this year i was hunting I got a warning from an acquaintence of mine that he had ran into and gotten trail pictures of a very large, very aggressive black bear near where i hunt. I also had a group of loggers tell me that a very large black bear had tried to bust the windows in a truck and come in on a man. (i didnt believe that he probably just looked in there to see what was going on) i didnt really care since i see them all the time but something was different with this one apparently. A black bear......... yes, a black bear those big goofy things i usually scream at or clap my hands and they run off..... climbed my tree almost completely up to my treestand. I couldnt tell if it was rabid or what but ive never been that scared in my life. when it first came up i just hollered at it and it paused then came on up anyway. i pulled out my pistol and shot up into the air and it didnt phase him at all. He eventually got right under my stand off to the left side and i was afraid it was coming on up with me.

Before i say this next part i just want to say that ive NEVER had the desire to shoot an animal I didnt plan on eating or giving to someone to eat and i definitely didnt want to kill this thing with my bow. (which i should have probably done and called the game warden) I ended up shooting him in his front leg with my 9mm I had round nose bullets, it paused......... looked up at me for literally about 10 seconds, then just climbed down the tree like nothing happened. I got pictures of it a month later so I knew the big guy survived. I just panicked and shot it, Ive never felt so badly about anything in my life but i definitely didnt want to be lunch either. That is NOT typical black bear behavior but i still wish it didnt have to happen. I guess my best bet would be to invest in some pepper spray for next season. I have some pictures of this big guy if anyone wants to see them, taken almost exactly a month after our first encounter. When i killed my big buck last week the loggers said they still see him and say he is still extremely aggressive, they all get into their equipment and wait out him to leave. (again, i cant confirm this its just heresay) Has anyone ever heard of or seen a black bear act like this? I could understand if he was already injured or hungry but this is a very very large very healthy male.

I think you nailed the issue right there. You're on his turf.

As a side note, and admittedly Monday-morning QB'ing, why shoot up in the air when there's lots of 100%-safe backstop underneath you?

Maybe he just figured out those pale, hairless, bipedal animals aren't anything to be scared of, just soft on the outside and crunchy on the inside.

If he is "that large" it means he is getting on in years most likely. It could be he appears healthy but is not getting enough food due to dental or other issues.

It is obvious you can carry a firearm while bow hunting so if it were me, I would have a magnum class gun or 10mm when I went out there from now on.

There are plenty of people who have seen how aggressive it is, it it comes down to it, kill it, have people back you up on its aggressiveness and call the game people.

I would be concerned about other people who may happen upon the bear and not know anything about it and they get attacked or possibly killed (and eaten).

Start laying the groundwork now in case you do need to kill it. Report it to Fish and Game and make sure they talk to the loggers.

bob

There are some places where a bow hunter cannot legally carry a sidearm.

I would carry one anyway.

A 44 magnum revolver or bigger.

I've been in that situation a few times in Alaska. I draw an imaginary line and once the bear crosses, I shoot him.

It's not something to worry about but should be planned for. It's a simple matter of survival.

If he starts climbing the tree again urinate on him if that just pisses him off shoot it in the eye with that 9mm or get a BIGGER gun.
If you don't want to shoot him take some snacks with you and just throw them down. He's probably just hungry for human food (blood?).

If it has more teeth, claws or guns pointing at me than I am comfortable with, it dies. Predatory animals of all types can be deadly, so sometimes you need to be deadly first.

That's a pretty scary encounter, my friend. I live in bear country and they can shimmy up a tree like it's nobodies business.

I've got cans of 'bear mace' (5 million SKU... more than 'riot' spray in many cases) but am always concerned about drift. I caught a tiny wiff once when test spraying, and I'm certain I'd never want a face full of it.

I'm with you on not wanting to ever kill an animal in 'cold blood', but you were in some real danger there.

Do get some bear mace (REI has a good product), but I'd much rather explain an illegal kill to a ranger (iiiiiiiiiiiif it came to that) than get munched on.

I've seen enough bears, bobcats, etc to start keeping my .45 as part of my kit when camping ....

I can't even imagine the adrenaline pumping when you've got a bear lookin' at ya from the bottom of a tree! Glad you're still around to make your post, those things are scary as hell when behave abnormally.

Not trying to derail your thread, but whats your bow set up?

You "held off" longer than I could have under that situation. Maybe bear mace for ground level use if your upwind. Up a tree I think not. My thought is a Glock 20 10mm. You can try to find a used one. Even new it's cheaper and lighter than a large bore revolver. A big added plus is you can lanyard the thing to your belt.

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SOS USA

well, Ive had a very small bear stand at the bottom of my tree for a long time and never come up. she was just curious and I never felt threatened.

My bow set up is a hoyt powerhawk set to 68 pounds i have a fuse 5 pin sight.

here are pictures of the big bear below where i hunt, and yes, thats a 24 oz pepsi bottle. ive never seen one that was perfectly round with no neck and that tall, he looked like a fourwheeler coming through the woods.

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If the seasons overlap, buy a bear license or tag. Carry the big pistol AND the pepper spray.

I'm glad you can carry a handgun on archery hunts there. You can't where I live.

I can't see shooting to wound and then leaving him for somebody else to deal with who might not be armed at all. I'd have popped him right between the eyes and considered myself fortunate to have have had a handgun. I don't understand your hand wringing over this situation.

I hunt, a lot, its pretty hard to shoot something you have a lot of respect for. even if i didnt shoot it to kill it and it probably just left him with a little sting its still a hard thing to do. I dont regret protecting myself at all, im moving my treestand next year so that if he stays in that area a lot i wont have to deal with him again. There is one bear on the mountain where I hunt (a mommy bear) that has both ears tagged AND a neck collar, id hate to know all the **** she has gotten into

I think you should report this to our State DNR, with a few "edits" of course, don't mention that you had to wound it to drive it off, say it took all your bear spray and kept coming and it only retreated when you jabbed it with an arrow or a stick. I'd also tell them how to contact those loggers. This is VERY atypical behavior for a Black Bear and they'll probably set some traps for it. Most likely it's been fed by humans in the past and has lost all fear for humans, probably some idiot who put food out for it when it was a cub or yearling. Quite simply, let the state know there is a problem bear in the area and let them deal with it.

In addition, you really need to re-think your choice of a sidearm, 9mm really isn't a good choice for dealing with an aggressive bear, males of this species can hit 400 lbs or more easily. BTW, the current record is 880 lbs., taken in NC in 1998. For something that big, you really want a bigger gun, a much bigger gun.

As for shooting an animal your not hunting, keep in mind this is Defense NOT hunting. Most states understand this concept and won't pursue charges in the event of a defense shooting. However, you will face some tough questions and it will be extremely helpful if there have been prior reports of an atypically aggressive animal in the area. Thus the reason I suggest you report this, you'll not only be providing some vital documentation for yourself but also help some other hunter who might be put in the same "pinch".

Hi:
That is a BIG bear!
In that situation I would have throw fresh feces down on that bear.
Jimmy

"If he starts climbing the tree again urinate on him"....
mister yer a better man than I am if you can "make water" when a big bear is checking me out as a snack!!!!

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UNDER THE CONE OF SILENCE

"Bear" in mind that most predatory bear attacks in North America are by black bears. He may well want to eat you.

I'd kill him and not have your odd moral issues. It's not like you'd be shooting something just for the thrill of it!

BTW, a shot into the nose might be more likely to reach the brain than one bounced off of the sloping, thick skull.

I'd suggest at least a .357 Magnum with 158 grain bullets. And I'd make a point of studying bear anatomy. The zoo or natural history museum may give you some tips on bullet placement, if they aren't big-time animal huggers.

This bear is probably going to hurt or kill someone if no one takes it out.

T-Star

"shoot at nothing you do not intend to eat"
this is a good rule.
but like every other rule there are exceptions.
if not for understanding these exceptions .. I'd not be here to post this reply, and you might not have been here to read it.

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it just needs more voltage

I suspect that the OP did .. he just isnt admitting to it

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it just needs more voltage

Assuming I was able to keep the presence of mind to do so, I'd have shot the bear until I ran out of ammo and arrows. There isn't enough room in a tree for a bear AND me.

Taser, mace, or a different hunting spot. That bear is just running intruders off his home turf like we all would.

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This...is my BOOMSTICK

For me, that would be a self-defense issue to which I would respond accordingly.

All other considerations are secondary.

Sorry, but that's not completely true.

A bear will run you off until he is certain you are no longer a threat. A bear that persues you beyond that is trying to find an easy meal.

As far as bear pepper spray, mace, or tasers, don't count on them to work every time. There have been cases in Alaska where they haven't.

In my experience the only guarantee is a well placed 12 ga slug.

Cowboy up, & Bring a bigger gun, say a MOdel 29 MG

R-

Pumpkin balls are for bears.

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Lost it all in a boat accident

"Before i say this next part i just want to say that ive NEVER had the desire to shoot an animal I didnt plan on eating..."

That is generally an admirable position, but I would make an exception for any animal that appeared to be planning on EATING ME!!!

the reason i carry the little 9mm isnt for black bears. its pretty rare to actually have one get close enough up there to be a problem. usually the noise runs them off. and id rather drop a 160 dollar gun out of my treestand than a 500+ gun. i carry it as a noise maker not as a means of protection. I never expected to have to shoot that bear and if clipping him with it didnt run him off then my bow would have dropped him dead. Thats a reason i carry the 115gr round nose too, probably not going to hurt something. I guess all things considered i would be just as good carrying firecrackers. I should probably buy a bigger gun.

probably not the case ... most other bears rough you up and leave you to get yourself out of its turf ... black bears do not approach anything they don't intend to eat.

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it just needs more voltage

Maybe the bear was trying to run him off, but being immobile in a tree stand wasn't far enough away to satisfy him. But yes, such aggression would indicate that he has become accustomed to humans being around, no longer fears them, and knows that they are slow and edible (or at least have some delicious snacky-cakes in their possession).

Well, I didn't expect that the bear would pick you up by the scruff of your neck and escort you to the boundary of his territory. My point was that the hunter was on the bear's turf, and the bear was acting in accordance with his biology, whether he wanted to eat or merely frighten is beside the point.

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This...is my BOOMSTICK

You took the words right out of my mouth.

A messed up quote from Jaws - "We're gonna need a bigger boat." You're gonna need a bigger pistol.

You can make noise with a .44 as well as a 9mm, probably better.

A 4" .44 is easy enough to pack and when the ball drops, it's a lot more useful than a 9. Loaded with heavy cast bullets, you can pick any spot and shoot it and be assured of penetration - and you have 5 more waiting behind to do it again as needed.

All here admire your ethics, but remember - it's better to be around to face the music than to follow "what's right" and die for it.

The title of your post asks what to do if you're in that situation again. The answer is, you kill that bear; don't wound him and let him go on his way to endanger someone else. You seem to feel angst over having shot the bear at all. Suppose he'd happened on a Cub Scout troop later and taken out his pain and anger on them. He seems to be a threat to the community. I don't understand why no one has killed him yet.

There is no community where i hunt. There are 3 maybe 4people that actually hunt there and the occasional logging crew or fourwheeler rider goes through there, maybe a core drill group every now and then. He would have to travel a LONG LONG way to get to any civilization.

I've had bears come partway up to my treestand on multiple occasions. They don't see well and often are just trying to get a better look at something that is out of place. However, your bear sounds extra aggressive. Given the remoteness of the area you are in, just take care of business and eliminate him. If you shoot and then involve the wildlife folks around here, you'll get your butt in a wringer for a long time - what proof do you have of threat, etc. Just don't do the job halfway and make a bad situation worse. Oh, and if you want a noisemaker, carry an air horn - or upgrade to a capable handgun.

Because I used to take canoe trips in Northern Ontario quite often (not in Govt. Parks) and wasn't allowed any type of Firearm for defense I studied Bears just to learn all I could so I would at least be armed with knowledge.

I read every book and article I could get my hands on for years and talked to Wildlife Biologists as well as quite a few trappers, usually while I was on Bear hunting trips, to get their take on things.

I eventually came to one solid conclusion about Bear behavior, and that is, the only thing we can predict about a Bear is that they are totally unpredictable..........

If the bear left that bottle, can't you shoot him for littering?

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Only if it has a 5 cents deposit.

My opinion for what it is worth:

Handle such a situation as described in the same manner if it were a human.

The idea is to stop aggression. A bear can kill you just as dead as a human. I feel taking the life of a bear is far better than taking the life of a person.

Personally I would not hesitate to kill any aggressive animal and have done so on a Doberman dog. I would also not carry a 9mm into an area known to have bear, wolves, coyotes, cougars or any of several other potentially dangerous animals. A .357 or .44 mag, .45acp or .50 cal would be warranted.

what part of virginia are we talking about that this critter inhabits?

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SWCA#2208
KK4EMO

All this bear killing talk on Yogi's opening weekend...how insensitive.

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Thirty characters. Exactly...

Wasp spray often works better on bears (and people) than mace or pepper spray and is easier to find. I would have either screwed it in his eye or ear if I was going try to shoot a bear with a 9mm. By wounding him he's likely to become even more agressive.

J, would you happen to know if the berry or mast crops failed in that area this year?
Basically would a Bear be deprived of it's normal / natural food source in that area??

I have heard of behavior quite similar to what you described in the above quote happening before. In fact, I saw a video taken by a Michigander up in Canada dealing with a Bear that behaved in a somewhat similar fashion, although in the case of the Michigan man the "attack", which took place on the ground in very thick timber, ended after he backed down into a nearby Lake........

Here's the experts theory behind why a Black Bear acts the way in which you described, which they, the experts, describe as a "test stalk / attack."

Black Bears have been known to use people as a source of food if their natural supply isn't available, when they do they are usually hunted down and killed, so, because of this the trait of "people as food" isn't passed down from one generation to the next. When a Black Bear gets to the point that they have to eat something else, in this case us, they aren't sure if we are food or not, or aren't sure they can easily take us down. These "test stalks / attacks" are the Bear's way of testing us to see how we will react and are usually not the typical charge, or stalk and ambush they would normally use when after prey they are familiar with.

These "tests" are usually slow & methodical with the Bear closing the distance over time. In the case of the Michigan man he would yell at the Bear, which would then stop, look at him, sniff the air, then start to slowly move closer. As I mentioned that "attack" took place on the ground in woods so thick that the Bear was climbing over down tree limbs etc., which didn't help the guy backing away any I can tell you that. The guy who filmed this behavior probably saved his life because he kept doing all the right things, he stayed as face to face with the Bear as he could, made a lot of noise and most important, didn't try to run, which could have provoked a full out attack.

When a Bear starts acting like this around people, for whatever reason, there is a good chance someone is eventually going to get hurt. Picture what might happen if someone, who is unarmed, took a child, or grandchild out for a walk in the woods and came across such a Bear, one who is obviously unafraid of humans, once again, for whatever reason.

In one "Killer Bear" case where humans were used as a source of food the Black Bear was hunted down and killed and it was found to have some Porqupine Quills imbedded in the roof of it's mouth. Some of these Quills had worked their way up into the Bear's brain so not only couldn't it feed properly, it was probably a little angry at the world in general. You just never know..........

For at least the rest of this season you should consider a new hunting area where there have been no bear sightings reported. The local DNA and/or Fish and Game should be able to define those areas. Clearly you do not have the mind set required to do what may need to be done should you have a like same encounter. The next time you may be required to make a life or death split second decision. Predicated upon your comments it isn't clear that you can kill the animal without hesitation due to your confused moral convictions. Attempting to relay on your bow as a secondary weapon should your pea shooter 9mm fail is a poor plan at best. What type of shot angle to you think you may have once the bear has hold of one of your feet or pant legs? IMHO going into country where there have been bear sightings armed with a 9mm is irresponsible. Wounding an animal with an undersized weapon or wounding an animal to ward off and attack then not following up to dispatch the animal is again irresponsible. You never mentioned some important facts like: were you down wind, up wind or cross wind from the bear when it came in. Did he pace back and forth or swing his head from side to side before he climbed the tree? Was the bear grunting, huffing & puffing or snapping his teeth when he came up the tree toward you? It might be well advised that you speak with the local DNR bear biologist who can educate you in various bear behaviors exhibited during an encounter with a human. This would certainly help you to clearly understand the bear's intentions in the event that you do have another encounter. Do yourself a favor and purchase a .44 mag and some hard cast 240 gr. lead full power loads along with a good secure holster.

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Doug

What if you shoot a deer? Old Yogi might slip up on you while you're occupied with your kill and you might be history. I doubt he's going to let you carry that carcass out of there. If an animal (or human) stalks you, it needs killing. It will stalk someone else. Carry a bit of Elmer Keith influence on your hip.

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Wayne
Torn & Frayed

Sir, i really hope you dont think that i intended on letting that bear get close enough to grab ahold of me. Had he not turned when he did i would have gladly dropped him. for the record though the bear was making a "doof" sound the whole time he was watching me, he was also stalking two does and when they took off he must have smelled me in my tree. There are no moral convictions on my part I just felt bad that I had to shoot him, and its really hard to stop and think when you have a bear climbing up at you. Thank you for your insight and the criticism is happily taken. As an outsider looking in i would have probably said the same things you have.Thing is, these bears are usually just curious and like i said i am usually able to shoo them off pretty easily, they dont have MUCH human contact "despite this guy that has apparently been extremely busy" thats why i was so taken aback by his actions. Last year I took pictures of a sow below my treestand that was pretty much just trying to figure out what i was.

I'm guessin there is a season for Black Bear and one for deer there. We have an early bear an they are huntable during any other regular season.

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UNDER THE CONE OF SILENCE

i hunt there out of state and am not allowed to shoot bear, well unless they are trying to eat me of course. They had just recently opened up a bear season there and i think in 2 years there have been maybe 5 bear killed.