Ethical Question. Do you kill a female bear with a cub?

[tbrwlf]

I have a problem. My bait station has attracted a female with a cub. They spent 10 hours on the station yesterday eating everything I had put out.

I am normally opposed to killing a sow with cubs but I am not getting much action this year.

What do you guys think? Take the sow or leave her and hope for better later in the season.

And how do I get her out of my bait station if I don't want to take her?

 

[bearkilr]

If you need an answer to this question you'd better give up hunting. I'm pretty sure it's also illegal in most places to shoot a sow away from her cubs.

 

[PeterPan]

I can not tell you what to do, however I can tell you what I will do. I will go with my conscious. In hunting regulation there is not a word about saving a sow when she is with cubs, but we are all different.
Do what you think is right.

 

[Remington country]

Shoot her with your Camera not your gun

 

[tbrwlf]

I thank the three answers I have already.

You are right. I just wanted to see agreement for the decision I had already made to leave her.

Now I have to leave my bait station empty for a week or so until she moves on.

At least I have some nice pictures

 

[bearkilr]

Just to add, if they're this years' cubs, they will more than likely die without the sow as they'll den up with her this winter.

 

[aprilfoolsme]

In Manitoba it is against the law to shoot a sow with cubs.

It says so plainly enough, don't know about Ontario

 

[jjohnwm]

In Manitoba it is against the law to shoot a sow with cubs.

It says so plainly enough, don't know about Ontario

Same in Ontario. OP needs to read the regs more closely.

 

[Big Game]

I've had a sow with cubs at my baits many times. If you don't want to feed her and her cubs shut the bait down and move to a different bait. There is absolutely no excuse in shooting a sow with cubs when you know the situation. You guys in Ontario have already lost your spring hunt, this type of hunting will ensure you lose your fall hunt as well. Why would you even ask an opinion on a question like this?????

 

[Amphibious]

If you have to ask, yopu have no reason hunting. Can't take the time to read the regs? Take up knitting before you do something stupid and give the other hunters a bad name.

 

[tbrwlf]

As to the regs.
The bear section starts on page 75 and ends on 78.
I am not saying you are wrong about the regs but I would like to read it myself and can't find the right page. Please let me know what page the rules about sows and cubs is on?

I tried the MNR office but they are closed.

Personally I agree with all posters who are against taking a sow with cubs. I just had an argument about it with a friend who is a long time hunter. He was for taking the sow. I was and am against it.

It is nice to see so many have such strong opinions that agree with me.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

If you need an answer to this question you'd better give up hunting. I'm pretty sure it's also illegal in most places to shoot a sow away from her cubs.

x200. Illegal in Alberta as well.

Grizz

 

[sgt.rock]

NWT also a no-go for momma's and cubs.

 

[tbrwlf]

Thanks for your polite and helpful responses.

I hope you enjoy my sarcasm as much as I enjoyed yours.

 

[H Wally]

No - as far as I know BC is also a no-go, same as cougars with kittens. I generally avoid any animal with young as a rule, or if there's a calf season for moose, take the young rather than the cow, since most mortality studies show that if you offspring is still with the parent it will almost certainly not survive without it, so killing a parent and leaving the child is a slob hunting practice.

 

[bearkilr]

No - as far as I know BC is also a no-go, same as cougars with kittens. I generally avoid any animal with young as a rule, or if there's a calf season for moose, take the young rather than the cow, since most mortality studies show that if you offspring is still with the parent it will almost certainly not survive without it, so killing a parent and leaving the child is a slob hunting practice.

I agree, though it is legal for some species, such as whitetail. However, the reason it's illegal for bear most everywhere is because the young are born in January in the den and they will also spend the next winter denned up with the sow. Generally, they will not get pushed off until the following summer when the sow cycles, so essentially they are dependant on the mother for 1.5 years.
AFAIK, the only place in North America where you may legally shoot a sow with cubs is Maine.

 

[smiley1]

In Sask. we aren't supposed to take a Mother who has a cub at her side,it's in our hunting regs.

 

[Gatehouse]

Some places it's legal to shoot cubs. If it was LEGAL, then the ETHICAL thing to do would be to not shoot the sow unless you intend to shoot the cubs, too.Leaving cubs without their mother is incredibly cruel.

 

[deadeyes40]

i have 3 sows with cubs at mine.one with 3,one with 2,one with 1.along with 4-6 others which show up off and on.but my main visitors are the sows and cubs.it is illegal in NS to shoot a sow with cubs anyway.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Thinking in terms of a tree stand set-up I have at a local farm for archery, how about taking a pellet pistol or even a sling shot. Would that be enough to quietly 'encourage' an unwanted guest to leave??