Let's talk about sex - bears!

[snow]

With the spring season around the corner, I thought us newbies could benefit from learning how to recognize boars from sows. Any tips/guesses on the below and why?
These are 4 different bears I have photographed. I know there could be better positions to identify their sex, but anyway, it's not like a bear is going to lie down on its back with his legs spread apart so that we know for sure!

http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y373/snowbc/286_8670_zpsed0c3910.jpg (http://s1031.photobucket.com/user/snowbc/media/286_8670_zpsed0c3910.jpg.html)


http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y373/snowbc/medved1_zpsab8aba80.jpg (http://s1031.photobucket.com/user/snowbc/media/medved1_zpsab8aba80.jpg.html)


http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y373/snowbc/240_4059_zps11ab84d7.jpg (http://s1031.photobucket.com/user/snowbc/media/240_4059_zps11ab84d7.jpg.html)

http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y373/snowbc/235_3575_zps86d48c12.jpg (http://s1031.photobucket.com/user/snowbc/media/235_3575_zps86d48c12.jpg.html)

[835]

1 and 3 are sows
2 and 4 are boars..... Just guessing though,,, based on the face....

Trying to id sex n a bear is hard,,, you need to see alot of dead ones...
Standing on their feet rubbing up on a small tree is boar.....

The biggest thing is to make sure there are no cubs around...... that is the big one.

[Sofa King]

1 and 2 are boy-bears.
3 and 4 are boo-bears.

[snow]

Standing on their feet rubbing up on a small tree is boar.....


why would he do that, why not the female? I think I have an idea, but don't want to make any wrong conclusions... :)

[Ringo 7MM]

1 and 2 are boy-bears.
3 and 4 are boo-bears.

What's a Boo-bear

[835]

That is how they mark their territory. Just like a buck makes a rub,,, that is how bears make rubs.... Seen it,,,, culda killed it ... but the tree was on a cliff!

[warnniklz]

Not what I was expecting... I'm out

[BiG Boar]

My guess is that 1 is a boar and 2,3,4 are all sows. Either way, none look worthy of pulling the trigger just yet.

[russm]

I'd say 3/4 are boars.

[BiG Boar]

I started one similar last year (great minds think alike) http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?92480-Sex-ID-of-bears-Please-post-bear-pictures!

[adriaticum]

Somebody posted a fantastic article last year that outlined bear behavour and how to tell sow from boar. It aluded to the fact tha boars behave like they are the kings of the hill and it made so much sense to me.

[BiG Boar]

Just look at hundreds of pictures of known boars or sows and by the end of your 200th picture, you'll be right most of the time. It helps to see it alive and close up too. Some pics are crappy and far away. Plus watching their behavior helps also.

[GoatGuy]

If you want meat and you see a black bear without cubs shoot it. Unless you're looking for a whopper there is absolutely no reason to pass one up.

[BiG Boar]

If you want meat and you see a black bear without cubs shoot it. Unless you're looking for a whopper there is absolutely no reason to pass one up.

I was talking from a trophy perspective. We should each be shooting a bear each season if we can. With 2 general tags there is obviously an over abundance of them. My friend from Manitoba laughs though when I say, "thats a good "meat" bear!" He didn't know there was such a thing as a meat bear.

[snow]

Bear 1 is the only one i know the sex of - it was a female and here is her nearby cub:

http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y373/snowbc/cub_zps636dbf87.jpg (http://s1031.photobucket.com/user/snowbc/media/cub_zps636dbf87.jpg.html)

[emerson]

If you want meat and you see a black bear without cubs shoot it. Unless you're looking for a whopper there is absolutely no reason to pass one up.
This works for me. I feel like I'm falling short when I only fill one bear tag in the spring.

[TheProvider]

Sow, boar, sow, sow. Easiest thing between sows and boars are sows eyes appear closer together and beadier. They also has a smaller more slender snouts. Some people will misjudge younger bear for sows.

Cant always go by size of head as some bear will never have a mobster pumpkin. I find boars more blocky as well and sows a little curvier.

As far as behaviour. As you watch them pay attention to see if it is looking around looking for danger or if it appears to be trying to keep an eye on something aka a cub. If the bear appears to be acting nervous theres a good chance theres a much bigger bwar in the area and it is worried about getting run off the food source

[bighornbob]

it's not like a bear is going to lie down on its back with his legs spread apart so that we know for sure!


A Surrey bear would:shock:

BHB

[Dre]

Younger bears are tough to tell appart. They can look very similar. Young boars look all legs.

Older, mature boars will have their ears look small and far appart, look for a big gut mowing the fresh green grass, waddle like he just s#@t his pants, thicker snout and big paws and thick wrists. Body language is a big givaway, he is trying to show the other bears in the neighbourhood his size and confidence.

Sows look a little spooked, lokking around more often, slender snout, slimmer upper body with bigger-rounder back side, thinner wrists, smaller paws.

[papaken]

Definitely need to look for cubs. Biggest black bear I ever saw had me thinking "TROPHY RUG" then I saw the twin cubs and had to pass. They are hard to judge in the field but the 3 I have shot have been all males, average size, and tasty. Those were all taken while out deer and elk hunting. One actually came to my elk call, musta sounded sick or injured.:wink:

[kennyj]

The one on top is a boar.
http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/IMG_0183.jpg (javascript:;)

[wideopenthrottle]

now that made me laugh
well done
Wide

[Ron.C]

Figure this one was a sow. She didn't like getting her picture taken and relocated my camera for me!

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/beartc.jpg