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Author Topic: Bear Weight--Need Your Help  (Read 24180 times)

Offline SilkOnTheDrySide

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Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« 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.



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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« Last Edit: May 16, 2017, 04:21:20 PM by SilkOnTheWetSide »

Offline sumpnz

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2017, 04:14:59 PM »
Tag.

Offline jackelope

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #2 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.



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!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

you're wrong
:fire.:

" In today's instant gratification society, more and more pressure revolves around success and the measurement of one's prowess as a hunter by inches on a score chart or field photos produced on social media. Don't fall into the trap. Hunting is-and always will be- about the hunt, the adventure, the views, and time spent with close friends and family. " Ryan Hatfield

My posts, opinions and statements do not represent those of this forum

Offline fillthefreezer

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #3 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:

Offline Timberstalker

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #4 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.
If you aint hunting, you aint livin'

Offline fillthefreezer

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #5 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..

Offline PastorJoel

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #6 on: May 16, 2017, 04:37:19 PM »
No matter how large the bear is that I will get, it will weigh 325lbs.  :chuckle:

Offline jackelope

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #7 on: May 16, 2017, 04:39:43 PM »
@high country
Did you weigh anything on your big bear?
:fire.:

" In today's instant gratification society, more and more pressure revolves around success and the measurement of one's prowess as a hunter by inches on a score chart or field photos produced on social media. Don't fall into the trap. Hunting is-and always will be- about the hunt, the adventure, the views, and time spent with close friends and family. " Ryan Hatfield

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Offline high country

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #8 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.

Offline Timberstalker

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #9 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#.
If you aint hunting, you aint livin'

Offline jackelope

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #10 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.
:fire.:

" In today's instant gratification society, more and more pressure revolves around success and the measurement of one's prowess as a hunter by inches on a score chart or field photos produced on social media. Don't fall into the trap. Hunting is-and always will be- about the hunt, the adventure, the views, and time spent with close friends and family. " Ryan Hatfield

My posts, opinions and statements do not represent those of this forum

Offline high country

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #11 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.

Offline high country

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #12 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.

Offline Timberstalker

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #13 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.
If you aint hunting, you aint livin'

Offline SilkOnTheDrySide

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Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #14 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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