Judgeing mature black bears. That’s unfortunate because bears can be particularly difficult to judge for hunting. Dan Brooks from Crystal Lake Resort breaks down bear identification (boar vs. Male bears, commonly known as boars, are big. I was always amazed at how small the bears were that he mounted. And even better, targeting older mature males is the name of the game, and if you can select the right one for harvest, everybody wins. But what does big really mean? The definition of a big black bear begins with the sex of the bear. It does take looking at quite a few bears to get the hang of it, but it can still be tricky. Advertisement SEX When you see a bear accompanied by small cubs, you know Feb 27, 2023 · Spring bear hunting is a great way to get back into the hills after a long winter. In theory, if you just had a single picture of bear’s head you get a good idea of his maturity and sex. These tips should help you determine if that next bear is a shooter or not. Aug 10, 2020 · By: Richard P Smith. Feb 5, 2011 · Field judging the size and sex of a black bear in the field can be a challenge. I’ve had bears that had significant ground shrinkage, as well as a few that were bigger than I initially thought. Even the most experienced of bear hunters have been known to misjudge a bear. Judging trophy bear is difficult, and many consider the most difficult big game animal to judge Feb 27, 2020 · The key to field judging black bears is time and knowledge. However, blac Jul 9, 2020 · judge a Black Bear and how big they really are. Black bears are the most challenging animals to judge for trophy quality in North America. My father was a taxidermist and mounted dozens of bears over the years. It isn't easy to pick out mature bears, but that's the goal! Learn how to field judge black bears and distinguish between sows and boars. With a little bit of work and experience in the field figuring learning the difference between a mature boar and a female will be no problem. Countless articles, books, and DVDs tell us how to age and score whitetail bucks in the field. Advice from a British Columbia bear hunting outfitter on how to field judge a black bear from a distance that can help hunters decide whether or not the animal is worth pursuing. Apr 28, 2020 · Word to the wise: Sizing bears is tough. Before you head out, make sure you know exactly what you’re looking at and how to accurately field judge a black bear before you send a shot downrange. But big bears have distinctive traits. Here's what to look for if you're ever in bear country with a tag in your pocket and a black bear in your sights. At that Here's a visual and explanation of how to distinguish male black bears from female black bears. Depending on the scenario and how How to field judge black bears for bear hunters. Use these techniques to decide whether a bear is the one you want to release your arrow or pull the trigger on. Targeting mature animals is best from a management standpoint as well. Whether you're assessing trophy quality, ensuring ethical hunting practices, or simply want to estimate the amount of meat you'll be packing out, knowing how to gauge a bear's weight in the field is a valuable skill. Sep 6, 2017 · (Shutterstock/C Natures Moments photo) There are many hunting guides, myself included, who contend that black bears are quite possibly the most difficult North American big game animal to field judge. May 12, 2016 · Black bears can be notoriously tough to field judge for size, trophy quality, and gender. 9 Ways to Judge Bear Size, Age in the Field The best way to analyze a bear to determine whether it’s a mature animal that you want to kill or a younger bear that should be passed up is to study these physical traits. Not only can it be hard to distinguish a large bear from a smaller one, but sows (female bears) and boars (male bears) also look very similar—and sows can grow quite large! If you’ve ever found yourself in a high-stakes situation where quick Shooting young bears isn’t just a “trophy” mishap, but it’s a conservation mishap. Who hasn’t desired a black bear rug? Next to whitetail deer, there is an argument to be made that black bears are the second most popular big game animal to hunt. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. Keep these Apr 3, 2024 · Sow or boar? Young or mature? Judging black bears in the field is a subjective process and can be challenging, even for the most experienced hunters. However, you’ll very little advice is available on how to judge the age of a bear. (Photo: John Hafner) Field judging a black bear is no easy task. If you want to tell the difference between a boar and a sow t mature black bear?Re: mature black bear? « Reply #3 on: August 16, 2013, 01:53:00 PM » For a long time I thought I could tell the age of a bear from its sizethen last year when I was working as camp cook for my outfitter friend I got my eyes openedwe were talking with a conservation officer who told us about shooting a nuisance bearthat bear was healthy in every way and weighed, by . Popular to hunt they may be, but easy to field judge, they are not. Our experienced guides know how to spot and judge mature boars in the field, ensuring you take home a bear that meets your expectations. Even little ones look big, particularly to a novice. Instead, we have to analyze so much more, from their body shape to the way they act, to ensure we harvest our intended game. Whether you are about to take your first black bear hunt or are a veteran, watching bears on video is excellent preparation but you need to focus on these five elements in judging bear size. Jun 8, 2020 · Advertisement Black bears are arguably the most difficult of our big-game animals to judge. One of the biggest struggles hunters face when bear hunting is judging the size of bears. Here are some pointers to help you determine a bear’s sex, and its level of physical maturity. Mar 31, 2025 · How to Field Judge Black Bears on the Paw These tips and indicators will help you decide if the bear you are observing is the one for you. At Kildala Adventures, we specialize in helping hunters identify and harvest true trophy-class black bears. I heard the same repeatedly from hunters. sow) and judging in this video. Trust me, I’ve been on both ends of the surprises when it comes to the actual score of the black bear I just told my hunter to take. Though some may disagree, black bears are one of the most sought after of all the big game species. Many hunters shoot less than average black bears since they aren’t educated on how to field judge a bear. Join hunting guide Kash Mair as he shares his Sep 13, 2024 · When hunting black bears, accurately judging their weight is crucial for several reasons. Officially, as the In this segment of Moment of Truth, Curt Wells explains how to correctly judge black bears in order to target the right bear — behavior, paw prints, head siz Understanding and interpreting the maturity features of a male black bear is key for judging bears via trail cameras. More experienced hunters often prefer to hold out for a large mature bear. Learn the proven clues veteran hunters use to determine whether a bear is mature or young. Feb 18, 2025 · For hunters, a good way to judge bears is whether the animal fits in one of three categories: young (1-2 years old), average (3-4 years), or mature (5 years-plus). Gain valuable tips to avoid ground shrinkage and target those giant, predatory boars. A few tips about how to estimate a bear's age, health and sex in the field for outdoor enthusiasts and hunters. After more than 50 years of hunting, photographing and studying black bears, I’ve learned a number of reliable methods for judging the size and sex of the animals that rely on th May 21, 2024 · Black bears are dangerous game, and your emotions can easily take control. They all thought the bear they shot was enormous until they walked up on it after the shot. Expert Field Judging: We help hunters correctly identify mature boars vs. For your first bear ever, one in the average category would be a harvest to celebrate. Unlike the ungulate species, bears don’t have the significant racks on their head to help identify a mature male. Outside of some of the traditional methods of judging a mature bear like, ear width, the nose, back paws or ankles, a dominant mature bear when coming into the stand May 14, 2015 · Black bears are a trophy game species that takes time and effort to learn how to judge. younger bears. Sows (female bears) are generally never larger than 300 pounds. Mar 25, 2025 · Field Judging Black Bears Field judging black bears is notoriously difficult, and they may be one of the toughest species to assess accurately. And in the dim light of dusk, when you most often see them, the task only becomes more Black bear morphology is just too darn diversified to make a science out of judging. Bears often approach a bait in dim light and through thick brush, making a solid black target difficult to analyze. Not only is it challenging to differentiate a large boar from a smaller one, it can be equally troublesome to tell a sow from a boar. Bear season is coming. Boars can exceed weights of 500 pounds. 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