How does one identify a boar vs sow at 200 yards

[idaho guy]

Shoot it and then take a closer look

[Cultusman]

Shoot it and then take a closer look

  It's a predator , Washington has plenty of them.

[bkaech]

It takes experience and practice to judge correctly. However if you make a judgement at 200 yrds the only way to know if you are right is to shot it and take a closer look, that's how you learn. If you do that a few times it will make it easier to have confidence in your future judgments and potentially more discernment over what you shoot....if you care that much. Personally, if it doesn't have any cubs and is more than 2 years old, I will take it.

The other option is spend lots of time watching bears over bait, or set up cameras and bait. That will give you more opportunity to judge and see bears. (Of course, hunting over bait for bears is illegal.... )

[DOUBLELUNG]

When it's by itself it's tricky.  An older sow in good condition can look a lot like a younger adult boar.  I killed a good size bear near Peshastin that three experienced hunters all agreed was a young adult boar (3-4 yo) - SHE ended up being a 14 year old sow.  She was delicious!  I'm in the adult without cubs group - any unaccompanied adult bear presenting a good shot opportunity gets a bullet.

[JWEBB]

Curious why you even ask? Bears are a huge contributor to our deer and elk decline. Shoot it and don’t worry whether it’s a sow or not. In wa that is. Not sure what other states laws are

[huntnnw]

larger the boar the easier it gets to tell, big rounded head the front paws will start pigeon toeing and walk with almost side to side motion. Like mentioned I have never worried about it as long as there are no cubs. Area I hunt we have killed 40 plus bears and only 2 were sows

[n_mathews13]

It takes experience and practice to judge correctly. However if you make a judgement at 200 yrds the only way to know if you are right is to shot it and take a closer look, that's how you learn. If you do that a few times it will make it easier to have confidence in your future judgments and potentially more discernment over what you shoot....if you care that much. Personally, if it doesn't have any cubs and is more than 2 years old, I will take it.

The other option is spend lots of time watching bears over bait, or set up cameras and bait. That will give you more opportunity to judge and see bears. (Of course, hunting over bait for bears is illegal.... )

Very true. That’s what I was told awhile back and it helped. After watching a lot of YouTube and harvesting a few I feel much better and now that I’ve been baiting in ID. Still not good but part of the fun in bear hunting is tryn to make that call at 200-300. Similar to judging a male to female lab

[HoofsandWings]

It is the same as when I was hunting goats in Naches Pass. Billy's are much more preferable to nannies.
The sport in hunting bears is choosing a boar over a sow.
But if all you care is the meat, then you shoot regardless.
Now that wolves are in many the areas for spring bear, I believe they are much more efficient at killing fawns and calves.

[n_mathews13]

Bear hunting podcast just did a good talk on identifying male female big smaller bears.

[pianoman9701]

If it's Saturday and the bear is either fishing or just laying around, it's a boar. Also, if he's lying back playing with his balls,... All tried and true ID methods. I play a bear expert on the internet. Trust me.