boar vs sow - what are your ID tips

[twoSevenO]

Obviously, it assumes the sow has no cubs around her.

What do you look to distinguish between the two black bears. Especially between a mature sow and a mature boar.

Thanks!

[two-feet]

Im an ankle man. Boars have thick forelegs with no taper, sows have a tapered foreleg with dainty ankles.

[Throwaway]

Forearms and ass.

[RyoTHC]

It’s all forearm and shoulder for me and every single one of the bears I’ve harvested has been a boar. Seems to work. and I’ve passed on lots of sows even some big ones.

[caddisguy]

Hips, shoulders, forearms, ankles... all the best indicators unless you catch a bear flashing it's junk around. Boars generally have a bit of a "Hercules" look up front. Actually named a boar that last year because he was an exaggerated example of that... massive up front and a bit of a tiny waist "in comparison" LOL

Some behaviour indicators as well. Sows and immature boars tend to enter a feeding area cautiously, stick close to cover and remain fairly silent.

Whenever I can hear a bear ploughing it's way through to the feeding area, snapping everything in the timber along the way and then walking out into the middle of the feeding area like it owns the place, that's going to be a boar 95% of the time.

When I am in doubt, I pass. That really paid off for certain back in 2017 when after watching a sow hug close to cover in a feeding area for hours on consecutive night, it was only the second night I saw the cubs in the brush just inside the treeline and only saw them for a few seconds.

I've taken a number of bears, but have passed on dozens based on all indicators or lack thereof described above and "my gut" (I know that sounds ridiculous, but it factors in) I have yet to shoot a sow. If I don't have enough time to judge, if I do have time and I'm not still not sure or if my gut tells me something is wrong, the bear walks. Probably missed out on a lot of boars (never actually missed out since I always get one eventually) being overly cautious. I just can't imagine shooting a sow (totally legal and fine) and then finding out there were some little ones (not so fine) ... I never want to be in that situation. That's how you end up on the 6 o'clock news. Full disclosure, I'm probably way overly cautious... sometimes it's a bug and sometimes it's a feature.

[Harvest the Land]

The unmistakable Swagger walk. Really tiny ears that almost seem off the sides of their head. A belly that almost seems like its touching the ground. And a crease or line down the middle of their forehead because there's so much muscle on the skull

[caddisguy]

The unmistakable Swagger walk. Really tiny ears that almost seem off the sides of their head. A belly that almost seems like its touching the ground. And a crease or line down the middle of their forehead because there's so much muscle on the skull

Yes! The Swagger!! That is another great one... walking as if their dingle berries are too big.

[butcher]

You gotta sneak up and cradle his coogles in one hand. More than a handful and you got yourself a shooter. Also makes for very close shots.

[Mark-R]

All good suggestions above. I found this guy's method useful:

"Most articles and videos on bear judging first focus on the differences between male and female bears. I don’t find this to be a useful way of looking at things. It results in a lot of duplication and “wishy washy” metrics. [...] If you [...] judge bears on the “spectrum” I define below, you will rarely harvest a female bear."

https://truehunts.com/field-judging-black-bear/ (https://truehunts.com/field-judging-black-bear/)

a couple of interesting features:
"A “torpedo shaped” bear is usually a sow. Small front-end vs larger rear, is almost always a sow. If at first glass of a bear from the broadside perspective you don’t know quickly which end is the front, it is likely you are looking at a boar. Mature boars carry mass from front to rear.If a bear’s hair “parts” between its shoulders it is typically a sow or small boar. Once a bear’s shoulders are wide enough to keep the hair standing it is either a very heavy sow or, most likely, a mature boar."

[MRP]

https://vimeo.com/30511231

Although is showing grizzlys the basics of age and sex is the same.
Produced in the late 1980s.

[HarryToolips]

^^^all great methods...for me, I go with the broader stance in the front shoulders, and a wider space between the ears...its what I've learned, can't say its 100% accurate, but I've harvested 3 boars and 0 sows so far so good...

[chilcotin hillbilly]

All good tips, so far. I would add boars tend to have longer necks.

[Leaseman]

Surprises no one has commented on the nose.....

[IronNoggin]

Surprises no one has commented on the nose.....

Most boars will have a blunted face as compared to the longer snouts of the gals.
Doesn't always hold true though.
The following pictures are of a boar I shot that went well over 500 pounds..
Also happens to have the longest snout of any bear I have ever killed:

https://i.imgur.com/2NkFBLG.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/RhN0tlR.jpg

Rather unusual, as the snout test is but rarely off.

Cheers,
Nog

[chilcotin hillbilly]

As Leaseman says the snout can be a telltale sign of a boar as sows don't usually have a bulky thick snout but on the other hand I have seen plenty of boars with what looks like slender snouts.
I wouldn't use the snout as a sure bet but like to put a few pieces of the puzzle together which with experience only takes a few seconds.

[AllDay]

Does anyone here target averaged size bears (better taste)? Is targeting average bears come with a high risk of harvesting a sow or do these rules hold true for various sized male bears?

[twoSevenO]

Most boars will have a blunted face as compared to the longer snouts of the gals.
Doesn't always hold true though.
The following pictures are of a boar I shot that went well over 500 pounds..
Also happens to have the longest snout of any bear I have ever killed:

https://i.imgur.com/2NkFBLG.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/RhN0tlR.jpg

Rather unusual, as the snout test is but rarely off.

Cheers,
Nog

500?!? Wow ... how long was he?
book noggin no doubt?

[jlirot]

And, as a rookie bear hunter I have another question. If the sow doesn't have cubs, it's legal, so why not shoot one? Especially if the goal is a bit more control of the bear population?

[two-feet]

And, as a rookie bear hunter I have another question. If the sow doesn't have cubs, it's legal, so why not shoot one? Especially if the goal is a bit more control of the bear population?

shoot away bud, zero issue with bear populations. As a rookie I would recommend taking the first legal bear you see, just to get on the board. Most of the guys targeting big boars do it as an added challenge.

Last year I was out with my 7 year old son and got an 80lb bear, it was a great experience for both of us.

[jlirot]

shoot away bud, zero issue with bear populations. As a rookie I would recommend taking the first legal bear you see, just to get on the board. Most of the guys targeting big boars do it as an added challenge.

Last year I was out with my 7 year old son and got an 80lb bear, it was a great experience for both of us.

Yeah, there's a difference between having time for a challenge and getting on the board. :-) I would be happy with a young bear. Good eats. Cheers,

[IronNoggin]

500?!? Wow ... how long was he?
book noggin no doubt?

Seven feet two inches not stretched. Currently being rug mounted for a good Buddy. Extremely good loft, and very silky hair.

Still haven't gotten to the skull, but believe it will book.
All this time on my hands of late, methinks I will get to that soon now.

Here's the original story: http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?148618-The-Coincidence-Factor

Cheers,
Nog

[twoSevenO]

Seven feet two inches not stretched. Currently being rug mounted for a good Buddy. Extremely good loft, and very silky hair.

Still haven't gotten to the skull, but believe it will book.
All this time on my hands of late, methinks I will get to that soon now.

Here's the original story: http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?148618-The-Coincidence-Factor

Cheers,
Nog


jeez, i can't believe i forgot about this one. Did you enter it in the book? I don't have it near me right now, but if its 22" they both gotta rank in the top 5 for sure!

[WWBC]

Man I suck at judging bears....
when I saw that picture of the long faced bear I immediately though young bear.... So very wrong.
Bears are hard to judge.

Good thread.
I agree with two feet about “ just getting on the board” for those that are new hunters or have limited time.

ive passed up a couple bears this spring that I would gladly have in the freezer now.

[twoSevenO]

Man I suck at judging bears....
when I saw that picture of the long faced bear I immediately though young bear.... So very wrong.
Bears are hard to judge.

Good thread.
I agree with two feet about “ just getting on the board” for those that are new hunters or have limited time.

ive passed up a couple bears this spring that I would gladly have in the freezer now.

Yup. Definitely the hardest game species to field judge ..... at least in BC.

[russm86]

Yeah, there's a difference between having time for a challenge and getting on the board. :-) I would be happy with a young bear. Good eats. Cheers,

Don't forget you get 2 bear tags each year too, at least in most areas I can think of. So occasionally if I find a nice easy eater I will take it and save the 2nd take for a monster.

[russm86]

I've noticed a couple guys mention the hips/ass end. I've been noticing some bears lately that appear to be walking around with a slumped/slouched back end, sometimes looks like they are almost trying to drag their junk on the ground, whereas others with a more upright/higher back end that is kind of the peak. Is this what people are talking about when they say hips/ass end or is this more just to do with how they are standing or the terrain they are going over at the time? Either way, it's not something I've ever used to judge bears myself but was something quite different I saw from bear to bear but none had cubs with them and none were what I'd consider monsters otherwise so nothing definitive to compare them too.