The biggest bruins might be closer than you think.
Sep 24, 2004
American black bears are primarily woodland animals, occupying forests as far north as Alaska and Canada and as far south
as Florida and northern Mexico.
"Black bear hunting is better now than it has been at any point in recent history," says Brian Bachman, a founder and president of the North American Bear Foundation (NABF). "Conservation efforts and management programs have been very effective in protecting the black bear.
Populations are increasing and ranges are being expanded in most areas. This is reflected in the record numbers of bears taken and also in the sizes of bears being harvested."
Keith Balfourd of the Boone and Crockett Club notes that the highest-scoring bear killed by a hunter was taken by Robert J. Shuttleworth Jr. in 1993 near Mendocino, Calif. It scored 233/16, placing it in the No. 3 spot in the all-time B&C records.
The two highest-scoring black bear skulls, 2310/16 and 237/16 points, were "pick-ups" found in the field.
Judging a Bear
Gauging a bear's head and ears is the best way to determine its size. "A big old male has a blocky, triangular head," says Jack Atcheson, Jr., of Jack Atcheson and Sons Outfitters. The ears look small and rounded on the blockier head of an old male. A young bear has big, prominent ears sticking out.
A bear's demeanor can also reveal a great deal about its age and size. A young bear has lots of nervous energy, like a puppy. "A big boar doesn't waste his energy," says Atcheson, who has hunted bears throughout North America. "He's slow and deliberate. He lumbers along on legs that look short because of his big belly hanging down."
The size of a bear can often be estimated within reasonable certainty by measuring across the print of the front foot and adding one. Thus, a bear that leaves a 5-inch-wide track probably wears a hide that squares about 6 feet.
-John Haviland
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