Any tricks you guys got for judgin bear size???? Say a 200# shooter from a 150# walker??? Never even seen a bear in the wild before???
I was always told you look at his ears and his legs. The smaller his ears look and the shorter his legs look the bigger he is.
I am sure somebody with more experience will fill you in more soon.
I saw my first bear (other than long distance) last year during elk season. He didn't see me even though I was sitting 40 yards from him. He looked 350# when I looked down at the bow in my hands. When he got wind of me and scurried up a tree he looked around 100#. :bigsmyl:
If the ears look small, it is probably a good bear. Also, if it has a lanky look and a 'narrow' looking face, it's a little guy. Big bears look stocky, and if you can look at pictures, you can get an idea of the difference.
Are you hunting over bait? If your outfitter uses barrels you can compare them to the height of the barrel. Don't always rely on big bears having bellies that hang close to the ground. I shot a boar that was 6-8" taller than a 45 gallon drum sitting 8" off the ground. The bear weighed close to 400 alive but had long legs and his belly was over a foot from the ground. Cut a stick the appropriate length and lay it in front of the bait to estimate his size when he comes in.
And by the way, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a 150lb bear especially with trad gear.
Enjoy and good luck.
Do not use binoc's at a bear bait, Makes 'em look really big, I know! Twice!
Looking for small ears is a good idea but also look for small ears that are far apart and sit off the sides of the bear's head rather than on top.
All good advice posted above.
The thing about really big bears is that they have a swagger to their walk, a side to side motion coupled with attitude. A really big bear just exudes confidence like he owns the woods. They cover more ground than they look to be covering too. Mere photos of bears can show you ear size and belly close to the ground but actually seeing an animal's movement, when coupled with ears/head size, belly drag, ect., you get a fuller picture of the size of the animal. Another way of judging bear (at least who's in the neighborhood) is to see the racking of soft tree bark as the animal marks territory. Obviously larger bears will be able to reach higher up the tree. A large black bear will reach almost as tall as a man can reach.
If you're asking for advice on how to judge size I'll assume your just beginning to hunt bears. Keep your emotions in check and try to think rationally when in the presence of a bear. Sit back and enjoy the experience. Sometimes easier said than done, particularly in the beginning. Blacks in particular are not aggressive by nature, really timid under normal events. Not to say they are not dangerous, just usually prefer to avoid rather than confront. Ears on a large bear will appear rather small in relation to head size and situated toward the side, (say at a 45 degree angle) as apposed to right on top of the head like Mickey Mouse ears.
FYI I've found the heart to be located lower in the animal than most folks think it to be. On a broadside shot really try to hug that upper leg, lower shoulder joint. They are not as a rule difficult to penetrate, not extraordinary rib size but in fall when bulked up on fat reserves the fat has a tendency to close up around the shaft impeding blood trail. Blood trails can suffer if you don't get a full pass through. A bear will live quite nicely on one lung. (One of my past "awe-sheets").
Someone above mentioned "Lanky looking". Good choice of words...sometimes smaller bears will remind me of teenaged boys who have not yet really grown into their feet size. They have a comical gait to their movement too. They'll have that "punky" look to them, like maybe someday they will make something of themselves but so far they're just a terror to be around. I always hope a large mature bear will give those lanky looking youngsters a good butt whippin to remove some of that youthfull cockiness.
:archer:
Mike is right about big bears and attitude. When they walk, they swagger. They seem to know that they are the studs of the woods, and they act like it. Little bears act 'hinky', probably with good reason if there is a bigger bear around.
If they are puffing up and woofing at you they are probably big enough but will end up dressing about 170# :D
If you're over bait with a 5 gallon bucket around and it looks like his head won't fit inside then he's good size...Doc
What,s a good length on a black bear? Someone told me once that I could lay a marked stick on the ground near the bait to see what length they are??? from tip to tail how long is a average size shooter??? Anyone got some good videos I could borrow???
I use the "O" Shi!! factor, if you say it, it's BIG, if you don't, it's probable 150-200lb-er
A 6' blackie is a real good one.
If they look like they will fit in a 45gal barrel they are too small if they look like they wont fit in barrel shoot also if the ears look big that is a young bear if his ears are short and stubby that is likely a big bear :bigsmyl: :thumbsup:
Look at the ears, if they are little and the body is obviously big you can be pretty sure it's a taker. That's what I did last season and mine went 275 on the scale. Yep, just about 90 lbs of meat. They are pretty tough to skin out and have about 3 inches of fat in the late fall. At least my Cal black bear did.
Anyone have pics of a small one versus a big one?? any pics showin where to shoot?? Heard their kill zone is lower then one might think... All I have as a ref. is whitetails???
http://gf.state.wy.us/bearid/bear.aspx
This link is a test to see if you can tell the difference between black and grizzlies, but it shows some pretty good black bears. You probably don't have too many grizzlies in Va., but we would be happy to send you some. :bigsmyl:
Centaur, Nots hunting in Va. Going on my first hunt for bear in Quebec Canada @ the end of the month... Never even thought about it??? Do they have Grizz there??? :scared:
ttt
I have hunted Quebec several times.....be prepared for the skeeters and the black flies. I HATE black flies!! I would imagine that your outfitter will use barrels for bait which will give you a yard stick, so to speak. I am sure the oufitter will have some tips on judging size as well. Where we hunt in Quebec, a spring bear of over 300# is BIG! As far as a bear that scores, as in P&Y, B&C and such, my friends and I have taken a total of seven bears over the years that have "scored". If those seven bears, only 2 have weighed over 300# and 3 of the remaining 5 were under 250#....but these were mature bears. I believe that the preceding winter has alot to do with the weight. My first bear weighed less than 200# but was aged at 8+ yrs. The snow had been deep and stayed on late and the temps had stayed cold up into mid-May. He was skinny as were the other bears taken from that camp that year (1988 I believe). Ask questions of your outfitter and try to keep your composure when the big boy appears! Good luck my friend! Mike
here some pix for ya...whgat you youg uess the weight of this one at?
ran in to this bugga last weekend and a fellow TG got within 10 yards of him...got alot of video s well.
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/swankeer/Picture014.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/swankeer/Picture015-1.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/swankeer/Picture018-1.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/swankeer/Picture023.jpg)
(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f137/swankeer/Picture019-1.jpg)
for you farmers out there you know how high them corn stalks are for a reference to heihgt.
picture quality isn't all that great took em all on the run LOL
It's a shooter :archer:
Small ears and a big head. Look at many photos of Black Bears if/before you go. Here is another site to look at.
www.huntingclub.com/Projects/Project.aspx?id=22514 (http://www.huntingclub.com/Projects/Project.aspx?id=22514)
You'll know when they're big. Going against what was said above, I would not hug the shoulder. Slightly lower than mid body from the ground up, and a hands length back is money on a bear. I can assure you, more bears are lost to shoulder hits than for any other reason. Don't crowd the shoulder. Also, if he's sittig on his rear end, I wouldn't should either. That shoulder is back, and again, lost bear.
Good luck
If you look at this bear, you can see his head won't fit in that 5 gallon bucket and he is bigger than the 55 gallon drum. His head is quite round making his ears look off to the side and small in comparison to his head.
Remember if hunting spring bears they can look skinny in body pending their condition from last fall before dening up...Doc
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v110/tippit/Bear%20Hunt/BearHunt2006-16.jpg)
Doc is that the bear you passed on last year so he could fatten up for this year ?????? bowdoc
Bowdoc, You're up early...coffee pot must jumpin'! Doc
Oh ya about 3 am evereyday praticing for La Tuque....around 6-8 cups already.When the green flag drops the BS stops at bowdocs.....
If you see a bear like this, stop shaking and shoot.
(http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q87/blackbear1/00small71449650.jpg)
ohhhh, that's a nice bear!
I thought I have seen plenty of bear in the wild until I went hunting for them. I thought I knew what a big bear looked liked. The bear that I shot was a small bear. I thought he was a good size until we walked up to him. Very hard to judge.
They don't get much bigger than this(for a black bear)yes!!! it's a blacky
(http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w27/kingwouldbe/bigbear11-09-07.jpg)
No they don't!
What about this guy?
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/steadman_2006/IMG_1867.jpg)
(http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h160/steadman_2006/IMG_1868.jpg)
David, that is a HUGE bear!! Don't know if I could stop shakin on that one!
Craig, New bear hunters always need to factor in Ground Shrinkage :eek: The first one on a stand is Huge!!! Doc
I'm guessing John D's is a shooter for real!!! But I don't think I would take steadmans???Nose looks kinda long, ears on top and it dont have that John Wayne look about him??? Am I right or wrong guys???
Just me, but the coat and color alone would cause me to pull back on steadman's bear...... :bigsmyl:
Never been bear hunting, but that one is a fine looking representative of the breed, IMHO
John D's picture of the crease on the foread and Tippit's Picture of the round Pumpkin face are good indications of a shooter. Nice pictures everyone
That bear of David's is a knee-knocker too. Gosh-I really want one. Didya hear that Tom Phillips? Grant
String Cutter,
Just to keep the record straight, I did not take the pic of the bear, I got the pic some other place, and posted it to show you, a big black bear.
That being said, and please don't take this the wrong way, but every bear that comes to a bait are not that size. I would be more than happy with steadmans bear, especially being a color phase, and being your first time and never had taken a bear, I see nothing wrong with that bear.
Black Bears will fool you even people with experience, the bear in my avatar or in my profile, was I believe 170# when I shot it the bear looked 200-225 easy, low light, heart pumping and the bear was bigger than the others I've seen that evening. Am I proud of it, hell yes! I shot it with the Little Delta Bow, to me that bear is as good as 12 foot Polar Bear.
You will do just fine, there is a lot of very good advice posted for you. Just go have fun, and remember ANY BEAR taken with archery tackle especially trad gear is a trophy.
This is a P&Y bear everyday. Being from Missouri I had to learn how to judge a bear. Experience is the greatest teacher.
Look at ear size, width between the ears and for the crease on the forehead. Don't get excited and kill the first bear you can. Wait, watch and then you will know when you get close to a big bear.
John III
(http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m123/JDS3_2006/Archery/100_1061.jpg)
You need to make up your mind to have a good time. It makes living with ground shrinkage easier to swallow. Seriously, I have only been bear hunting once, but I learned quickly that spring bears are hard to judge.
You also need to make up your mind what value you place on a color phase bear. That will likely depend on their frequency in your hunting area. I know guys who would shoot a 150 pound color phase bear in a heart-beat because they are not as common in their area.
I saw a couple posts about shooting low. Aim for the lungs. There is a lot of fur on the chest of a bear and it is easy to shoot too low. They don't jump the string. Trust me. I know!
I plan on first having fun.... If I have a Sow and two cubs come in and play around me.... It'll be worth the trip to me. I love animals.... But, at the same time I don't want to kill a yearlin either. Would rather let him walk.
Tom, the Bear that John D posted was off my trail cam where you are going with me. He is bigger than the 400# 21 3/4 bear I shot in '03 in my avitar and it was at Ron's camp, I'm guessing 450 and over 21".
That picure was taken 2 days before the end of last season.
Greg, I hope I meet him . Seems Like a really nice bear!!!! :thumbsup:
Two bear that pics were taken in the same spot. the first is a large boar and the second is a young sow with three cubs. I have photos of the boar going back three years
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s299/RocoleJ/MDGC0083-1.jpg)
(http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s299/RocoleJ/MDGC0025.jpg).
Greg, youi got any more pics to share of bears in that area? :campfire:
OK..I got a question about the 'young sow with 3 cubs'...I thought that young sows didn't have 3 younuns at a time. That 'young sow' in the pic looks like a pretty decent sized sow.
Yeh or Ney?
I've seen quite a few bears in the Cohutta wilderness, and when you've seen a few, you start developing a sense of what's big and what aint.
If you have a chance to get to a bear habitat, just go an sit for a few hours, and asked the keeps there about certain bears sizes.
I had only seen a couple in the woods when I went to a bear habitat....and it helped a bunch to see them in person, and at close ranges. Pictures do help, but nothing like seeing them in person.
Terry-
I have seen 4 cubs with one sow; all little cubs. I sometimes think they will adopt them??
My youngest son was bear hunting once with a rifle; and shot at what he thought was a nice bear. It rolled down the hill and took off into the brush; and another hunter came over and berated him for shooting a sow with cubs.
He drove home to get me-to help find it; and he had cried his eyes out over shooting a sow with cubs.
Turns out it was a boar; with an over 18 inch skull. The 'cubs' were not his!! nor no doubt 'cubs'.
Boars will group up together; I have seen 6 in one group; and they were a hunting machine!
I have tagged a lot of bears; and yet last spring I shot a small sow. I thought it was the biggest bear I had ever seen; and although it was not a tiny bear; it fell short of the 650 pounder I shot once- by about 500 pounds :thumbsup:
string cutter,
that pic that John posted was taken on Gregs trail cam at the very same place we will be in a few weeks.Greg D. is who I am referring to, he is who you contacted to go to Rons camp. Looking forward to meeting you there.
Ron A
Sorry I didnt see Gregs post :(
Nuther little trick we used on stand.
Place a "story stick" across the trails.
Basicly a long stick propped up across the trail at 34-36".
If the bears back brushes the stick when he passes under it is most likely a shooter.
Take you time and enjoy them.
More than any other critter, bears are subject to massive amounts of ground shrink.
You do not want to be able to carry him home in a bait bucket...
Terry
Sows with three cubs are pretty common in my area.This is her first set of cubs. She looks large but I would say she is at most #200-#250. The boar in the other pic is in the #450-500 range. I know this sow because she has some distinct markings that I have seen on her since she was a cub three years ago. Herself, the boar and several other bear are regular visitors to my food plots.
Thanks.....around here, 200-250 would be a decent bear spotted....and a definite shootable boar in the wilderness.
Got a zoo here in Richmond that has 2 Black bears. Going to go set with them for awhile tomorrow. Don't know what size they are yet???? But, I'm hoping this will help me judge some..... Anymore helpful hints or great pics.???
QuoteOriginally posted by String Cutter:
Got a zoo here in Richmond that has 2 Black bears. Going to go set with them for awhile tomorrow. Don't know what size they are yet???? But, I'm hoping this will help me judge some..... Anymore helpful hints or great pics.???
I'd like to hear about what you though when you get back.
Well, They had this one I got to spend an hour with. BUt the also had another that was only about 2/3 his size. Is this a shooter or not???? I think I'ld have to let the string twing if this one came under me..... The yare some really awsome amimals to see up close!!!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/stringcutter/0513081503a.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/stringcutter/0513081459.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v731/stringcutter/0513081501.jpg)
String, Bears are like Deer in away, most are just shooters, some are to young or to small and some are monsters.
Any legal Bear you shoot as your 1st will be a fine animal, then if you dig Bears, you can go for a big one just like a Whitetail.
I'd say sow around 175-225 for most this is a shooter.
Have fun on your Bear hunt
If you can curl one backstrap into a 12" iron skillet, you'll know that next time, you'll want to shoot a bigger one.
I'm guessin Biggie you're like me and can throw down on some grubb??
Remember one time @ an all you can eat China Rest. My brother and I got thrown out. Cause all we were eatin was the shrimp.& crab legs.. "You got now! You cost to much money!! Must go!!! can't stay!!!""