Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: Scottystyle on July 10, 2009, 11:26:56 AM

Title: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: Scottystyle on July 10, 2009, 11:26:56 AM: I was up for the late whitetail hunt last fall around Huckleberry mountain. I shot a nice 8pt whitetail next to last day of the season. I went back to the same spot with my dad the next morning with my dad because there was another buck, a bit bigger that was with the one i shot, and a couple does too, since hes over 65 he can shot either, and i figure we could connect on something. We parked the truck and go out to walk to the clear cut, and i came across these tracks righ where i dragged my buck out. I know the odds arent too high that these are grizzly tracks, but ive never seen claws this long from a blackie, even in mud, heres the pics, what do you think... and are there grizzlys in the area?
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: Rob on July 10, 2009, 11:39:00 AM: claws look like a griz, but the toes are curved around the pad making me think Black bear.

Mud distorts things a little though.
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: Kain on July 10, 2009, 11:40:49 AM: Claws look like grizzly on the one foot. But the other doesnt look the same. Looks like a black bear that slid back a little. :dunno:
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: jackelope on July 10, 2009, 11:41:03 AM: any idea of the dimensions?

i dunno, but that would probably help to decide.

whatever it is, i wouldn't want to get swatted with those claws...thats for sure.
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: Rob on July 10, 2009, 11:42:15 AM: Second track looks like a back foot.

Very cool pictures though!
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: woodywsu on July 10, 2009, 11:43:24 AM: very nice track nonetheless, but it is a black bear. On a griz track the toes should be aligned straight across or fairly close. This track the "pinky" toe print is wrapped around the pad which leads me to believe it is a blackie track. A very nice one too. The claws looks pretty grizz though.
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: saylean on July 10, 2009, 11:44:19 AM: some knarly claws...I would bet on blackie as well, for the other previously stated reasons. Cool pics though!
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: Scottystyle on July 10, 2009, 11:59:38 AM: Yeah, i was almost deff sure those were blackie tracks, but ive heared of grizzlies wandering around that area, so wasnt sure, i saw them knarly claws, and said holy sh$# !!!, snapped a few pics and we got the heck out of dodge, black bear was closed, and we didnt want to confront what ever it was on a fresh kill site. Oh yeah, ive neve posted pics of my buck i'll put a pic here, and then i will post the story on the deer forum in a while...
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: MuleySniper on July 10, 2009, 12:08:19 PM: Quote from: jackelope on July 10, 2009, 11:41:03 AM
any idea of the dimensions?

i dunno, but that would probably help to decide.

whatever it is, i wouldn't want to get swatted with those claws...thats for sure.

Thats just what I was thinking while reading the post! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: let.it.fly on July 10, 2009, 12:09:43 PM: looks like a black bear to me. though griz are spred around the east side. last year i was up around randevue pass north or winthrop and came across some griz tracks in a dried up mud hole. i'm 100% sure they were griz tracks but who knows how long they had been there.
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: Hornseeker on July 10, 2009, 12:11:34 PM: Those claw marks are the main prob... the rest of the track "may" be distorted in the mud enough to not be able to tell??? :dunno: of hundreds and hundreds of black bear feet and tracks I've seen....I have never witnessed anything with claws that would make marks that far out....???? :dunno:
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: let.it.fly on July 10, 2009, 12:11:58 PM: demensions, use that pinecone to the left of the track, looks to be a big bear for sure, that pine cone is probly 2 1/2 to 3 inches, if my math is right thats infinity.
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: Scottystyle on July 10, 2009, 12:21:00 PM: freaky claws huh, if its a blackie, hes in badly need of a manicure. I want to go back to tharea and throw up some trail cams next to some stinky stuff and see what happens
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on July 10, 2009, 11:06:14 PM: Black Bear.
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: littlebuf on July 10, 2009, 11:38:51 PM: that's a bobcat track, tell um dman
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: stringflinger4elk on July 11, 2009, 12:15:55 AM: could definitely be a blackie not quite big enough for a grizz but could still be a subadult...
I have heard different schools of thought on it
bears that eat a dig alot for grubs and roots will not have that pronounced a set of claws like this photo
and black bears that eat more meat or kill more deer or rather are better stalkers of prey will have the more pronounced
claw patterns than their more digging inclined brethren.
It really comes down to what mom was good at and what the cubs learned from the get go. But however when cubs are displaced from their mothers home range and game is not as plentiful or there is a lack of game to hunt for a season they will fall back on natural foraging instincts but they never forget what they have learned once it rebounds and the game is plentiful.
Grizz don't put alot of effort into pulling back on their hind feet claws though so this could be a bit of stinker to figure out.
cuz blackies like to walk on the balls of their feet with claws pulled up or retracted to say they like to *censored* foot around real soft and quiet. where girzz like to lumbar around plopping their feet where ever they want with a swagger.

where there anymore of these in a series and was their any indication the prints where overlapping because blackies are notorious for putting their hinds down right on the same spot their fronts were. they make real crazy tracks through grass looks like a guy walking like there are only one set of prints or foot steps to follow besides the swath they cut with their belly's...
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: shag on July 12, 2009, 02:07:32 PM: Pretty sure I've heard an adult selkirk grizz will go about 600lbs. Not sure how big ones track would be.
Title: Re: Possible Griz tracks from Huckleberry???
Post by: Scottystyle on July 16, 2009, 07:20:36 PM: These were the only pics i got, the tracks headed off in the brush straight towards my deer kill, i was too chicknsht to go in and see what it was