How Big??

[Pat/Rick]

 My good friend and I were scouting friday. Saw a couple a deer and a good patch of Elk tracks. In with the elk tracks was bear prints. One hind foot measured 8 1/2". Most adult bear average around 7". I know he's a biggun, whadda ya think?

[Skinner]

Ya my cousin shot a 380 pounder and it had a 6.5 in back pad

[Machias]

Generally the back pad is not a very good indicator of size.

[rasbo]

front pad 5 and over getting into a nice one

[Pat/Rick]

Front pad was just  over 5 1/2". I figured as much. Definently the biggest blackie tracks I've seen. C'mon August 1.

[BLKBEARKLR]

way I was taught from an old timer in Alaska was the width of the front pad add an inch and them turn it to feet was approx size of the bear.

example - front pad was 5 1/2 inches add an inch so now 6 1/2 inches so turn it into feet so approx a 6.5 foot bear. I measured all the bears that I took and buddies took in Alaska and it was roughly with in 2-3 inches off.

Joe

[Pat/Rick]

Thats good stuff BLKBEARKLR. I copied this down out of a book years ago. It deals with approximate weight of a black bear when measured in girth behind the front legs:
29" = 100 LBS
38"= 200 lbs
45"= 300 lbs
51" =400 lbs
56" = 500 lbs
 I do not know how how accurate this is.

[jstamp]

Thats good stuff BLKBEARKLR. I copied this down out of a book years ago. It deals with approximate weight of a black bear when measured in girth behind the front legs:
29" = 100 LBS
38"= 200 lbs
45"= 300 lbs
51" =400 lbs
56" = 500 lbs
 I do not know how how accurate this is.

never seen this before, but will put it to use this summer, and let you know what the results are. it would be interesting to see all the guys that kill bears this year to measure up to some of the standards in this thread. lets put some of the measures and theories to the test.

[KillBilly]

Getting them to hold still for the measurement could be tough. 

[BLKBEARKLR]

Killbilly, I agree with getting them to hold still, one of the things that I have learned over the years to assist is a 338 200 grain ballistic tip, it is rather small you can carry them in your pocket and it really helps to get them to hold still..