Is there something wrong with me?

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1481davidc

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Vanderhoof B.C.
I was out camping all last week and on the way home I had the oppertunity to drop a very decent black bear right off the logging road. but, to my supprise, I couldn't do it! I clicked off the safety several times with easy shots, less than 100 yards with my 300 win mag. but just couldn't get myself to pull the trigger. I could really use the meat as most of the fall I will be gone to school and unable to fill the freezer other than with purchased meat, something I haven't ever done. I have a feeling I'm going to regret not squeezing one off!
 
Yup, go see your doctor and have your head examined.
Seriously, are you the glass is half full or...?
There might be time yet, get out there and drop one, but I bet it wont be on the side of a logging road ;)
Rob
 
Not a road hunter? I passed a 165 class buck on year in Sask. when we saw it while driving down a back road. We stopped the truck and I piled out grabbed the rifle and hit the ditch. crawled out the other side, loaded and took a bead on the buck at 200 yards. I just looked and felt I didn't want to squeeze the trigger. I let him walk and came back and hunted the area for 3 days. Never saw him again but very happily shot a nice 11 point non typical that would go around 145. It's not always about the rack or the meat, It's about the whole experience.
 
good for you

my guess is that shooting him from the road goes against your personal code. you might have regretted it if you had fired. killing animals is a serious thing and a big responsibility. When i was much younger I never thought twice about shooting. I still hunt but I am much more selective. You did right to follow your heart.
 
Sometimes they are just too easy.

I drove around with my daughter when she was 17 for two days one time spotting bears and turning them down. "Too big" "Too small" "Too far away' "Too close" until finally she said.

"Daddy, you don't really want to shoot a bear do you?"

Finally settled on a two year old for the pot before heading home.

Stalked to within 4 metres of this one last month. Too cute to shoot.

Michelhardy2010043.jpg
 
1481davidc said:
I couldn't do it! I clicked off the safety several times with easy shots, l
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Holy Sh*t, you're turning Liberal. You can confirm or deny this by going shooting all day long, followed by huge amounts of beer at the tittie bar. If the titties do nothing for you, cut your own wrists before you infect others.
 
Something made you make that choice...don't over think it....we all make decisions that are hard t explain but felt right at the time...something like marriage....
 
I've done the same thing far more often than I'd like to admit :p

For myself, it's about the hunt, not the kill. If prey comes to me when I'm sitting in my preferred spot for the day and it's a good animal for my needs, I'll take it. If I push bush all day and finally fidn what I'm looking for, I'll take it.

In the last 10 years though, I don't think I've ever taken something that I came across "accidently" as you did with the bear. I just feel I haven't earned the right to take the animal if I haven't put my own effort and energy into it.
 
Early this bear season there was a problem bear hanging around my house, trying to eat chickens. Spring was late and there was no food for him, and he was a pitiful little bear. When he would come around,t he dogs would chase him and keep him at bay and sometimes run him up a tree.

I had a bead on him several times, once form about 5 feet away, just couldn't pull the trigger on this pitiful thing. I knew I may live to regret it, but luckily everything greened up about time the lambs were being born, so he stayed away after that. If he had got a lamb, I would have been pretty angry with myself.

Now, a big bear on the side of the road is a gimme, and I'd have shot it, unless I didn't' want to ruin my day with the skinning/butchering process.:p
 
Not a spring bear hunter, myself. I wouldn't have taken the shot at this time of year. OP mentioned laying in a store of meat since he would be unable to do so in the fall. In my opinion, there are very few meats more heinous that spring bear. They are eating everything they can find, and most of it is garbage, carrion, etc... Can't stand the smell or taste of Spring Bear. Now...a nice fall bear....that's something different....

And in the fall, I would have dropped the hammer just as fast as I could have to make the best shot...
 
There is nothing wrong with not shooting, remember the fun happens until the shot, the work starts right after. On the other hand, food at the store isn't free. If we always avoid choosing difficult options though, that is indicative of another set of personal problems.
 
Similar situation with me a couple days ago, been bear hunting awhile but decided to take my friend out squirrel hunting. While we were out we ran across a bear, relatively easy shot, and I had my .30-30 with me. But just couldn't do it, felt more like watching then shooting. But yesterday was a different story :)
 
I did the same thing one year while moose hunting. Cow and calf standing about 50 yards off the old railway tracks about 200 meters from camp. Standing there broadside as I drove the bike up and parked it. Took my gun out of the case, loaded it, walked off the road and rested rifle on my back pack. Took the safety off and they are still there watching me 50-75 yards away. Just couldn't do it, Too easy. I was ready to hike all day long stopping and calling and at 7am first morning I could of been tagged out.

I never told anyone what I did at camp, my dad would literally boot my ass LOL.
 
1481davidc said:
I was out camping all last week and on the way home I had the oppertunity to drop a very decent black bear right off the logging road. but, to my supprise, I couldn't do it! I clicked off the safety several times with easy shots, less than 100 yards with my 300 win mag. but just couldn't get myself to pull the trigger. I could really use the meat as most of the fall I will be gone to school and unable to fill the freezer other than with purchased meat, something I haven't ever done. I have a feeling I'm going to regret not squeezing one off!
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No man there's nothing wrong with you your just human and compassion is just part of human nature and even us hunters have compassion for the animals we hunt and sometimes that means letting one walk.

That being said I just found out I am successful for this years moose hunt (EITHER ### WITH THAT) so if Bullwinkle pokes his nose out and there's a pretty set of antlers on his big ole head, well compassion goes out the window, :)
 
You did the right thing. If a shot doesn't feel right, don't squeeze the trigger. When it does feel right, you will know. The only shots I have ever regretted was when i didn't listen to that "inner voice" and shot anyway. An odd coincidence perhaps, but at those times the shot was usually a miss...
Life is too short to live with a bunch of regrets, so feel free to pass up another shot like it if next time doesn't feel right either, or, just make sure you are right, then go ahead!
 
Humans are imperfect, there's something wrong with all of us, but it isn't displayed in you by this incident. Thoughtful practise of shooting and ethical hunting makes you a better person. If you didn't think it was a good day to take that bear, that's fine.
 
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