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Author Topic: Size this bear  (Read 3734 times)

Offline ljsommer

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Size this bear
« on: March 18, 2019, 10:10:25 AM »
I know next to nothing about bear hunting, any guesses on size from this print and droppings?

Offline DOUBLELUNG

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #1 on: March 18, 2019, 10:28:08 AM »
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?
« Last Edit: March 18, 2019, 10:33:41 AM by DOUBLELUNG »
As long as we have the habitat, we can argue forever about who gets to kill what and when.  No habitat = no game.

Offline pashok23

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #2 on: March 19, 2019, 08:39:24 PM »
Scat looks above avarage for sure. I've seen tons of bear poop in MT. Print is melted, hard to tell there, but not a big bear there.

Offline h20hunter

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #3 on: March 19, 2019, 08:49:43 PM »
Shoot it then we can play guess the weight.  Likely not huge but I'd likely punch a tag given the chance.

Online mountainman

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #4 on: March 19, 2019, 08:55:26 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?
Width of front track +1" is approximate square in feet
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Offline buckcanyonlodge

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #5 on: March 20, 2019, 04:51:28 AM »
"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.
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Offline Skyvalhunter

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #6 on: March 20, 2019, 05:11:47 AM »
That bear is 257 lbs.
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Offline jasnt

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #7 on: March 20, 2019, 05:58:05 AM »
Front track width in inches minus 1 then x 80 lbs has been very close for the bears ive killed in Washington fall weight
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Offline Jonathan_S

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #8 on: March 20, 2019, 07:10:11 AM »
Medium Size
Kindly do not attempt to cloud the issue with too many facts.

Offline 7mmfan

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #9 on: March 20, 2019, 08:07:10 AM »
"There is some correlation between scat size and bear size"

So is this a griz?

No. That there is a mess.
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Offline boneaddict

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #10 on: March 20, 2019, 08:11:57 AM »
Never judge a bear by the size of his crap pile. 



Offline cbond3318

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #11 on: March 20, 2019, 08:13:19 AM »
"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?
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Offline DOUBLELUNG

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #12 on: March 20, 2019, 10:40:43 AM »
Never judge a bear by the size of his crap pile. 



That should be on a t-shirt!
As long as we have the habitat, we can argue forever about who gets to kill what and when.  No habitat = no game.

Offline cavemann

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #13 on: March 20, 2019, 10:45:03 AM »
being there are no chewed up mace cans or bells, it's a black bear...

Offline Machias

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Re: Size this bear
« Reply #14 on: March 20, 2019, 11:10:59 AM »
Never judge a bear by the size of his crap pile. 
That should be on a t-shirt!

 :yeah: :chuckle:
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