pistol to finish off game during archery?

So here in VA they now allow concealed carry permit holders, which I am, to carry a pistol during archery season. I have located the living area of a few bears down here and I plan to try and take one during archery season. my question is if I shoot one and track it and walk up on it and its not quite dead, how much trouble do yall think I will get in for putting one in its head with my pistol? what about deer? it seems more ethical and safe to do that but with laws and such now and days idk if it would be worth it. Opinions?

 

Knife to the jugular?

 

I would just call the local wildlife office and ask them. Better to be safe than sorry. Those game warden can get pretty serious about that stuff. I personally think it's a good idea though.

 

Yep, call the Game Wardens first. Get it straight from the authorities.

 

Blast 'em with another arrow?
I understand your intentions but you'd probably get in big trouble if an officer saw your bear with a bullet wound.

 

In MN you will get in deep shit for doing that. What's to say which method killed the animal? I guarantee they won't take your word for it.

 

Same here in CA you cant even have a gun in your truck during archery season

 

Call the DEP. You'll probably be sorry if you shoot it with a gun and get caught.

 

This^^

 

My grandfather shot a 998lbs moose one year with a blackpowder rifle... it was on the ground and dieing (neck shot and it the spine) and then we finished it off with a rifle... lost his chance of shooting the biggest bull moose that year with blackpowder because we finished it off with a rifle even though it would have died on its own minutes later.
Best bet would be to call. I called the local virginia dgif about some questions I had with laws and counties, etc. and they were very helpful... not condesending like the ones in Maine that i grew up around.

 

i'm not a patient person. not at all.

the main mistake i ALWAYS make is not letting the animal have some peaceful time to expire. seriously, unless you spined the animal and watched it collapse, stay put and give it time. a spined animal is not mobile, but it wont die that fast either. get there and put a second arrow into it, or cut the jugular. it all happens very fast from there.

i now get on the phone and call my wife if i arrowed an animal. i talk about things to keep me from racing after the animal. i really owe it to give it some peace and quiet to die. well, i owe it to make a good shot, and then give it peace and quiet. it's last moments shouldnt be running in terror from me.