500 lb. Wisconsin Black Bear Harvest

[gabedenzine]

My buddy ended up tagging his first Black Bear last week on opening day. Wisconsin is a draw to hunt bears, the state is divided into numerous different units. This is the 3rd time he had a tag (Burned 2 tags a few years before).

Waylan's known to get "Excited" and told me he was raised to take the first shot he's presented with. Regardless of the shot placement, this is a very big bear for Central Wisconsin, 446 lb fully dressed (Est. by butcher to be 500 lb. Live weight)

Posting because I was asked to and figured maybe some people would enjoy this hunt - Besided the Kill, he does dive into how he sets up a bait, his routine, what he uses, and how he "Conditions" bears to hit the bait during daylight hours.

 

[go4thegusto]

That is a tank! according to a study by the Pennsylvania G&F where they weighed then gutted many bears, the rule of thumb is 18%. That puts him at 525

 

[GSPHUNTER]

I have a friend up in Saywer county who has been trying for several years to draw a tag with no luck at all. Great bear.

 

[elkguide]

Awesome bear.

 

[gabedenzine]

That is a tank! according to a study by the Pennsylvania G&F where they weighed then gutted many bears, the rule of thumb is 18%. That puts him at 525

He was going off what the butcher told him, anything bigger than what we guessed is a bonus.

 

[gabedenzine]

I have a friend up in Saywer county who has been trying for several years to draw a tag with no luck at all. Great bear.

The state is poorly designed for bear hunting. The highest population of bears exist the further north you go, lower population the further south. Down south you can get a tag every year. Central part of the state, zone C where this was shot, it takes 3 points or so. Up north in Zone A where your friend is, it takes 11+ points to draw. It's like they're turning bear hunting into trophy units up north...

 

[DSchliep]

Great bear! I went to Danbury, Wi. when I was 14, my step dad had a tag. Was quite the experience!

 

[gabedenzine]

Great bear! I went to Danbury, Wi. when I was 14, my step dad had a tag. Was quite the experience!

That's a great area for big bears

 

[Cbum]

That's a giant! I have a few on my property in Columbia county, none this big though, congrats to your buddy!

 

[jrl80]

Nice bear!