bear size estimate question
 

What would be your best guess as to the age and size of a black bear with a backpaw 6 3/4" from heel to toe and a front paw approx 4" wide.
(found the tracks in dirt in the woods near our cabin, not far from 2 of our deer stands.these sizes were best estimates using a stick and measuring it later)

Just wondering, haven't gotten a cam set up yet so I have no pics to use to estimate it.

RE: bear size estimate question
 

I had heard, but have no experience to prove it so keep the salt handy, that if you take the front paw width, minus 1" and x100 you have a rough weight estimate, give or take 50lbs. So using this method that bear is between 250-350 lbs. A big bear IMO....depends on the area.

RE: bear size estimate question
 

There is a general rule that states that you take the width of the front paw in inches,add 1,and you have the length of the bear in feet.I have measured several paws and lengths ofbears and although it is by no means an exact science,it has been reasonably close.In any case,if the front paw is only 4" wide,the bear is a small one.

RE: bear size estimate question
 

There is no way to tell the age or weight ofa bear by the size of it's track. You are probably looking at at 4-5 foot bear anywhere from 100 - 150 lbs depending on location,time of year and abundance of food.

RE: bear size estimate question
 

That is how I have been judging bears for a while now... My taxidermist told me that years ago... Not exact, but very close...
As far as judging a bears weight, cant be done by footprints, heck, stand at the check station in Pa and watch guys/girs try to guess weight LOOKING at the bear, it is very comical, MOST arnt even close to the actual weight..