collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Size this bear  (Read 5132 times)

Offline Birdgetter

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Longhunter
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jan 2017
  • Posts: 578
Re: Size this bear
« Reply #15 on: March 20, 2019, 11:21:33 AM »
I agree it should be on a shirt! @yorketransport

Offline SilkOnTheDrySide

  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 1526
  • Location: West Richland
Re: Size this bear
« Reply #16 on: March 25, 2019, 01:10:22 PM »
That's a hind foot print, one rule of thumb is that the width of the front track in inches indicates what the hide will square in feet.  The hind print is slightly narrower than the front.  My hand is 4" wide, your hand and the hind foot appear to be equal in width in the photo, so I'm going to guess a 4 1/2"-5" front width - an average size adult, 150 lbs give or take spring weight, approaching 200 lbs fall weight.  Not a monster, not a dink - if there's no cub tracks a shooter in my book.

LOTS of speculation in that guess :)

There is some correlation between scat size and bear size, but it's very imprecise and depends a lot on season and diet.  The largest black bear scats I've seen are about as thick as a beer/pop can, and for volume can compete with a horse - which I assume is a big bear.  That looks "average" to me, supporting perhaps an average size adult.

@saylean what say you?

I used to think scat size was an indicator...then I saw the pop cans my 4 year old turns out and changed my opinion...😂


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline 92xj

  • Trade Count: (+26)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: May 2009
  • Posts: 4028
  • Location: Out of Place
  • Kill 'em
Re: Size this bear
« Reply #17 on: March 25, 2019, 01:18:50 PM »
That's a hind foot print, one rule of thumb is that the width of the front track in inches indicates what the hide will square in feet.  The hind print is slightly narrower than the front.  My hand is 4" wide, your hand and the hind foot appear to be equal in width in the photo, so I'm going to guess a 4 1/2"-5" front width - an average size adult, 150 lbs give or take spring weight, approaching 200 lbs fall weight.  Not a monster, not a dink - if there's no cub tracks a shooter in my book.

LOTS of speculation in that guess :)

There is some correlation between scat size and bear size, but it's very imprecise and depends a lot on season and diet.  The largest black bear scats I've seen are about as thick as a beer/pop can, and for volume can compete with a horse - which I assume is a big bear.  That looks "average" to me, supporting perhaps an average size adult.

@saylean what say you?

I used to think scat size was an indicator...then I saw the pop cans my 4 year old turns out and changed my opinion...😂


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No kidding!
My 8 month old just gave birth to a mini nerf football this weekend.  I have no idea how that is possible.
"If you have to be crazy to hunt ducks, I do not wish to be sane."

Offline DOUBLELUNG

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2007
  • Posts: 5836
  • Location: Wenatchee
Re: Size this bear
« Reply #18 on: March 25, 2019, 03:25:34 PM »
That's a hind foot print, one rule of thumb is that the width of the front track in inches indicates what the hide will square in feet.  The hind print is slightly narrower than the front.  My hand is 4" wide, your hand and the hind foot appear to be equal in width in the photo, so I'm going to guess a 4 1/2"-5" front width - an average size adult, 150 lbs give or take spring weight, approaching 200 lbs fall weight.  Not a monster, not a dink - if there's no cub tracks a shooter in my book.

LOTS of speculation in that guess :)

There is some correlation between scat size and bear size, but it's very imprecise and depends a lot on season and diet.  The largest black bear scats I've seen are about as thick as a beer/pop can, and for volume can compete with a horse - which I assume is a big bear.  That looks "average" to me, supporting perhaps an average size adult.

@saylean what say you?

I used to think scat size was an indicator...then I saw the pop cans my 4 year old turns out and changed my opinion...😂


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

No kidding!
My 8 month old just gave birth to a mini nerf football this weekend.  I have no idea how that is possible.
Very true!  I remember many moments of utter amazement when my son was little - how? what? how is it I'm not seeing your guts in a bloody pile!
As long as we have the habitat, we can argue forever about who gets to kill what and when.  No habitat = no game.

Offline Timberstalker

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+3)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2008
  • Posts: 9286
  • Location: Tri-Cities
  • Just one more ridge
Re: Size this bear
« Reply #19 on: March 25, 2019, 03:35:31 PM »
"There is some correlation between scat size and bear size"

So is this a griz?

I agree on the medium size of your bear. the track has melted and the scat seems about average size. Still a shooter.


@Timberstalker medium blackie with a love for Busch Lite?

This is ridiculous! He probably drank a damn IPA!

Go kill that bear and let us know how big he is!
If you aint hunting, you aint livin'

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Idaho Trapping Journal 2025/26 by TeacherMan
[Today at 06:27:34 AM]


Idaho Selway A pack out camps by Kool-aid
[Today at 06:08:36 AM]


Big game season proposals by trophyhunt
[Today at 05:39:34 AM]


Got a lion today by JakeLand
[Today at 04:19:07 AM]


19th Annual Banquet Columbia County Chapter of OHA by Brute
[Yesterday at 09:36:49 PM]


Has anyone "switched sides"? by Stein
[Yesterday at 08:35:20 PM]


The Official: Hunting-Washington.Com Recipe Book by Smokeploe
[Yesterday at 07:58:21 PM]


Idaho Panhandle B Elk 30 by blackpowderhunter
[Yesterday at 07:53:21 PM]


The "King" by bigmacc
[Yesterday at 07:26:33 PM]


Sportsman Alliance files petition to Gov Ferguson for removal of corrupt WA Wildlife Commissioners by idahohuntr
[Yesterday at 07:22:13 PM]


California Bans ‘Recreational’ Trapping by Loup Loup
[Yesterday at 06:46:47 PM]


My pics from over the years by Kingofthemountain83
[Yesterday at 06:37:10 PM]


Washington Euro mounting Plaque*free give away for youth hunter* by Dan-o
[Yesterday at 06:17:36 PM]


Welcome to Hunting-Washington.com by bearhunter99
[Yesterday at 05:55:00 PM]


Ruger Single Six, extra cylinders,.22 and .22 winmag by b23
[Yesterday at 05:44:25 PM]


Skunks by Pathfinder101
[Yesterday at 05:11:02 PM]


Forum Rules: Topics promoting illegal activities are not allowed! by 2MANY
[Yesterday at 11:08:40 AM]


Stick with the 50's by Ghost Hunter
[Yesterday at 09:31:59 AM]


“Recreational trappers”? by woodswalker
[Yesterday at 08:30:23 AM]


September vs Everything after by craigapphunt
[Yesterday at 06:27:28 AM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2026, SimplePortal