mature black bear?

[goingoldskool]

I'm headed up to Ontario and would like to know (on average) how tall is a mature blackie when standing on all fours?????  The targets say approx. 250Lbs with a 32" tall target.  Any truth to that?

Thanks,

Rodd

[calgarychef]

Usually you'll have some bait barrels to judge him by, if he's as tall as the barrel I'd be thinking about letting loose an arrow.

[goingoldskool]

Thanks CC.  Hope to have a biggun in front of me!

[damascusdave]

For a long time I thought I could tell the age of a bear from its size...then last year when I was working as camp cook for my outfitter friend I got my eyes opened...we were talking with a conservation officer who told us about shooting a nuisance bear...that bear was healthy in every way and weighed, by her estimation, no more than a hundred pounds..just to see she pulled a tooth and sent it for aging...that little sow was already 5 years old...I think the best way to judge a shooter is by the ears...if the spacing looks wider, the ears round and not pointed and more over on the sides of the head drop the string...discussions about the size of a bear are always about small to mid-size bears...when you see a big bear you will know...there is really no disgrace in shooting any legal bear with a stickbow...if you send me your email I will show you a picture of a fellow who finally arrowed his first Pope and Young bear with a wheelie bow...it was his 28th bear...waiting it out for a big one is a great way to go home empty handed

DDave

[damascusdave]

I think there are other characteristics that make a black bear a prize other than size...some bears have noses that are almost black rather than the common brown tone...my outfitter buddy will shoot any colour phase bear that comes along no matter what (legal) size...one reason I shot the bear I did was because it had a white blaze on its chest...just remember that you will lose the blaze with conventional skinning...it needs to be skinned starting down the middle of the back...discuss these things with your outfitter...they should be able to answer your questions...ask them what the guides use to skin bears...the best skinners I know all prefer small blades including scalpels and paring knives

DDave

[buck50]

I'm heading to Cook County in the great state of Minnesota on the 29th for 10 days. Season opens the first. I concur with your excitement.
I've been told the ear thing is a good way to judge size as is a big ol' hanging belly. One thing I know for certain: That "spot" is the same size on 125# as it is on 400.  

[goingoldskool]

Well guys, I just got back last night from my Ontario trip....  no bear riding back in my cooler. We think that the weather was the real reason...  85-90F/30-35C.     :mad:     Only 4 guys out of 11 brought them back.  The big bear of the week went to a fellow trad archer.  He got it on the 5th night (out of 6).

I did see one on the 5th night as well.  It came straight into the bait crib...looked to the left at the bait, then to the right.  Took in a couple big sniffs and turned around and went back behind the crib and just walked around for 15 min before wandering back off the way it came in.

Fairly decent space between the ears, but the space from the center of the forehead to tip of nose was longer than the space between the ears.
It was explained to us that if the distances were the same or ear distance was greater, then it was a definite shooter.

We still had a great time!  That's what matters most!    

Rodd

[damascusdave]

No question that fall, or in this case really summer, bear hunting is far tougher than spring hunting where food sources are far more limited..I would have to think under those conditions that a nearly 40 per cent success rate is admirable telling me you did your homework and picked a good outfitter...an outfitter that good with the luxury of a spring bear season would be 100 per cent on shots all the time

DDave

[goingoldskool]

Damascus,
All but one guy in our group saw bears... mostly sows with cubs.  We normally come back with a 60-75% success rate!

We've been booking with Bear Paw Landing up in Wabigoon, Ontario.  Good people to deal with!


Rodd

[killinstuff]

How were the bugs and the Blueberries?

[goingoldskool]

killinstuff,

A multitude of both!  ziplock bags and themocells will never let you down!

[killinstuff]

Dang, lot's of berry never helps when sitting bait. I'll be in Caramat next Friday and one of these years I'll catch one out in the clearcuts for a stalk.

[goingoldskool]

the best of luck to you and yours!

Rodd