Northern interior bear sizes
What's the average size bears being harvested ?
I took a sow in 5 15 at 6.8 two otheres bored at 6.4 and a 6.6
Coming from Powell river I've only shot one bear at 5.5 rest are all 6.4 and better biggest being 7.8
do black bears really get that big up hear ?
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Just moved to quesnel should of said that
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Hmm 5 foot bear is shooter.if not in family unit . meat bear. ..
6 foot is start of trophy size.
My biggest is 7 foot 4..
Biggest brown color phase 7 foot.
Srupp
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
how you measuring them nose to tail on carcass? squared after skinned out? makes a difference on the numbers.
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Hmmm i measure on the animal...
Srupp
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Square after skinned is how I was shown nose to tail then claw to claw on front legs.
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
b.hunters pulling hidesr 88
Square after skinned is how I was shown nose to tail then claw to claw on front legs.
Too many hunters pulling hides till they all are 9 foot but 4 inches wide.lol
Always get extra by squaring a removed cape with some pulling.
Cheers
Srupp
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Well the fawn eater that died tonight filled up a long box pickup...not major but 400lbs by yourself is big.
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Freshly skinned hide laid flat no pulling, prodding or stretching is the correct and honest way to square a bear for measurement.
I have at times thought that a truer indication of the bears size and weight derived from the hide would be to lay the hide flat as mentioned and then measure the entire outer dimension of the skin like the circumference of a circle. A large bear will have belly skin that comes out even with the hind legs when laid flat.
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
3 things are certain
- nobody would admit to shooting a sub 6' black bear
- if this does happen, its called a pepperoni bear
- no animal ground shrinks more than a black bear
:-P
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Measure your bear by skull size. As Srupp says, lots of stretching can make a bear what you want it to be.
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Allways been a fresh hide not pulled.
I I'm gonna try a new area soon just been really small bears so far.
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
the very reason two tags are available.
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Honestly I think the guys who claim to see multiple 6'+ bears each time they go out need glasses, lessons in measuring bears or both.
Actually had one guy tell me he measured from paw to paw diagonally lol.
I've hunted up there over 30 years. In all that time I've seen 2 bears I believe to have been 7 feet, one still haunts me. Lots of bears over 6 feet, but over many years. Most bears are under 6 feet.
Of course talking black bears only here.
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Gotta agree with this. 2 monster black bears I've seen in my life .... possibly were 7ft. The rest of big bears I see look 5-6 ft and I'm ok with that.
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I just spent 6 days of hunting northern bears. I seen an honest 7'er, color phase, out of 45 different bears in 6 days! Several bears were 6'ers or just over, the rest were smaller 5-6'ers or less, or sows with Cubs. What I really noticed though, was that every sow/cub set were twins or triplets!!!!!! So kill a couple cause the population is doing very well!! Moosin
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Quote:
Originally Posted by
moosinaround
I just spent 6 days of hunting northern bears. I seen an honest 7'er, color phase, out of 45 different bears in 6 days! Several bears were 6'ers or just over, the rest were smaller 5-6'ers or less, or sows with Cubs. What I really noticed though, was that every sow/cub set were twins or triplets!!!!!! So kill a couple cause the population is doing very well!! Moosin
Yes, don't be shy about killing some calf killing black bears!! OP, there are some big black bears around Quesnel, but not as common as on the north island.
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Question- how much will a bear hide shrink when it gets tanned?
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
Well, it depends on what you mean by shrink. If you measured it as described above, freshly skinned, laid out flat (not stretched), then squared (which means the average of the width and the length), you will have what is supposed to be a comparable measurement, and in my experience, that won't really shrink. Black bears for sure are much wider than they are long. My first Grizz I measured in the field as 7' 3" squared, and that is what it came back as.
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
hey guys thanks for the feed back i seen my first real color phase bear last night but didn't shoot felt it was small i seen one very good size bear up north more but it was only 5 minutes in so i let him go.
Re: Northern interior bear sizes
@blackbearsmttr would be proud of you
;-)