Just for fun; How big is this bear?

[longcruise]

These are pics of bear tracks that I took in fresh snow a couple weeks ago. It was kinda early for bears to be moving at the elevation I was at. Usually the early roamers are the males but who knows.

The pink squares on the grid paper are 1" X 1", but the angle of the clipboard was not quite right.

Did not see the bear so I don't know the answer.

 

[Ted W. Coombs]

Marmotslayer, I been told to figure 100lb. per inch measuring across widest part of the foot. Cant realy tell the way the grid is layed. Teton Ted

 

[longcruise]

Width of the paw was about 5.5 inches. Mighta been 6?

 

[puckertoe]

learned this while guiding in nm for several years. take width of front pad, say 5", add 1" and convert to feet for bear length. so this would make it 6 footer. we treed and killed enough bears to see that this is actually a pretty accurate read. good luck and nice track.

 

[broknaero]

I took a boar 8 years ago that weighed 355 dressed. His front pads were almost 6" across.

Also took a sow about 4 years ago that went 370 dressed. Though she was heavier she was a porked. No where near as long and her front pads were smaller , about 4 1/2".

One thing is sure about your tracks. A cub didnt make them!

 

[jtmattison]

Looking at the size of the track as well as the depth of the snow and seeing it dragged it's foot as it walked I'd say it's probably a boar that weighs anywhere between 200 and 598 pounds.

Really, I have no clue but it looks like a decent sized bear.

HD

 

[longcruise]

Dawg, I was thinking the same about it's size. Was thinking in the 450 pound range. They are of course much lighter this time of year than they will be in the fall.

I was not hunting though. Colorado does not have a spring bear season.

Last year during an early october elk hunt our usual honey hole was near devoid of elk but we saw bears constantly. Nobody had a bear tag! If we all load up with bear tags this year, we are guaranteed not to see any and the elk will be back! It's a win win. :haha:

 

[Greenmtnboy]

thats a small bear less than 300 lbs.

 

[longcruise]

thats a small bear less than 300 lbs.

Yeah, could be. Since I found these tracks within the city limits of Blackhawk I figgered he might be bigger from chowing down on the casino buffets.

 

[Greenmtnboy]

thats a small bear less than 300 lbs.

Yeah, could be. Since I found these tracks within the city limits of Blackhawk I figgered he might be bigger from chowing down on the casino buffets.

Up in Crested butte the bears have gotten so used to dumpster diving that some no longer hibernate.
I read some disturbing fact on the longevity of town bears compaired to wild ones.
They live about half as long because of all the manure they digest in town.
Hay Marmotslayer are you going out first weekend of turky season?
April 11th is right around the corner.

 

[longcruise]

Hay Marmotslayer are you going out first weekend of turky season?
April 11th is right around the corner.

Maybe. I don't have much luck with opener on turkeys. Matter of fact, I don't have much luck with CO turkeys at all.

Am supposed to be on blue mesa for macs that weekend. Plans aren't firm yet. Any mac reports yet??

 

[Greenmtnboy]

The lake is open in spots but has been all winter so they have been pounded pritty hard.
And as I am writing this it is five below and blowing snow and will for the rest of the week.
Maby waite until taylor opens.
Are you coming over for the pike turny in june.

 

[longcruise]

Are you coming over for the pike turny in june.

Maybe. Quite a few shoots going on then and I want to hit as many as possible this year.

 

[MercerLake]

:v :thumbsup: I'd agree with Puckertoe on the rule of thumb for guesstimating the sze from the width of the track. I've always found the track width in inches plus 1 = size in feet. But you can't really judge the weight as it depends on whether it's spring or fall. Also tracks in snow tend to enlarge a little as the snow melts down. But,I bet that it is a fine bear. Also males tend to be first out of the dens, the sows with cubs come out later when food is more plentiful. :v

 

[KHickam]

Based on the size of the track I would put it into the 200-250 lb class.