Field judging bears thread with photo examples

[TheOrangutanGuide]

This is another expansion where I can’t tell if he/she is a unit or a young one.

Example

I had about 15 seconds between seeing my bear for the first time and it being dead on the ground and the first thing that went through my mind, other than “holy shit I finally saw my first bear and it’s running towards me”, was how small his ears looked on his head.

Unfortunately I didn’t take any good pictures in the woods, I pulled the whole crew out of the woods to help me on the opening day of deer season and was anxious to wrap it up and get them back out hunting. In hindsight I wish I had taken the few extra minutes to get some good pictures in the woods especially since I killed an 8 pt an hour prior as well.

For reference my brother is 6’ 3” and that bear weighs 475 pounds.

View attachment 1063000

absolute unit.

 

[TheOrangutanGuide]

Here are my spotter vs. on the ground from my second bear.

I was fortunate to be one of the few novice bear hunters to experience ground growth rather than ground shrinkage.

I watched this bear for several hours at about 900 yards and was considering passing on him because I thought his face looked slender and ears looked large. Thought he might’ve been medium at best. Didn’t help that I got very few looks at his full body. Now when I review the photos and videos it’s obvious he was built and moved like a large boar. Was pleasantly surprised and glad I didn’t let him walk.


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That is what's cool about bear hunting.... sometimes they are just as big on the ground as they are in the scope.

 

[7PRC Pharmacy]

Bear #1 from the first post:



Sow, probably 80-100 lbs

Also pictured: @TheOrangutanGuide

Very cool bear, but smaller than expected

 

[TreeDog]

Same Montana bear

 

[7PRC Pharmacy]

Bear #2 from the first post





Sow, probably 70ish lbs. likely 1 year old. Was observed for awhile with no other bears around. When I first got a good look at this bear, I thought it had a fat belly almost touching the ground and my guess was medium sized bear probably a boar. Never imagined it would be so small. Game warden was not too impressed LOL but said it was legal. Definitely going to be more selective in the future.

 

[OsoMountain]

Bear #2 from the first post

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Sow, probably 70ish lbs. likely 1 year old. Was observed for awhile with no other bears around. When I first got a good look at this bear, I thought it had a fat belly almost touching the ground and my guess was medium sized bear probably a boar. Never imagined it would be so small. Game warden was not too impressed LOL but said it was legal. Definitely going to be more selective in the future.

Patience and wisdom. I tend to believe any hunter that says they haven’t inadvertently killed a smaller animal is a bit full of it. It happens, it’s hunting. We gather information, apply it, and better ourselves as hunters along the way. “Oh, I need to watch out for this.”

I’m sure I have a photo of my first bear around here somewhere

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Judging bears from spotter pics is tough but you can tell a lot about a bear by the way they move. If you have eyes on it should add a lot more context for judging. Slower, deliberate swaying movements indicate a bigger bear. If it looks long, slender, and moving kind of like a monkey, it is going to be smaller.

 

[OsoMountain]

Judging bears from spotter pics is tough but you can tell a lot about a bear by the way they move. If you have eyes on it should add a lot more context for judging. Slower, deliberate swaying movements indicate a bigger bear. If it looks long, slender, and moving kind of like a monkey, it is going to be smaller.

When they have to start throwing those hams instead of just stepping! Good advice dude. I’ve learned to look for reasons they are small instead of “oh he’s huge!!”

Mac truck head, ears pinned to the sides, there’s weight and girth on that monkey frame you talked about. Otherwise they start looking all legs and elbows.

 

[Pilsner]

The old Bear Hunting Magazine podcast and YouTube channel - back when Clay Newcomb was running it - had a ton of great info about field judging black bears.
Since Kolby Morehead took over the magazine, I don't know if he has continued to put out that content, but the old stuff is still out there. Very worthwhile to watch and listen to.

 

[Taudisio]

The bear I posted. 140ish boar.

Man I was off of my numbers with those ones from yesterday. When I see them in person, I haven’t had any ground shrinkage yet. It’s humbling to feel confident in estimates and get corrected by photos. Makes me go back and do a second take.

 

[7PRC Pharmacy]

View attachment 1063231
The bear I posted. 140ish boar.

Man I was off of my numbers with those ones from yesterday. When I see them in person, I haven’t had any ground shrinkage yet. It’s humbling to feel confident in estimates and get corrected by photos. Makes me go back and do a second take.

Exactly why I started this thread! Hopefully we can continue to keep this going with many examples for people to learn from

 

[KHntr]

Thought it would be a helpful exercise to start a thread for folks to show pictures of bears for field judging practice. Folks can provide their judgement and assessment based on these pictures and then I will provide feedback. Please feel free to share your own photos for others to learn from.

It would be preferable to include follow up pictures and information about the bears size closer up or after harvest.

I will start. These are two bears harvested recently in Montana. Each was the first bear harvested by each hunter. Both are viewed through a Swarovski ATC using Ollin digiscope adapter and iPhone 15 pro.

The jet black bear was approximately 600 yards away. The cinnamon bear was approximately 450-500 yards away. I do not know what magnification power the spotting scope was set on either.

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I see from the post that both these are dead already, but before I get through the thread any farther I’ll chime in…

Big ears like that, small bears.
Long slender snouts and gentle faces make them sows.
Probably too young to have had cubs the first time yet, so not three year olds.
Might be 48” nose to tail, but I kind of doubt it.
I get the odd one wrong occasionally, but I don’t think I’m too far off on either of those.

 

[7PRC Pharmacy]

I see from the post that both these are dead already, but before I get through the thread any farther I’ll chime in…

Big ears like that, small bears.
Long slender snouts and gentle faces make them sows.
Probably too young to have had cubs the first time yet, so not three year olds.
Might be 48” nose to tail, but I kind of doubt it.
I get the odd one wrong occasionally, but I don’t think I’m too far off on either of those.

You nailed it - photos on the ground are later on. Thanks for contributing. Exactly the spirit of the thread

 

[KHntr]

You nailed it - photos on the ground are later on. Thanks for contributing. Exactly the spirit of the thread

Hunting bears is one of my favorites.
Although, after having killed more of ‘em than my age in years, I’m a bunch more picky than I used to be. I don’t start getting real excited till they are over the 7’ squared mark, and those don’t show up very often.

 

[KHntr]

You’ll know a big one when you see it.

 

[Moose83]

You’ll know a big one when you see it.

A likely candidate for an 88...