the bear.

Do you eat your own roadkill? Do you not practice any pest control? Collateral damage is a fact of life. Break eggs to make omelettes.

If I do not want to eat bear, I do not shoot it (self-defense is different). As for roadkill and pests, I do not shoot them either.

[drbb]

Black Bear, and he buggers off, I wouldn't worry so much.
If it gets late, just open it up, pull the guts out, put something in the chest cavity to keep it open, and hang your
sweaty hat, shirt or whatever on it....and come back at 1st light.
Grizz, if I was alone, might be different.
Depends how "open" my surroundings are, or what kind of thick crap it dropped down in, or could drop in?
If your uncomfortable, don't shoot, but as many say, bear are around, even if you don't see them.

I do recall a time when we took one elk, early in the week.
Bears showed up to the gutpile a day or so later, after we took the meat out already.
Saw one bear (black) get chased away by a much larger black, who took over.

After getting his fill, he sauntered off into the trees not far from the kill...probably taking a nap.
This was by no means a small bear, big enough to handle himself with most other blackies.
But, all of a sudden, 20 minutes later, he's runnin at full tilt in the same direction he chased off the 1st blackie!!??
Why....Grizz.
A day later, and my last night, I had a bull come out, broadside, with maybe at best 45 minutes before dark, only
about 500 yards from the 1st kill site....
I passed...and it was a nice bull...really nice.

Why?...because he was faced in a direction heading towards the 1st site, and it was thick stuff going that way.
If I didn't drop him in his tracks...who knows, I may have spent all that night, or next morning looking for him.
Maybe not to find him, and I needed to get back to work the day after that...but.....I also knew I had a GBear around,
and with 1 around a gutpile, probably more in the area by now.
Didn't think it was a positive situation....and not worth the hassle....
Some guys will gut and pack out thru out the night...by themselves.
For me, I will let it sit till the a.m if need be if I am alone...gut only.
OR, leave it, and that way you don't have the "smell of guts" in the air all night.
(how many have shot something, only to find it the next day, and all is fine with the meat....lots)
It may not be ideal, but if it gives you ease of mind, then that is the only person you need to answer to.
Honestly, there are times I think nothing of it, and times where for some reason, it does....maybe it is my "gut sense"
talking to me.
Probably why you see more hunters in the AM hunting, and by evening, they are already at camp....
They won't admit it, but the truth is, "they don't like the dark".
I think if you can look at it from a history standpoint, most people who work thru the night, do fine, don't get mauled.
But, being with hunting partners IS different then hunting alone.
Go with what works for you in your mind.

Thank you to you, caddisguy, and Fella for your insights