Identifying a Good Black Bear

[LachlanStevs]

Hey HBC,

Been doing lots of research on spring black bear hunts but there is one thing that I'm struggling with and that is gauging the actual quality of a bear. I understand the differences between sows and boars but I am turning to you guys to ask what are the main features you look for before shooting a black bear? When I am looking at bears i am wondering besides the sex what are some dead giveaways that the bear is an animal I should take? Another thing that would be helpful is if you could share some photos of bears you have taken so I can start to get a better understanding of what a shooter bear looks like.

Thanks everyone for your help,

[srupp]

Hmmm big ones look big..
Look for wide head..not narrow..small ears hanging off side of head..no mic key mouse ears standing up..
Think w I d e...look for short noses. .wide big heads make noses look thick and short..coffee can nose..
Like male grizzlies the big Boyz develop muscle creases down the forehead..big foreheads that a 8" plate would fit..this catches sunlight highlighting the forehead size.
Look for thick front legs that look like stove pipes..no tapering..no wrist..think stovepipe arms.
Tracks..front feet..wide ith in inches..add 1 change to feet..da da..6 " wide front track will give you 7 foot black bear.
Trophy size for blacks..6 footer.
By will have wider legs than length..ie 6 foot 4 inch wide..will be wider than length..ie 5 foot 9..
Big boys will be heavy low hanging bellies even in spring..
Boys will have a neck..females will look like their heads are plunked on their body..no necks..
Great coats on black bears..will look blue..so black they look blue..equals long luxurious coats..when rubbed the brown under hairs stop that blue shine..
Look at the length of head..can you put 5 more heads behind it along the neck and body...
Caution...! Sometimes as with grizzlies. .you can encounter a huge bear..once they break the 7 foot size..on the way to 8 foot they will make the head look small..it doesn't make sense.. small ears, wide head, muscle crease, coffe can nose stove pipe legs..but once these bears hit 400 pounds..their heads appear small..only because the body is huge.
The average black bear harvested is under or at 200 pounds...double this to 400..500 pounds it changes the proportions..head looks small..far different than head body of 200 pounder.
This is just starters certain I have missed some aspects..but a start?
Cheers
Srupp

[srupp]

Hmm several years ago I was out in Tatlyoko going to guide for black bears for Skinner Creek Outfitters..Chilcotin Hillbilly..when the client from the Wounded Warriors couldn't clear customs.i was there so Doug and I headed out..Doug for a change was the hunter..he is certainly THE best outfitter and outdoors man I have ever had the pleasure of meeting and an honor to hunt with Doug.
We were walking up a old trail when a bear did what they do the best. .he just appeared..was there.i raised the binos..Doug raised the rifle..he lowered the rifle commenting I don't know. .it's good but?
I had the benefit of looking through binos through the open rd behind the bear..having done this exact scenario for decades the decision was pretty easy..immediate..
Doug was far more experienced looking up a tree at a bear..and he didn't want just. .a bear nor a good bear..he wanted a great bear
I merely said to Doug..one word...shoot ! Lol
Doug remembered his advice. .don't guide the guide..and made a incredible shot..bear maybe went 10 feet?
It was big..it was heavy..very heavy..it had character..scarred nose rips..either from aggravated sows or hostile adversaries..it had big head..big mitts..wonderful Chocolat color .exactly what CH"was after.Years of experience made the call fairly easy..and mere seconds..in time. Fully realizing Doug lofty limits..i repeat Doug was lifting and focusing on shooting..I had a much better view than Doug..and was from immediate encounter focused on said bear with Swarovski 8.5 x 42 EL binoculars ..besides the repurcussions" on of being wrong were truly frightening..

The truly big ones look big...
Thanks Doug one of the most enjoyable days of my life..you have provided many such memories.i thank you.
Maybe Doug will post a photo..not my place
Cheers
Srupp

[whitlers]

Great advice. I was taught more or less the same thing. I like the stove pipe legs description

[two-feet]

When spring comes and i am in a meat crisis (empty freezer) i shoot any bear without cubs.

[BearStump]

I used to over analyze this myself. but after several years of bear hunting and hundreds of bears in my bino's , its really a no brainer. WHEN YOU SEE A BIG ONE YOU'LL KNOW IT. my first indicator is the ears. like Srupp said, if he has what appears to be tiny ears, thats because his head is really big....

[Xenomorph]

Find the crap, find a nice quiet corner to hide, wait for the bear ...shoot the biggest one - with no cubs.

I know it's simplistic, but especially early spring, the best feeding spots will be hogged by the big ones. You won't find any dinks in the sweet cabbage patches. They're chased away by the bullies. So, find the patch, you'll see fresh patties everywhere, if you don't see the bear he either winded you and bolted, or he's nearby dozing off digesting the meal. You got a choice to tip toe around, or find the vantage point with wind in your favour and wait.

[kennyj]

https://s19.postimg.org/lddntvp9v/IMG_0285.jpg

[dellis]

Kind of a crappy pic, but this one qualifies as a big bear.

Darcy

http://i.imgur.com/FpaV58F.jpg

[chris]

Don't worry about getting a big bear. Get out there find one without cubs and harvest it. After you get a few under your belt you will figure it out. Most places let you harvest 2 per season anyway. If you only listen to the trophy bear hunters you may end up passing on animals that would make you very happy just because they don't meet someone else's criteria.

[HarryToolips]

Srupp and the rest have basically said all there is to say about gauging the size of black bears...like Srupp said, most shot are under 200 lbs, and can taste great, like this one I got last fall:

http://i1030.photobucket.com/albums/y364/harrytoolips/blackbear2_zps6cqi3ziq.jpg (http://s1030.photobucket.com/user/harrytoolips/media/blackbear2_zps6cqi3ziq.jpg.html)

[srupp]

Kind of a crappy pic, but this one qualifies as a big bear.

Darcy

http://i.imgur.com/FpaV58F.jpg

Ya he qualifies..note the muscle crease..
Cheers
Srupp

[todbartell]

they're thick. Have swagger. Real big bears will not have you second guessing when see one

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/18672_215625347991_5333311_n.jpg?oh=1144827dfdc647 6c04ed5b887787fe50&oe=5928D5FE

[todbartell]

6' boar

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/252473_10150202755112992_324502_n.jpg?oh=6d2adcc38 14b9aefaf088cce73a2b98d&oe=592ECC45

https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/253960_10150202763942992_102257_n.jpg?oh=0d2416754 3bc5385588ebdb88b3dc2db&oe=593FCC99

[AgSilver]

https://s19.postimg.org/lddntvp9v/IMG_0285.jpg

Hard not to anthropomorphize something looking at you like that!

[Xenomorph]

Hard not to anthropomorphize something looking at you like that!

You anthropomorphize it while it thinks you're an overgrown blueberry and it might want to bestow upon you the honour of a run through its stomach. Don't be a blueberry, don't become bear poop!

[AgSilver]

You anthropomorphize it while it thinks you're an overgrown blueberry and it might want to bestow upon you the honour of a run through its stomach. Don't be a blueberry, don't become bear poop!

Haha, yeah, that's about it! There's definitely a look of confusion on its face....as if trying to determine how easy it would be to turn the plaid marshmallow into food.

[BCLongshot]

When you see your first fat ass,pumpkin head,no ears,barely can walk bear...you'll say...

Holy shit mother f@$*#r

You'll know !!!

You're gonna sweat,shake swear...ha ha ha

[LachlanStevs]

Thank you for your help! It is so nice how supportive and helpful this forum is. Thanks everyone for your help, I can't wait to get out in the spring and try my luck!

[~T-BONE~]

Another good note to take in the spring looking at bears is the hair. Hair on a younger bear will look long and will feather at the shoulder when walking. A Xl bears hair will look short in comparison to the other tips ie; small head to body ratio, creased forehead or ears on the side of head.

%5BURL=http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/deertbone/media/imagejpg1_zps5140ded8.jpg.html%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w522/deertbone/imagejpg1_zps5140ded8.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D

[northernbc]

Three years old not on gutpiles or fish. And a big hole thru and thru his heart now that's a good bear

[sausage lover]

Three years old not on gutpiles or fish. And a big hole thru and thru his heart now that's a good bearThis pretty much sums it up!

[~T-BONE~]

http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w522/deertbone/imagejpg1_zps5140ded8.jpg (http://s1328.photobucket.com/user/deertbone/media/imagejpg1_zps5140ded8.jpg.html)
http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w522/deertbone/Mobile%20Uploads/th_trim.E680C8BE-6E80-47DE-A468-14D903887D9B_zpsw2gymehy.mp4 (http://i1328.photobucket.com/albums/w522/deertbone/Mobile%20Uploads/trim.E680C8BE-6E80-47DE-A468-14D903887D9B_zpsw2gymehy.mp4)

[Wild one]

Everyone's standards on what is a big bear are different mine personally are very high and has caused me to eat tags lol

lots of good info on this thread take note on Srupps posts. Like others have said if you see a truly big bear you will know.

For the most part the best way to judge bears is to see lots of them. Look at as many pics as you can will help but first hand is best. Big boars move different best way to explain it is they seem a little stiff with a bit of a pigeon toed walk. It's hard to explain but most experienced bear hunters have seen it and maybe someone here can explain it better.

I look at the front half of the bear like others said the front legs/shoulders will be more muscular. The neck is often the first give away to me if it is a boar no doubt longer than sow. The head like others have mentioned ears look small, crease is a good sign but have seen big boars with almost no crease, nose appearing short is often good but some bears have a longer face. I find the traits vary in different areas in BC so in my opinion you need to watch closely. I passed on a bear only to have a friend shoot it latter it went just shy of 20inch and the bear had a long face so it can happen. Never seen a big boar with big ears though

In the end if you don't think the bear in front of you would make YOU happy don't shoot. If you only have interest in a truly big bear be ready to let lots go. I hunted almost everyday from late April to the end of June last spring. Seen more bears than I could count but only 4 I would consider shooting and there is a ton of bears here. It's all about your personal standards some a big bear is 18+ others it is 20+. The nice thing about BC for a bear hunter there is lots of bears to choose from

Best way to learn is go with someone who is good a judging bears and have them teach you

Shoot what you are happy with and just don't pull the trigger if you have doubt. Bear meat tastes good so no real loss if you get ground shrinkage

[wideopenthrottle]

I would assume that a younger bear would have less chance of trich and some other parasites as they have eaten less meals of meat (potential infection source)?...I would likely grind the whole thing so tenderness is not an issue...

[Tuffcity]

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/Tuffcity/bear%20hunting%202015/Hels%20bear%201_zpshxnj6va5.jpg

Didn't have to hesitate on this guy. :)

RC

[Salmon Belly]

Don't worry about getting a big bear. Get out there find one without cubs and harvest it. After you get a few under your belt you will figure it out. Most places let you harvest 2 per season anyway. If you only listen to the trophy bear hunters you may end up passing on animals that would make you very happy just because they don't meet someone else's criteria.

I think this is some of the best advice. You will benefit from what you learn when you shoot an animal, and bear meat is great. Be very certain there are no cubs kicking around.

SB

[scotty30-06]

Bears!!!!.....all this talk about bears has me so damn excited.....going to be doing a week long trip with a buddy in hope then jumping on the ferry head to Courtney for another week long hunt for an island monster....ideally one with crossbow and one with 30-06...fack I'm excited!!!

[plumberjustin]

Bigger trophy bears do not equal better eating. I prefer a younger midsize bear any day. Do your part and take 2.

[two-feet]

We cooked a bear roast last year that was some of the best meat i have ever eaten, period. SOOO good. And the hams!

[scotty30-06]

Hunting bear helps the deer out....but I wonder how many black bears in region 2 effect the blacktail population?....any idea on actual predation due to black bear is.