Help with Field Judging Bear

Horniac · May 23, 2012

I got pictures of this northern California bear on my trail camera. I have harvested numerous big game animals but have never shot a bear but have always wanted to put one in my game room. I have read a lot about field judging them but would like to hear opinions from you bear experts on this bear's size, age, sex, or anything else you can tell from the photos.

Thanks,

Horniac

Cahunter805 · May 23, 2012

Thats a pretty nice bear. Id guess 300LBS easily. Ears spread way out looks like a mature boar to me.

preacher · May 23, 2012

Deffinitly a boar. 20" skull, 350lbs plus. And a soup can for a nose. I wouldnt think twice bout pullin the trigger on him.

eldorado · May 23, 2012

All I know is that he's big and would look great in my trophy room.

Eldorado

Southbranch07 · May 24, 2012

Not a 20" skull, but a no doubt shooter.

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Go Big, or Go Home

pookiebar · May 24, 2012

I wish you had some broadside shots of him to see how low the belly is sitting to the ground.

But from what I can see he is a mature boar. He does not have a 20 inch skull, but he is mature. You can tell a 20 inch or bigger skull by how far up the ears stick, on a 20 inch skull the ears just look like little nubs on top of his head, kinda like a teddy bears little ears.

But he is a good bear, wouldn't hesitate to shoot him. What I really think is cool is that big old hump on his shoulders. That is not a typical Black Bear characteristic.

If you can get the shot in day light, take hime for sure!

ARROWHNTR · May 24, 2012

That is a really nice boar, dont know if he would break 20 or not but if not he is really close! If you get a chance let him have it and tell us!

Horniac · May 24, 2012

Thanks for the input guys!

He looked like he had a fairly large skull to me as well but I wasn't sure of his body size. I have more cameras out now so hopefully I will get some more shots of him hopefully during daylight hours.

Here is a photo I got of a bear in the same area last year during the same time period. I saw him two nights in a row about an hour before dark. Not sure if it is the same bear or not but I remember thinking he looked big even at a mile away...

Hopefully he will be hitting acorns during bow season and I will have some time this year to hunt him...

Horniac

Bullelk1 · May 24, 2012

He is pretty nice, but not close to a true 20" bear. His ears would look like they were on the sides of his head, and there would be a pronounced crease in his skull. Keep an eye on him, he will be huge one of these days.