Sow with cubs?

[Izzy]

This year is starting out great for me so far.Missed a big hen turkey and unfortunately grazed a spike horn in the Moose River Plains.Sounds silly cause theres no game in the freezer yet but Im still having a blast and the spike is still healthy enough that he probably already forgot what a Snuffer is.The coolest thing though, is that I saw a beauty of a bear with 2 70-80 pound younguns with her from my stand while scouting the southern zone.In NY you cant hunt them in the  management unit I saw them in and you cant shoot a bear from a group.Ive taken 3 over the years and probably wouldnt take another but it was a highlight of my hunting career just tosee them together.My question is if she had cubs with her is it likely she gave birth to them on my property or close and does this mean she probably doesnt travel far from there.It was 1PM and about 70 degrees.They were at a(fishless) stream and about 3/4 mile from a large cornfield.I have a feling the cubs were born spring of 06 cause of their size but Im not sure.Basically do the circumstances of the sighting lead you to believe this is part of their home range or were they just pasing through.Oh yeah its about 275 broken acres of hemlock,spruce, white pine and maple with plenty of briars in the openings.Thanks for any info.

[vermonster13]

Part of her home area would be my guess. The cubs will be shown the door by her soon.

[horatio1226]

Hey Izzy when you goin shootin?Brian

[Blackhawk]

I love bear sightings as they are one of nature's greatest creations.

At this time of year, bears are in a feeding frenzy trying to get fat for the winter. I believe berries, corn, grass, fish, and whatever else they can find and digest are on their menu.

The cubs will probably be with her until next spring when they emerge from hibernation and she goes into heat once again.

[Osagetree]

I've heard black bears can have a range of 50 square miles,,,,,???????

[Brian Krebs]

First off I find it kind of strange that the law would say you can't shoot bears in a group- not doubting it though.

 I know beyond any doubt that boars will group up and as a pack hunt together.                      
                                               
 I have been in a treestand several times and seen boars go after cubs. I have taken a bear from a group of 6 boars; and I just plain know beyond any doubt that boars form groups to prey on deer fawn and elk calves and cubs... and that they keep the groups over years.                                  
                       
 My youngest son was hunting bears one time with a gun; and shot a bear on his bait. A hunter that was watching from a distance came over and screamed at him for shooting a sow with cubs.  He had seen two 'cubs' with it- that were on the other side of the hill from my sons sight.
 
 My son came to me in tears; and we went and found the bear; which was an adult male bear: with a skull that was over 18 inches.                  
                                           
 In states where there is lots of food; like maple leaves; the bears get really heavy fast. In other states bears develop more slowly. A Michigan sow will breed having had and raised cubs that fall. In Michigan and other states; you can shoot sows with cubs; and the fish and game states- that the cubs have no problem surviving. In other states the cubs need two years to be in good enough shape to survive their first winter.
                                               
 Sows do have a small home range; and stick too it- if the food and safety is adequate. Your bear could have come from the area you hunt. The sows do not mind other sows in their home areas; but often boars will fight for territory with other boars; and the young boars will seek new territory. They cover lots of ground doing it.
 So the sow is probably from somewhere close; but the boar- that could have been a long distance love affair.
  Here in Idaho; the fish and game has learned that a bears caught in a live trap; can easily cover 30 miles to get back to the trap site.
 I have seriously hunted black bears nearly 30 years; and some of the best moments of the hunts is the appearance of cubs. They are certainly clowns; and much fun to watch.
  Boars do not hesitate to hunt and kill cubs though.
  They will eat the cubs; but it is generally thought that the loss of the cubs pushes the sow back into heat; like with African lions; and rumor has it- mountain lions too.
  One the hardest things about bear hunting is judging the size of a bear- I think that is common knowledge now.
  So seeing a bear with other bears; it often draws the conclusion that it is a sow with cubs.
  I have seen 'cubs' that were cubs; others that were two or three year olds; and again - boars hunting together.
  Just another one of the things about bears: that we have not seen enough research on.

[Shawn Leonard]

She may den with the cubs this year but will boot them come spring for sure. If they were indeed that big it is doubtful they were this years and masy of been born later than normal last year! Shawn