Thoughts on this bear?

[HuntnVet]

Hi there.
Life long hunter but never been much of a bear hunter. Only ever taken two over the years and mainly because they were around every turn and the moose were giving me the slip and I didn’t want to go home empty handed.
Last fall I saw a real nice colour phase that I thought I’d like to pursue as that’s always interested me to have one.
Went scouting tonight and found this colour phase sow with a black cub. She is much closer to pack out and my spring body isn’t in the shape my fall body usually is. I’ve got a couple afternoons this week that I could burn after a bear.
The regs say you can’t take a sow with a cub under a year of age.
So my questions.
How do I know the age of the cub? I’ve seen “cubs” with sows that were nearly as big as her in the fall and thought they were too old to still be with mom. This cub is probably 3/4 her height but definite not filled out.
So, any thoughts on age?
If it is legal any thoughts on ethics?
I don’t need her that bad if the cub still needs her.
See if these pics are of any value from the distance I was.
Thank you.

[addicted]

Get in close and double check. If it’s a sow, let it walk. She keeps that colour phase going. Look for a nice boar. He’s not going to be far.

[Grizzly Adams1]

Originally Posted by addicted

Get in close and double check. If it’s a sow, let it walk. She keeps that colour phase going. Look for a nice boar. He’s not going to be far.

Judging by the ears, she isn't that big either.

Grizz

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams1

Judging by the ears, she isn't that big either.

Grizz

That's what I was thinking as well. And in my mind, rules out that it's a grizz too...

Personally, I'd pass, but I'm holding out for a big one.

[-JR-]

That one picture with the head down looks like a grizz with a hump .
A male grizz would be go after a small black bear cub but i don't thing a female would .

It would have been interesting to watch those to longer .
Did they even get closer ,maybe the one did not even know the other one was there . Could be two small bears that did not know any better .

[Pathfinder76]

Good grief. It’s a small black bear sow.

[walking buffalo]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

Good grief. It’s a small black bear sow.

Right on, Chuck.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Sows have cubs in the den and they emerge in the spring and that’s not this years cub, so it’s not a “cub” in the legal sense.

Sows colored or not always get a free pass from me.

LC

[crazy_davey]

Definitely not this years cub.

[hookset]

Not this years cub. My understanding is it would be legal. Not the most ethical thing in my eyes but if its legal have at it. I have seen colour sows with multiple coloured cubs; so letting her pass could populate future coloured boars.

I am no bear expert, but with it being legal to harvest a sow with 1-2 year old cubs does that mean there is a high survival chance of those two cubs?

Would think they would be waiting around or looking for momma bear, possibly becoming an easy meal for a bigger boar or griz.

Good luck this year

[-JR-]

Not the best picture to look at but looks like a gizz and a black in that picture.

This is how i was explained what a cub would look like if it was born that year. The cub's size would be the size of a bread loaf come spring time . From what i see in your picture that cub is over one year .

[Macdrizzle]

Strange looking bear. The light brown top with dark brown legs is pretty typical for a young grizzly but I don't see the hump from the side angle.