RE: sizing black bear in the stand
 

The training session in Lilhunter's post is interesting and a good guide to tell the diffference between blackies and grizz. The other guys also made some very good comments. Another way we use to tell a large dominant bear here is the posture when walking. The larger bears usually have a pronounced swagger or sway, and will walk with their head low to the ground. A smaller less dominant bear will carry it's head high and often "shoulder check" while feeding or approaching an area. Size is also relative to where you are hunting and the genetics of the area. A 350 lbs boar where we live would not be considered all that big, where in other places it would be. If you ever hunt Vancouver Island on the west coast of Canada, you'll notice that the large boars have a shoulder hump similar to that of a grizz. There are however no grizz on the Island to confuse them with.

T.

RE: sizing black bear in the stand
 

thanks everybody for all the info, i have learned alot of good techniques. now i just need a little luck the spring!!!

ARO

http://www.hunting-pictures.com/memb...hanesmith.html

RE: sizing black bear in the stand
 

Get yourself a 34-36" stick and drive it into the ground next to your bait so that it protrudes 30". If the back is level with the stick when standing on all fours, the bear will weigh at least 250# dressed weight. Definitely not a boo-boo bear or yearling adult.

A DNR bear technicial once told me that as soon as the front paw print gets to 5.5x6.5", the bear will be upwards of 250#. However, it could be 400# too! Hard to measure from a stand obviously. The best route is the stick.

RE: sizing black bear in the stand
 

like people have been saying, if the ears are far apart and the nose looks small, or if the legs look short, it's a biggun.