collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Bear Weight--Need Your Help  (Read 30251 times)

Offline SilkOnTheDrySide

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 1526
  • Location: West Richland
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!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
« Last Edit: May 16, 2017, 04:21:20 PM by SilkOnTheWetSide »

Offline sumpnz

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Jun 2016
  • Posts: 308
  • Location: Skagit
Re: Bear Weight--Need Your Help
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2017, 04:14:59 PM »
Tag.

Offline jackelope

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (+30)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 51012
  • Location: Duvall, WA
  • Groups: jackelope
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
"Hate speech does not exist legally in America. There's ugly speech. There's gross speech. There's evil speech. And ALL of it is protected by the First Amendment."

Offline fillthefreezer

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 1481
  • Location: tacoma
  • @adventure_sd
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

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2008
  • Posts: 9294
  • Location: Tri-Cities
  • Just one more ridge
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

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 1481
  • Location: tacoma
  • @adventure_sd
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

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+4)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 883
  • Location: Bremerton
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

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (+30)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 51012
  • Location: Duvall, WA
  • Groups: jackelope
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?
"Hate speech does not exist legally in America. There's ugly speech. There's gross speech. There's evil speech. And ALL of it is protected by the First Amendment."

Offline high country

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 5133
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

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2008
  • Posts: 9294
  • Location: Tri-Cities
  • Just one more ridge
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

  • Administrator
  • Trade Count: (+30)
  • Legend
  • *****
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 51012
  • Location: Duvall, WA
  • Groups: jackelope
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.
"Hate speech does not exist legally in America. There's ugly speech. There's gross speech. There's evil speech. And ALL of it is protected by the First Amendment."

Offline high country

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 5133
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

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: May 2007
  • Posts: 5133
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

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2008
  • Posts: 9294
  • Location: Tri-Cities
  • Just one more ridge
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

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 1526
  • Location: West Richland
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.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Discretion !!! by Sneaky
[Today at 04:10:29 AM]


Multi season draw odds by Mfowl
[Today at 03:27:12 AM]


Breaking news: Lorna Smith and WWF sue WDFW Director and Deputy Director by EnglishSetter
[Today at 01:40:23 AM]


Bucket List Elk shed help wanted by teanawayslayer
[Yesterday at 11:46:58 PM]


Youth turkey season 2026 by Rainier10
[Yesterday at 11:23:14 PM]


2026 Sportsmen for Conservation Fund Banquet Hosted by SCI Northwest Chapter by Rainier10
[Yesterday at 10:45:45 PM]


.45-70 Loads and Twist Rate by jrebel
[Yesterday at 08:43:40 PM]


Please Report Problems & Bugs Here by HntnFsh
[Yesterday at 08:39:36 PM]


Your biggest spike elk by Brute
[Yesterday at 08:04:49 PM]


Idaho on the verge of outlawing by fishngamereaper
[Yesterday at 08:02:37 PM]


Razor Clams by Sitka_Blacktail
[Yesterday at 04:55:52 PM]


12th Annual - 2026 YOUTH TURKEY HUNT CONTEST (enter by Mar 15) by teanawayslayer
[Yesterday at 10:30:39 AM]


Cancellation Alaskan Bear Hunt by Dan-o
[April 03, 2026, 11:33:49 PM]


Chasing the kids by MADMAX
[April 03, 2026, 07:38:39 PM]


MA10 Blackmouth anyone? by CP
[April 03, 2026, 07:16:06 PM]


Springer season getting close, who's going by Mfowl
[April 03, 2026, 06:31:00 PM]


Questions regarding WDFW Commissioner use of taxpayer money by Jake Dogfish
[April 03, 2026, 06:29:24 PM]


Big game season proposals by Ghost Hunter
[April 03, 2026, 04:40:21 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2026, SimplePortal