Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 03:46:10 PM


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Title: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 03:46:10 PM
So the question and topic come up all the time.

"What did that bear weigh?"

"Oh about 300 pounds" is the standard answer for a mature bear. Studies show that you're wrong.

But I'm not here to berate you, I'd like your help in testing two methods for judging a bear in the field.

The first is the length-girth chart.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170516/f4c2f7b3b981e760620052bb1d946402.jpg)

Length is a skinned bear measuring from tip of nose to tip of tail.

Girth is measured behind the front shoulders all the way around the body.

Obviously in some situations a tape measure isn't handy. So take a piece of para cord and tie a knot at the length location and one for the girth and check when you get out.

The other method requires a small luggage scale (less then 75 lb capacity) and involves weighing each BONE IN quarter minus feet and multiplying by 3.25 (thanks to a forum member for this method).

So 100 pounds in quarters would equate to a 325 pound bear.

And of course if you can get a picture of a bear before you gut him hanging on a scale AND then do the aforementioned methods to compare accuracy that would be even better!

Happy hunting, and really curious to see the results!


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: sumpnz on May 16, 2017, 04:14:59 PM
Tag.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: jackelope on May 16, 2017, 04:15:52 PM
So the question and topic come up all the time.

"What did that bear weigh?"

"Oh about 300 pounds" is the standard answer for a mature bear. Studies show that your wrong.

But I'm not here to berate you, I'd like your help in testing two methods for judging a bear in the field.

The first is the length-girth chart.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170516/f4c2f7b3b981e760620052bb1d946402.jpg)

Length is a skinned bear measuring from tip of nose to tip of tail.

Girth is measured behind the front shoulders all the way around the body.

Obviously in some situations a tape measure isn't handy. So take a piece of para cord and tie a knot at the length location and one for the girth and check when you get out.

The other method requires a small luggage scale (less then 75 lb capacity) and involves weighing each BONE IN quarter minus feet and multiplying by 3.25 (thanks to a forum member for this method).

So 100 pounds in quarters would equate to a 325 pound bear.

And of course if you can get a picture of a bear before you gut him hanging on a scale AND then do the aforementioned methods to compare accuracy that would be even better!

Happy hunting, and really curious to see the results!


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you're wrong
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: fillthefreezer on May 16, 2017, 04:17:44 PM

you're wrong
your 2nd internet win of the day. when your hot youre hot i guess... :bow:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 16, 2017, 04:29:42 PM
So 100 pounds in quarters would equate to a 325 pound bear.

Not a chance this is accurate.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: fillthefreezer on May 16, 2017, 04:35:08 PM
So 100 pounds in quarters would equate to a 325 pound bear.

Not a chance this is accurate.
i havent tested it myself, but the person i heard this from has killed a heap of good bears. its not like bear quarters are big...
heck even that toad we just cut up, the quarters fit in TAG backstrap bags... ive cut up a few big bears and they dont yield much meat..
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: PastorJoel on May 16, 2017, 04:37:19 PM
No matter how large the bear is that I will get, it will weigh 325lbs.  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: jackelope on May 16, 2017, 04:39:43 PM
@high country
Did you weigh anything on your big bear?
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 16, 2017, 04:43:53 PM

@high country
Did you weigh anything on your big bear?


I scaled the hide with skull and paws @ 75lbs.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 16, 2017, 04:44:57 PM
So 100 pounds in quarters would equate to a 325 pound bear.

Not a chance this is accurate.
i havent tested it myself, but the person i heard this from has killed a heap of good bears. its not like bear quarters are big...
heck even that toad we just cut up, the quarters fit in TAG backstrap bags... ive cut up a few big bears and they dont yield much meat..

I agree, however, you can't tell me the head, hide and guts make up the other 225#.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: jackelope on May 16, 2017, 04:48:28 PM
100 pounds in quarters
75 pounds in hide, skull and paws.
Is there another 150 pounds in guts, spine, rib bones, etc? I'd guess it's close to that. I don't know. I've never been around a dead bear. Never packed one out.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 16, 2017, 04:58:52 PM
I'll get a weight on it before I cut it up. I figured about 50 lbs of blood, guts and trimmed junk on mine. It's a pretty large bear for the spring based on what I've been around in my area. Most seem to be in the 175-225# range. I guessed the one in my profile pic @ 275 live weight. I'm about #240 in the picture.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 16, 2017, 05:04:59 PM
100 pounds in quarters
75 pounds in hide, skull and paws.
Is there another 150 pounds in guts, spine, rib bones, etc? I'd guess it's close to that. I don't know. I've never been around a dead bear. Never packed one out.


150 is pretty optimistic IMO.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 16, 2017, 05:13:56 PM
100 pounds in quarters
75 pounds in hide, skull and paws.
Is there another 150 pounds in guts, spine, rib bones, etc? I'd guess it's close to that. I don't know. I've never been around a dead bear. Never packed one out.

I think you have 100# tops there Jack.  That's probably high.
And a 75# Head and Hide package is huge.

I've packed out numerous bears, always in pieces.  I've never had a whole bear to weigh, so it interests me.

One thing is for sure, it takes a big ass dog to weigh a ton.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 05:32:24 PM
100 pounds in quarters
75 pounds in hide, skull and paws.
Is there another 150 pounds in guts, spine, rib bones, etc? I'd guess it's close to that. I don't know. I've never been around a dead bear. Never packed one out.

I think you have 100# tops there Jack.  That's probably high.
And a 75# Head and Hide package is huge.

I've packed out numerous bears, always in pieces.  I've never had a whole bear to weigh, so it interests me.

One thing is for sure, it takes a big ass dog to weigh a ton.

100 lbs in quarters for a bear is a monster.


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Title: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 05:33:09 PM
But this thread isn't for arguing about anything. It's to gather quantitative data.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 16, 2017, 05:46:47 PM
I just measured my bear chest @ 43". He stood about 6'5". The height is something of a guess as he was in rigor a bit and my tape stopped @ 72"....he bested that by about 5".
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: brew on May 16, 2017, 06:00:20 PM
100 pounds in quarters
75 pounds in hide, skull and paws.
Is there another 150 pounds in guts, spine, rib bones, etc? I'd guess it's close to that. I don't know. I've never been around a dead bear. Never packed one out.

I think you have 100# tops there Jack.  That's probably high.
And a 75# Head and Hide package is huge.

I've packed out numerous bears, always in pieces.  I've never had a whole bear to weigh, so it interests me.

One thing is for sure, it takes a big ass dog to weigh a ton.

100 lbs in quarters for a bear is a monster.


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maybe i'm a little confused about the thread but if i'm reading it right as far as the calculations go if you take the 4 bone in quarters of a bear (minus rib cage) and they weigh 100 lbs total than the live weight of the bear would be 325 lbs ?  is this what i am reading ?  yes i've had a couple beers and can't expound further on the virtues of my wisdom until i know that is what i'm reading ?!?
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 06:00:54 PM
I just measured my bear chest @ 43". He stood about 6'5". The height is something of a guess as he was in rigor a bit and my tape stopped @ 72"....he bested that by about 5".

Which according to the chart puts him at 265.

For some additional information, in California the average adult male weighs about 190 lbs, where on KUIU island where food is extremely plentiful and nutritious, an adult male black bear weighs approximately 254 lbs.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 06:02:15 PM
100 pounds in quarters
75 pounds in hide, skull and paws.
Is there another 150 pounds in guts, spine, rib bones, etc? I'd guess it's close to that. I don't know. I've never been around a dead bear. Never packed one out.

I think you have 100# tops there Jack.  That's probably high.
And a 75# Head and Hide package is huge.

I've packed out numerous bears, always in pieces.  I've never had a whole bear to weigh, so it interests me.

One thing is for sure, it takes a big ass dog to weigh a ton.

100 lbs in quarters for a bear is a monster.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
maybe i'm a little confused about the thread but if i'm reading it right as far as the calculations go if you take the 4 bone in quarters of a bear (minus rib cage) and they weigh 100 lbs total than the live weight of the bear would be 325 lbs ?  is this what i am reading ?  yes i've had a couple beers and can't expound further on the virtues of my wisdom until i know that is what i'm reading ?!?

That's one of the methods we are checking, and comparing it against the length/girth chart.

But yes your math is correct.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 16, 2017, 06:05:18 PM
I just measured my bear chest @ 43". He stood about 6'5". The height is something of a guess as he was in rigor a bit and my tape stopped @ 72"....he bested that by about 5".



Which according to the chart puts him at 265.

For some additional information, in California the average adult male weighs about 190 lbs, where on KUIU island where food is extremely plentiful and nutritious, an adult male black bear weighs approximately 254 lbs.


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I'll let you know when I get him off the hook....perhaps tomorrow.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 06:06:55 PM
I just measured my bear chest @ 43". He stood about 6'5". The height is something of a guess as he was in rigor a bit and my tape stopped @ 72"....he bested that by about 5".



Which according to the chart puts him at 265.

For some additional information, in California the average adult male weighs about 190 lbs, where on KUIU island where food is extremely plentiful and nutritious, an adult male black bear weighs approximately 254 lbs.


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I'll let you know when I get him off the hook....perhaps tomorrow.

Do you have him whole and hanging?


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 16, 2017, 06:35:31 PM
Pretty much. I lassoed him by the waist and hoisted him up with a chainfall. It's not the prettiest rig, but it was late abd I was alone.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 06:42:43 PM
Pretty much. I lassoed him by the waist and hoisted him up with a chainfall. It's not the prettiest rig, but it was late abd I was alone.

I assume he's gutted though right?


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 16, 2017, 06:47:11 PM
But this thread isn't for arguing about anything. It's to gather quantitative data.


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No arguing boss. Just discussion.  ;)
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 16, 2017, 06:50:25 PM
Pretty much. I lassoed him by the waist and hoisted him up with a chainfall. It's not the prettiest rig, but it was late abd I was alone.

I assume he's gutted though right?


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You're kidding, right?
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: brew on May 16, 2017, 07:40:24 PM
100 pounds in quarters
75 pounds in hide, skull and paws.
Is there another 150 pounds in guts, spine, rib bones, etc? I'd guess it's close to that. I don't know. I've never been around a dead bear. Never packed one out.
so according to this math if the front shoulders minus the ribs weigh 20 lbs each and the back quarters weigh 40 lbs each than that is 120 lbs hanging quarters (times 3.25) so that bear was 390 lbs live weight ?  that is the biggest load of crap i have ever heard of

I think you have 100# tops there Jack.  That's probably high.
And a 75# Head and Hide package is huge.

I've packed out numerous bears, always in pieces.  I've never had a whole bear to weigh, so it interests me.

One thing is for sure, it takes a big ass dog to weigh a ton.

100 lbs in quarters for a bear is a monster.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
maybe i'm a little confused about the thread but if i'm reading it right as far as the calculations go if you take the 4 bone in quarters of a bear (minus rib cage) and they weigh 100 lbs total than the live weight of the bear would be 325 lbs ?  is this what i am reading ?  yes i've had a couple beers and can't expound further on the virtues of my wisdom until i know that is what i'm reading ?!?

That's one of the methods we are checking, and comparing it against the length/girth chart.

But yes your math is correct.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 16, 2017, 07:46:59 PM
I think I read: that is the biggest load of crap i have ever heard of

Is that correct Brew?
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: CarbonHunter on May 16, 2017, 07:58:14 PM
My last bear measured 72" long with 47" girth. The taxidermist said it probably weighed about 300-325 live weight. I had 110 pounds of cut and wrapped meat.

Your chart would be close but multiplying the bone in quarters by 3.25 looks like a bunch of crap.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 08:03:24 PM
I think I read: that is the biggest load of crap i have ever heard of

Is that correct Brew?

So I'm assuming none of you guys have actually weighed quarters.

How much meat do you think we got off this bear. And how much do you think he weighed?

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170517/0f145284fa6e1311e2c7ee845afad300.jpg)

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170517/1d848160b819536178fc1706eee79e80.jpg)


How about this bear?

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170517/79aaaf0f4e8310ab95bd5a5ac4797343.jpg)

Or this one?

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170517/9c424fb6afbff6a3a3b38ec0117631d0.jpg)

In my experience the majority of bear weight is NOT in the quarters.

And the rear is certainly not double the size as the front.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 16, 2017, 08:10:23 PM
Silk- I haven't weighed quarters. I'm not arguing, honestly.

I'll go out and say the first bear you posted was probably 300# live. He looks heavy coupled but not very long.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 08:11:10 PM
My last bear measured 72" long with 47" girth. The taxidermist said it probably weighed about 300-325 live weight. I had 110 pounds of cut and wrapped meat.

Your chart would be close but multiplying the bone in quarters by 3.25 looks like a bunch of crap.

Got a picture?

Also was that 110 pounds brought in or after mixing with pork?


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 16, 2017, 08:18:28 PM
It's really tough to judge weight based on pics because there's rarely any scale to measure from. Without knowing you I might guess you're 6'-2" and you could be 5'-4". I tossed some pics with my tape just to get a baseline for size. I tried to gage using your rifle, but being behind the bear makes it tough.

It's all just for fun anyhow. I've killed some studs and dinks over the years and anymore I'm just happy to have some time to spend in the field soaking up memories.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 08:21:06 PM
Silk- I haven't weighed quarters. I'm not arguing, honestly.

I'll go out and say the first bear you posted was probably 300# live. He looks heavy coupled but not very long.

It was about 74-6" it was just longer then my wingspan and I'm 6'2".

We had to trim some bloodshot and lost almost all the meat on one quarter thanks to a Hornady ELDx.

Butcher weighed the Meat in at 30 lbs.

That bear took 4 grown men to move.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 16, 2017, 08:23:01 PM
So you had 30# of meat?
How much do you think the whole bear weighed?
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 08:29:15 PM
So you had 30# of meat?
How much do you think the whole bear weighed?

Hard to say. Between all of our guesses it ranged from 265-300

I think that's a fair analysis.

So probably between 70-80 pounds of quarters with the lost meat and bones maybe? equates to 230-265 pounds based on that formula, which comes in a little low for our guesses which is the opposite of most people's opinions on it.

What I'd like to get going forward is some more data to compare BOTH the chart versus the formula to see if they ballpark each other.

Not argue about what the scale in a hunters mind estimates it at... 😂😂😂

How big was that fish?


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 16, 2017, 08:33:16 PM
Maybe we all process bears differently. Or they have drastically different body compositions.
Here is my best bear, which yielded well over 30# of meat.

I put him at 225# live weight.

He was killed in the fall and squared at 6'2".

I have no other measurements.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: CaNINE on May 16, 2017, 08:35:03 PM

The weight estimating method described in this Eastman's video is what we've always used
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 08:35:31 PM
Maybe we all process bears differently. Or they have drastically different body compositions.
Here is my best bear, which yielded well over 30# of meat.

I put him at 225# live weight.

He was killed in the fall and squared at 6'2".

I have no other measurements.

I think you missed it above. But we lost a quarter, and I think half the blackstrap and some other meat. His yield was higher then 30#.

The black was 38# of meat, we lost nothing but some neck.


And the smaller color phase was about 22#.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Euro mount on May 16, 2017, 08:36:46 PM
Ok so if I measure a rug I have at the house will it work for these measure ment too weight scales ? I got him out whole and know what his hanging weight was ..
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 16, 2017, 08:39:46 PM
My bear will be a great example of what could be as it was only shot in the head. I lost about 4 Oz of neck meat.

I made about 60-70 lbs of sausage from my last spring bear.  I don't have any measurements on it other than the pic of me and it in a tree, me being 240ish pounds and 6'.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 16, 2017, 08:40:34 PM
I see it now. Again, this is interesting. I don't have much experience in weighing these critters as they've all came out in pieces.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 08:40:59 PM
I'm not defending the "formula" I just want people to try and get some actual weights and measurements going forward. So I can see if it's viable! 😂😂😂


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 08:41:56 PM
Ok so if I measure a rug I have at the house will it work for these measure ment too weight scales ? I got him out whole and know what his hanging weight was ..

Maybe! We can test. Sometimes a taxi will cut some. But measure him behind the shoulders and length. We can compare it to the chart at least. Do you know 100% what weight at butcher was?


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 08:42:20 PM
My bear will be a great example of what could be as it was only shot in the head. I lost about 4 Oz of neck meat.

I made about 60-70 lbs of sausage from my last spring bear.  I don't have any measurements on it other than the pic of me and it in a tree, me being 240ish pounds and 6'.

Perfect.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Euro mount on May 16, 2017, 08:46:38 PM
100% he was 290 hanging with no hide head guts or paws .
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 08:49:48 PM
100% he was 290 hanging with no hide head guts or paws .

So what's the measurements? Sounds like a stud.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Euro mount on May 16, 2017, 08:53:40 PM
So he is 6'3" long so 75" and the rug is 45 " wide behind the shoulders . His skull scored 19 6/8 and he tooth aged at 19.5 years old . I killed him with a stick bow when I was 18 !
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Euro mount on May 16, 2017, 08:55:10 PM
So by this scale it says live weight would be 300 lbs it's a little off just saying ... lol
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 08:56:48 PM
So by this scale it says live weight would be 300 lbs it's a little off just saying ... lol

Got a field picture?


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 09:00:31 PM
So by this scale it says live weight would be 300 lbs it's a little off just saying ... lol

It's also very likely your girth was bigger then 45". I'd guess the taxi probably trimmed some or cleaned it up? Be interesting to hear from a taxi here to hear what kind of girth loss (or gain?) might be expected during a rug.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Euro mount on May 16, 2017, 09:02:14 PM
Oh I know and I know for a fact at least 3 " a side
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Euro mount on May 16, 2017, 09:03:35 PM
So by the scale he was close to 400 depending on what he trimed off at the taxi
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 09:04:15 PM
So that's 50-51" which is 385-400.

Based on your hanging weight I'd say that's closer.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 16, 2017, 09:18:09 PM
So would that 400# bear yield about 50# of meat?
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Euro mount on May 16, 2017, 09:20:23 PM
Only pic I could find had to take a picture of it with my phone
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 09:21:22 PM
So would that 400# bear yield about 50# of meat?

I'd guess between 70-90 raw?

Depends on how long ago it was! Adam can't even remember exactly how much he got last year off his bear...😂 he thinks 35 ish


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 16, 2017, 09:22:43 PM
Did you kill that bear in 1980 Euromount?
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 09:23:02 PM
I think it probably matters with season too, all that extra weight they put on in mostly fat.

I think the chart is probably the most accurate.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 16, 2017, 09:23:25 PM
Only pic I could find had to take a picture of it with my phone

Stud!


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on May 16, 2017, 09:29:47 PM
Great thread. I've shot bear and always cut up to getem out. I've got a scale and hoist which I hope to have onsite of the next kill. It's just hard to have in the back country.  But really the only truthful  way to get a proper weight.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Euro mount on May 16, 2017, 09:33:52 PM
Timberstalker it was 2002 . Why do you
Say 1980 ?
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 16, 2017, 09:38:03 PM
Timberstalker it was 2002 . Why do you
Say 1980 ?

The vintage camo!  I love it!
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: fillthefreezer on May 16, 2017, 10:18:14 PM
This thread came to light in lieu of various weight discussions after having a knife in less bears than some but more than many, across a wide range of sizes. All having come out in pieces. I'd just like to see everyone come together and grow our collective knowledge.


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: DaveMonti on May 16, 2017, 10:40:36 PM
"Hey, how big was your bear/deer/fish/turkey/sage rat?"

"Big enough."
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 17, 2017, 04:46:48 AM
This thread came to light in lieu of various weight discussions after having a knife in less bears than some but more than many, across a wide range of sizes. All having come out in pieces. I'd just like to see everyone come together and grow our collective knowledge.


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 :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: cbond3318 on May 17, 2017, 06:27:17 AM
Based on an educated guess relying on distress data sent from my shoulders and lower back, the Bear I packed out came in somewhere between 600 and 700 lbs, respectively.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Shaqdiesel on May 17, 2017, 06:28:49 AM
I dont have to worry about the weight of bear, being as I have never killed one.   :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 17, 2017, 06:31:57 AM
Based on an educated guess relying on distress data sent from my shoulders and lower back, the Bear I packed out came in somewhere between 600 and 700 lbs, respectively.

It's funny when guys that can clean 300# grab a sack of jello bear and suddenly need two buddies to help move it.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: CarbonHunter on May 17, 2017, 06:32:45 AM
My last bear measured 72" long with 47" girth. The taxidermist said it probably weighed about 300-325 live weight. I had 110 pounds of cut and wrapped meat.

Your chart would be close but multiplying the bone in quarters by 3.25 looks like a bunch of crap.

Got a picture?

Also was that 110 pounds brought in or after mixing with pork?


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Here's a picture of the mount that I took this morning. It's also the bear in my profile picture.

The 110 pounds was cut and ground without any additives just bear meat by me not a butcher. Also was a bear killed in September, guys who are weighing spring bears would obviously see less meat and more bone.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: jackelope on May 17, 2017, 07:37:09 AM
How many of these bears were grizzly bears?
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 17, 2017, 07:47:09 AM
How many of these bears were grizzly bears?


These were.

(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z16/gyonemura/FB_IMG_1447545766633_zpsawx8veko.jpg) (http://s193.photobucket.com/user/gyonemura/media/FB_IMG_1447545766633_zpsawx8veko.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 17, 2017, 07:49:11 AM
And so was this....this thing dug that far in a couple of minutes tops.

(http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z16/gyonemura/FB_IMG_1447545935280_zpsssojrs7n.jpg) (http://s193.photobucket.com/user/gyonemura/media/FB_IMG_1447545935280_zpsssojrs7n.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 17, 2017, 08:15:58 AM
How many of these bears were grizzly bears?

I've been doing math all morning with this formula.  My 2014 bear, pictured here comes out at 402#. :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: jackelope on May 17, 2017, 08:16:57 AM
I'm not sure you know the difference between a black bear and a grizzly bear, Timberstalker.

Clearly High Country can. Thank God someone can.

Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 17, 2017, 08:17:07 AM
And here is a good buddy of mine, Taiton's bear.  Killed in 2016.  We figured him at 505#!!!
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: boneaddict on May 17, 2017, 08:23:00 AM
You are kidding right?
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: 92xj on May 17, 2017, 08:24:38 AM
He is, looks to be about 508#s
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 17, 2017, 08:25:33 AM
You are kidding right?

Not one bit bone!  Try the formula!!
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 17, 2017, 08:26:25 AM
It uses inches as a standard, not cm.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: boneaddict on May 17, 2017, 08:26:40 AM
@Hornseeker

You want to get good at guessing bear weights, start putting some money on the line and weigh a big bunch of them.  Most on here need to drop about 200 pounds on their estimates and for good reason.  Packing out a 3oo pound bear a couple miles, it feels well over 500.
Quite frankly, 500 pound bear are about as common as 200 inch muleys in this state
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 17, 2017, 08:29:43 AM
It's pretty classic to hunting be it deer, elk or bear, ground shrink happens. The truth is that a beyond #200 spring bear is a good one and you can add #50ish to that for a fall bear. There are some very heavy bears taken, but they are the exception not the rule and if numbers are all that matter......they may not have any more skull than a skinny springer.
Title: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 17, 2017, 08:38:39 AM
You can "figure" these all we want. That's not the point of this thread. Please post pictures of weights on any future bears killed. Luggage scale is 20$ and can easily be made to weigh a bear quarter.

Really looking forward to High Countries quarter weights, as we have an actual hanging bear to compare some stuff too!

That way there isn't any "estimating" or "remembering."

Also don't forget to get length and girth.

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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: tlbradford on May 17, 2017, 08:49:13 AM
This thread sucks.  Now I have to add a tape measure and fish scale to my pack.  Actually I don't care too much about what they weigh so I will stick with guesstimating.  Actually I will have Timberstalker guess the weight of my bears.  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: hunter399 on May 17, 2017, 09:02:37 AM
@Hornseeker

You want to get good at guessing bear weights, start putting some money on the line and weigh a big bunch of them.  Most on here need to drop about 200 pounds on their estimates and for good reason.  Packing out a 3oo pound bear a couple miles, it feels well over 500.
Quite frankly, 500 pound bear are about as common as 200 inch muleys in this state

I agree
I think bone can guess weight better  :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 17, 2017, 09:57:20 AM
I just dropped my carcass onto a hanging scale. It was a fuzz under 100#. My hide, head and paws was #75 on the same scale. Guessing 40ish pounds for guts and 10 for blood/dehydration. Puts me at a crow eating #225 live at best.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 17, 2017, 10:11:28 AM
I just dropped my carcass onto a hanging scale. It was a fuzz under 100#. My hide, head and paws was #75 on the same scale. Guessing 40ish pounds for guts and 10 for blood/dehydration. Puts me at a crow eating #225 live at best.

What was length and girth again?

Thanks for the information High!!!


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 17, 2017, 10:13:41 AM
I just dropped my carcass onto a hanging scale. It was a fuzz under 100#. My hide, head and paws was #75 on the same scale. Guessing 40ish pounds for guts and 10 for blood/dehydration. Puts me at a crow eating #225 live at best.

Also, do you think you could weigh all four quarters with bone in (not counting spine and rib cage) so we can compare against the 3.25 formula?


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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Magnum_Willys on May 17, 2017, 10:37:05 AM
This thread sucks.  Now I have to add a tape measure and fish scale to my pack.  Actually I don't care too much about what they weigh so I will stick with guesstimating.  Actually I will have Timberstalker guess the weight of my bears.  :chuckle:
:yeah:  If I'm after a 500# bear the last thing I would want is a scale.   :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 17, 2017, 10:40:13 AM
Pretty interesting information high country!  Good data. :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 17, 2017, 10:44:34 AM
In all seriousness, this thread is pretty cool.  I'm simply joking with my #402 & #505 bears.  Those bears are average, and both were under 200#

I've killed a couple above average, and packed out a few above average bears in WA.  I have seen one that I could solidly say was 300#.  It squared 6'-7" and the head and hide weighed 115#.  He was a giant.

These measurements are cool.  Maybe we can get a solid formula for the pieced out bears. :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: tlbradford on May 17, 2017, 02:24:52 PM
In all seriousness, this thread is pretty cool.  I'm simply joking with my #402 & #505 bears.  Those bears are average, and both were under 200#

I've killed a couple above average, and packed out a few above average bears in WA.  I have seen one that I could solidly say was 300#.  It squared 6'-7" and the head and hide weighed 115#.  He was a giant.

These measurements are cool.  Maybe we can get a solid formula for the pieced out bears. :tup:

It is pretty cool to see someone put together a length girth chart.  That should get folks pretty close.  I wish they reference spring vs fall bears because that is probably a 10-15% range in body weight.  I was joking earlier, I will pack a scale and tape.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 17, 2017, 02:43:03 PM
I just thought of a new invention:  Ultralight scales.
 :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: fillthefreezer on May 17, 2017, 03:04:08 PM
I just thought of a new invention:  Ultralight scales.
 :chuckle:
does it make my gear lighter tho  :dunno:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 17, 2017, 03:37:08 PM
I see what you did there. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: DaveMonti on May 17, 2017, 09:47:31 PM
As much as it would be nice to have a formula, it's just not very reliable. 

For example, 2 women I dated were 5'6" tall, both had a 38 inch bust.  One was 115 lbs. and the other was 165.  They both had blond hair. 
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 17, 2017, 09:57:50 PM
 :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: hunter399 on May 17, 2017, 10:40:37 PM
As much as it would be nice to have a formula, it's just not very reliable. 

For example, 2 women I dated were 5'6" tall, both had a 38 inch bust.  One was 115 lbs. and the other was 165.  They both had blond hair. 
What kind of formula are you looking for weight or should you keep them , but will say bust has to be in the formula. :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 18, 2017, 07:43:46 AM
As much as it would be nice to have a formula, it's just not very reliable. 

For example, 2 women I dated were 5'6" tall, both had a 38 inch bust.  One was 115 lbs. and the other was 165.  They both had blond hair. 
What kind of formula are you looking for weight or should you keep them , but will say bust has to be in the formula. :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:

Agreed. This bear has a bigger head than my last and the height is close to the same, chest I didn't measure so no comment there.....but I know that I made at least 60lbs of sausage with nothing added to the last bear. We'll see if this one can compete.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Rufous on May 18, 2017, 08:15:42 AM
Gents, I am the guy that came up with the 4 legs (minus hide and feet) multiplied by 3.25 as an estimate of live weight. I came up with that figure by weighing the 4 legs of a couple bears and getting length and girth measurements of those same bears. I think it is close and will at least give a hunter a better clue than their wild ass guess. Of course we could also just report the weight of the legs since those do come out of the field and can easily be weighed on a bathroom scale. The 4 legs from my first bear, taken August 1 of 1997, weighed 104 pounds. I did not get the girth off that bear unfortunately. My biggest bear was taken in May of 2001 and its legs weighed 120#. It was a 13 year old boar with a 20" skull. The hide measured 77" nose to tail and 88" front claws to front claws. I do not remember the exact girth measurement but I do remember that from the chart I had figured it to weigh real close to 400# so the girth must have been 51". So if live weight based from the chart is 400 and the 4 legs weigh 120# then the formula of 400/120=3.33 in this case. So 3.25 would be conservative.

My brother's biggest bear had a girth of 48" and it was in the 66-78" length category so the chart would put its live weight at 350#. The 4 legs from that bear weighed 107#. So 107*3.25=347#

This formula I think is in the ball park.

Basically what we who care about such things would like to see happen is for bear hunters to measure the length and girth of the bears they shoot and then weigh the 4 legs and get more feedback on the veracity or lack thereof of this formula.

The cinammon bear is my biggest bear with 120# legs and the chocolate bear is my brother's with 107# legs. Thanks, Brian.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 18, 2017, 08:21:56 AM
Awesome information Rufous.  Those are a couple of real monsters. :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 18, 2017, 08:31:11 AM
There's going to be guys that take a lot of #150 bears. It's still important to get the data from those and to understand that bears over #350 are extremely rare and that #150-250 are your 4 and 5 point whitetails of bears. Don't be afraid to upload your numbers, be proud of your hunt and enjoy the memories.
Title: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: fillthefreezer on May 18, 2017, 08:58:07 AM
well said guys. i am not trying to take anything away from anyone. i worked backwards on this bear, taking the packweight of two backpacks (a known number) and then subtracting the gear, an estimate on the hide, and came up with very similar numbers
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170518/38691f983b5515af505351a27a8f04b9.jpg)
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: CarbonHunter on May 18, 2017, 05:10:13 PM
Gents, I am the guy that came up with the 4 legs (minus hide and feet) multiplied by 3.25 as an estimate of live weight. I came up with that figure by weighing the 4 legs of a couple bears and getting length and girth measurements of those same bears. I think it is close and will at least give a hunter a better clue than their wild ass guess. Of course we could also just report the weight of the legs since those do come out of the field and can easily be weighed on a bathroom scale. The 4 legs from my first bear, taken August 1 of 1997, weighed 104 pounds. I did not get the girth off that bear unfortunately. My biggest bear was taken in May of 2001 and its legs weighed 120#. It was a 13 year old boar with a 20" skull. The hide measured 77" nose to tail and 88" front claws to front claws. I do not remember the exact girth measurement but I do remember that from the chart I had figured it to weigh real close to 400# so the girth must have been 51". So if live weight based from the chart is 400 and the 4 legs weigh 120# then the formula of 400/120=3.33 in this case. So 3.25 would be conservative.

My brother's biggest bear had a girth of 48" and it was in the 66-78" length category so the chart would put its live weight at 350#. The 4 legs from that bear weighed 107#. So 107*3.25=347#

This formula I think is in the ball park.

Basically what we who care about such things would like to see happen is for bear hunters to measure the length and girth of the bears they shoot and then weigh the 4 legs and get more feedback on the veracity or lack thereof of this formula.

The cinammon bear is my biggest bear with 120# legs and the chocolate bear is my brother's with 107# legs. Thanks, Brian.

So are you just weighing the legs?  Wrist to shoulder or top of ham?  Does this mean backstraps, tenderloins, neck and rib meat is not weighed?
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Rufous on May 18, 2017, 06:56:23 PM
Correct, just weighing the legs. What one would normally cut off the carcass in order to bring out the meat on the bone.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Magnum_Willys on May 18, 2017, 07:05:59 PM
This ?????

Black bear size (i.e., chest girth) is highly correlated with body weight. To estimate the weight of black bears, simply measure the bear's chest girth(use a nylon measure in inches) and the the cooresponding estimate of the bear's weight on the table below.

Chest Girth     Estimated weight
 (inches)          (lbs)


29                      98
30                      108
31                      117
32                      128
33                      138
34                      149
35                      161
36                      173
37                      185
38                      198
39                      211
40                      225
41                      239
42                      253
43                      268
44                      284
45                      300
46                      316
47                      332
48                      350
49                      367
50                      385
51                      403
52                      422
53                      441
54                      461
55                      481
56                      502
57                      522
58                      544
59                      566
60                      588
61                      610
62                      633
63                      657
64                      681
65                      705
66                      730
67                      755
68                      781
69                      807
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 18, 2017, 07:23:54 PM
Ok I managed to get cut up today.  I wasn't able to weigh each quarter,  but I did my best to get the weights broke down. Additionally my scale must have been hung up when I tried to relax the hoist in the shop because when I weighed it on my refrigeration scale which is pretty accurate I was waaaay off or maybe I red kilos or something stupid......anyhow hers how it played out.

My best guess is about 45-50# per quarter based on :

I had #31 meat in the front shoulders and #15 of bones along with some trim. This number is a light representation as it didn't pull the whole quarter and the carcass weight will reflect that.

I had #30 in the hind meat
#43 in carcass meat
#24 in total bones other than carcass
#27 carcass weight after trimming.
#6 fat

So I have #105 clean meat.  #75 hide & head #161 meat and bones combined after hanging....so it was #236 gutted and dry. Guessing #40-50 on the blood/guts, so #276-286 live is might damn close.

Thank God,  when I weighed the carcass earlier I felt like a *censored* for not being able to toss it @ #100....lol. that extra #75 made a difference.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: CarbonHunter on May 18, 2017, 07:44:51 PM
Ok I managed to get cut up today.  I wasn't able to weigh each quarter,  but I did my best to get the weights broke down. Additionally my scale must have been hung up when I tried to relax the hoist in the shop because when I weighed it on my refrigeration scale which is pretty accurate I was waaaay off or maybe I red kilos or something stupid......anyhow hers how it played out.

My best guess is about 45-50# per quarter based on :

I had #31 meat in the front shoulders and #15 of bones along with some trim. This number is a light representation as it didn't pull the whole quarter and the carcass weight will reflect that.

I had #30 in the hind meat
#43 in carcass meat
#24 in total bones other than carcass
#27 carcass weight after trimming.
#6 fat

So I have #105 clean meat.  #75 hide & head #161 meat and bones combined after hanging....so it was #236 gutted and dry. Guessing #40-50 on the blood/guts, so #276-286 live is might damn close.

Thank God,  when I weighed the carcass earlier I felt like a *censored* for not being able to toss it @ #100....lol. that extra #75 made a difference.

Sounds about right. About 35-40% of the live weight would be cut and wrapped meat. That is about what my last bear was.

Which would mean that if you get 30 pounds of meat off of your bear, the bear would weight about 85 pounds live weight. Or as converted to Internet forum talk... a 300 pound bear.  :chuckle:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: CarbonHunter on May 18, 2017, 07:48:48 PM
Correct, just weighing the legs. What one would normally cut off the carcass in order to bring out the meat on the bone.

Sounds a little more plausible. When I read quarters I was thinking they were weighing all the meat minus the spine and rib bones.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: Timberstalker on May 18, 2017, 07:54:40 PM
Awesome information high country. Thanks for sharing.  :tup:
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 18, 2017, 10:23:50 PM
Ok I managed to get cut up today.  I wasn't able to weigh each quarter,  but I did my best to get the weights broke down. Additionally my scale must have been hung up when I tried to relax the hoist in the shop because when I weighed it on my refrigeration scale which is pretty accurate I was waaaay off or maybe I red kilos or something stupid......anyhow hers how it played out.

My best guess is about 45-50# per quarter based on :

I had #31 meat in the front shoulders and #15 of bones along with some trim. This number is a light representation as it didn't pull the whole quarter and the carcass weight will reflect that.

I had #30 in the hind meat
#43 in carcass meat
#24 in total bones other than carcass
#27 carcass weight after trimming.
#6 fat

So I have #105 clean meat.  #75 hide & head #161 meat and bones combined after hanging....so it was #236 gutted and dry. Guessing #40-50 on the blood/guts, so #276-286 live is might damn close.

Thank God,  when I weighed the carcass earlier I felt like a *censored* for not being able to toss it @ #100....lol. that extra #75 made a difference.

So 61+24 bones plus quarters*3.25=276.5.



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Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 18, 2017, 11:05:41 PM
Let's have some more numbers to see if it rings true as they fatten up.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on May 19, 2017, 12:04:02 AM
Nice bear Greg but there's no way the quarters were 40-50lbs.....
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 19, 2017, 07:13:25 AM
Nice bear Greg but there's no way the quarters were 40-50lbs.....


Like I said, it's just my best guess as I didn't quarter it traditionally. I peeled all the crust and went to grabbing meat. I kept my meat and bones/scrap in a bucket for a while but soon I had 6 buckets floating around my kitchen and was running out of time.

The quarter weight is a guess, the other weights are as measured.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: dan11011 on May 19, 2017, 09:17:18 PM
Using the first chart: My Bear was 5' 2" and had a 38' girth putting it around 178 lbs. Very plausible. This other chart means my bear would be almost 200 pounds which I believe is not true.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: high country on May 20, 2017, 09:25:27 AM
Using the first chart: My Bear was 5' 2" and had a 38' girth putting it around 178 lbs. Very plausible. This other chart means my bear would be almost 200 pounds which I believe is not true.

Did you ever get anything on a scale?
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: dan11011 on May 20, 2017, 01:51:08 PM
Sadly, no. So I know you can't really double check the accuracy. I just thought I'd chime in with my experience with the chart.
Title: Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 22, 2017, 05:40:28 AM
An update on Jeff's Bear. Skull rough taped out at 18 5/8.

I'm definitely surprised it wasn't over 19.

My bear from 13 was 17 3/4 ish off the top of my head, and this guy seemed way bigger.


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