Can you pull a pre-molar for aging ?
When the BC Fish & Wildlife Branch was still doing this, I was told that the tooth was cut with a diamond saw, and rings were counted like tree rings are. Sent in a number of teeth over the years. Some as young as 8yrs would make the book, and others as old as 13yrs wouldn't ..... Island Black bears.
Good looking old bear. Did you find any evidence of previous hits, old ordnance, or old battle crushed bone injuries ?