Estimate on black bear... ?

[Panhandler80]

So Florida banned hunting in 1993. We had a two day season in 2015 (some regions actually closed after one day due to numbers of bears checked in). Bless the poor soul who didn’t check the internet after Day 1 in those regions and tried to check one in on Day 2. He’d probably still be in jail! Language was a permit for one week bear hunt guaranteed minimum of two days. If nothing better to do it would have been fun to harvest on Day 2 just to watch them they to do something about it.

Anyway, I had this one in film for a few years and saw him in person 5-6 times. Just dwarfed every other best I’ve seen. Was curious what you bear experts thought about him.

Saw him for a few years several times per year. Had no neighbors at the time. Then land around me leased and he suddenly disappeared. Go figure,

I liked having him around because he pushed out all the other bears. You either saw him, or nobody else... which I preferred to multiple roaming young boars or moms and Cubs. As far as disrupting deer hunting goes anyway.

 

[roosiebull]

No guess from a picture (bear are all shaped different, and a picture has always been tough to judge for me)

regardless of the exacts, that bear is a monster!

 

[Geewhiz]

Looks like a fatty!

 

[Panhandler80]

No guess from a picture (bear are all shaped different, and a picture has always been tough to judge for me)

regardless of the exacts, that bear is a monster!

10-4. I know the way he moved and his very presence was nothing like the other bears I frequently saw before or those after. He kinda lumbered and it was slow and stay with zero regard to surroundings, as opposed to younger bears that have a more dog like gate and to stop and inspect environment periodically. I’ve never hunted bear but this guy always got my blood flowing a little bit when he came around.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

If he acts dominant, and the others bears confirm he is dominant, then he's a shooter.

 

[Panhandler80]

If he acts dominant, and the others bears confirm he is dominant, then he's a shooter.

Yeah. I’m no bear hunter but there was never any doubt about it. He was the only bear I saw for about two years. Pretty sure he enjoyed his own home range.

A shame I wasn’t able to connect with one on the one day hunt we got 6 years ago.

 

[roosiebull]

10-4. I know the way he moved and his very presence was nothing like the other bears I frequently saw before or those after. He kinda lumbered and it was slow and stay with zero regard to surroundings, as opposed to younger bears that have a more dog like gate and to stop and inspect environment periodically. I’ve never hunted bear but this guy always got my blood flowing a little bit when he came around.

Heck yeah, that’s exactly how big bear are... they don’t have much concern, and if they don’t smell you, you can get away with a LOT

smaller bear are much more cautious and spook way easier.

that would Be a very good bear to shoot, big skull, nice hide, and lots of fat to render on that guy!

can all of the meat (maybe corn a couple roasts) and it may be your favorite game meat, and the rendered fat has a lot of great uses.

seriously, canned bear meat is next level good, and canned meat is seriously convenient to have... make some insane good sandwiches and you can easily make a lot of excellent dinners.

I used to grind or make roasts with bear (which both are great) but canned bear is about as good as it gets

 

[Ajax2744]

Heck yeah, that’s exactly how big bear are... they don’t have much concern, and if they don’t smell you, you can get away with a LOT

smaller bear are much more cautious and spook way easier.

that would Be a very good bear to shoot, big skull, nice hide, and lots of fat to render on that guy!

can all of the meat (maybe corn a couple roasts) and it may be your favorite game meat, and the rendered fat has a lot of great uses.

seriously, canned bear meat is next level good, and canned meat is seriously convenient to have... make some insane good sandwiches and you can easily make a lot of excellent dinners.

I used to grind or make roasts with bear (which both are great) but canned bear is about as good as it gets

What exactly goes into canning bear meat? Is it just a brine you can it in or what?

 

[FLAK]

The Chunk!!

 

[Blockcaver]

Looks like a dandy boar. I've got no idea what the genetics are down in FL but that is a shooter bear.

 

[TxxAgg]

What does a bear like that weigh?

 

[Lowg08]

I’m going to throw out a number for you but first are you sure it’s a him? Some of the features make me think a sow. A boar bear that size should have a serious whither and a deep crease in the middle of the skull. I’m going 450-500

 

[Panhandler80]

I’m going to throw out a number for you but first are you sure it’s a him? Some of the features make me think a sow. A boar bear that size should have a serious whither and a deep crease in the middle of the skull. I’m going 450-500

I’m certainly not b sure. It was always solo and not only was it the heaviest bear I’ve ever seen out there, on all fours was also the tallest and longest. Just v assumed boar.

 

[Drenalin]

I’m going to throw out a number for you but first are you sure it’s a him? Some of the features make me think a sow. A boar bear that size should have a serious whither and a deep crease in the middle of the skull. I’m going 450-500

I wondered the same. Big back end vs front end, and those skinny ankles up front. I’m not an expert at all though, just trying to learn to ID bears before my first hunt for them. Either way, that’s a big fat bear - I would have guessed 400.

 

[Jstumbaugh]

I shot one that was 422# with a 20 8/16" skull a few years ago and they look about the same.

 

[Panhandler80]

Nice. Again, I’ve never even hunted bear, but that’s what I think of when I picture taking a black bear. Not that there’s anything wrong with taking smaller ones… and I assume some “smaller” ones are actually quite large for a given region…. Just like every other animal.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

Am curious how folks are getting the actual weights on bears harvested. Are you bringing in a truck or tractor to retrieve the body and then throwing it on a scale?

 

[Jstumbaugh]

Yeah, 4 of us got this guy onto a snowmobile trailer pulled by an atv to get him out. Then used the tractor loader to hang him for an accurate weight.

 

[Lowg08]

I wondered the same. Big back end vs front end, and those skinny ankles up front. I’m not an expert at all though, just trying to learn to ID bears before my first hunt for them. Either way, that’s a big fat bear - I would have guessed 400.

That was the next couple of things I was going to point out and also boars, not alway but most of the time are a little lower to the ground.

 

[Cameron.25]

What exactly goes into canning bear meat? Is it just a brine you can it in or what?

Just look it up, its pretty simple. I made sure to take the time to trim off all the sinew and fat and put a little salt and a clove of garlic in most of mine, no water or brine. Turned out amazing