Bear hunters - shoot or pass

[Capp35]

Probably in the 250+ lb range.
Young, but would make a nice first bear. Would also depend if this is a once in a life time hunt, or are you going again.

[Boyd1212]

Never shot one so he would be dead.

[bowhuntvideo]

Thanks for the input. Back story is we hunted 7 days on Vancouver Island and the weather did not cooperate. Saw very few bears, and got to stalk even less. That's hunting. I get it. Outfitter was proud of his record bears and thanked us early on for not shooting smaller bears. Promised a discount on future hunt if we did not get a bear. Last day, this opportunity came up and they strongly discouraged me from shooting. I still kick myself for not being more forceful as this would have been a fine trophy for me and my first bear. I thought I would at least get a shot next year at a decent price as promised. Long story short, he never came through with the promised discount and I came home empty handed. It was an expensive lesson. I will keep trying as I really want a bear rug, and the video of a bow kill bear, however with a different outfitter.

[Texastaxi]

Dang, that sucks!

As for my answer ... not yes, but HELL yes, on the last day.
Even moreso if it was my first bear.

I haven't killed enough bears to pass any. I'd shoot boo-boo, on the last day if it meant I would come home WITH a bear.

Ask Humper about his toilet seat cover!

[DuckDogTrainer]

A bear in hand is better than two in the bush!

[poisonivie]

I'd insist on that discounted hunt if he offered it.

[speck1]

That is a tough one. I have never had an outfitter discourage a paid hunter from killing a bear. If it is legal to kill it then you should have been able to do so. That would have been a great first bear! That kind of thing eats at you. My first bear hunt I killed one right at dark the last day. I had passed it 3 or 4 times. It was a 250 pounder that looked just like the one in your pic. I was not going home without a bear. Since then I have been more selective. You are just gonna have to go back. The one plus for hunting over bait is you make the call and shoot whatever bear you want.

[BTLowry]

Being I have never shot a bear and it was the last day I would have shot

[Chew]

That's a tough deal. Do you happen to have his discount offer in an email or voicemail or on their website? If not, tell him you want to book a hunt but you want him to honor the discount he told you about for not shooting a young bear. Show him the picture and say you really wanted to shoot that bear but decided to hold off since he offered the discount. He if he says no, blast him all over the internet and Facebook and wherever.

[Mossback]

looks big enough to kill me so i would shoot it. That's really bad business by the outfitter

[Capp35]

Probably never filled your tag and re-sold it.

I can give you the name of a great outfitter in Manitoba if you PM me. Saw 13 bears just the first day I was out.

[Drop Tine]

This is a time where it's definitely appropriate to advertise who the outfitter was if he doesn't come through on the discounted hunt. The fact that he discouraged you from shooting a decent sized (and legal) bear is bad enough. I'm going this May in Saskatchewan and I will shoot anything legal if it comes down to the last day!

[bowhuntvideo]

Sean Lingels' Canadian Guide Outfitters. Not saying they did not try, but Sean never lived up to his commitment for a discounted hunt. I believe a man is only as good as his word...