Black Bear Visit

BIGR · April 27, 2012, 11:09 PM

This black bear came by on Wednesday and Thursday night. He tore down a suet cake Wednesday night and Thursday night in the front yard, about 20 feet in front of the house. I did get a few pictures of him at my feeder above the house. What do you guys think that he weighs?

Buzzcook · April 27, 2012, 11:52 PM

At a guess I'd say closer to 400# than 300#.

BIGR · April 28, 2012, 12:23 AM

I figured 430 plus maybe?

Vermonter · April 28, 2012, 12:41 AM

I was going to say 350-400

FrankenMauser · April 28, 2012, 01:22 AM

Bears look a lot heavier than they really are.

I don't think that one would break 350 lbs, and is probably no more than 300.

BIG P · April 28, 2012, 02:39 AM

Shot one about the same size last year.It had a 16.5'' head and was 312lbs.
They look pretty close to the same.Pretty nice little blackie.

jmr40 · April 28, 2012, 12:57 PM

It is really hard to say. Bears are hard to judge. I killed one a few years back that I would have sworn was 300+ when it fell. By the time I got it to the truck 5 hours later I was thinking closer to 400. It was 260. Still a decent GA bear. This one looks bigger than mine, but not by much. I'd make a guess of 300-350, but I could easily be off 100 lbs either way.

mete · April 28, 2012, 01:27 PM

Yes most overestimate a bear's weight .I've seen a real 400 # bear up close [15 ' ] ,that's a lot of bear !! I would guess that bear in the photo was 300# max . They also put on lots of weight in the fall for hibernation .

armed_librarian · April 28, 2012, 01:37 PM

Nice pictures! Noticed the Cat (I think) in the first picture then the bear sitting where it was in the second two. I hope you are not missing a pet.

bswiv · April 28, 2012, 04:37 PM

Can't say I know how to judge size but he looks just like the ones we have on our place.........100% anoying!!

BIGR · April 28, 2012, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Nice pictures! Noticed the Cat (I think) in the first picture then the bear sitting where it was in the second two. I hope you are not missing a pet.

No cat, just one of probably 30 raccoons that roams around my place.

Just a few of them in this picture. As you can see they are not afraid of the small bear.

langenc · April 30, 2012, 08:26 PM

I think you should harvets some coon.

I counted 14 but but noticed that was a couple falls ago.

Neighbor has 6 cats living under her shed. I told her by fall there would probably be 18-20 and then what is she going to do. I have an idea to help out.

Irish B · May 3, 2012, 02:13 AM

The bears are starting to poke around my house too. Time to get the rubber buck ready just in case. Actually word has it there's a big male tom lion hanging around the neighborhood so usually if you have one it keeps the other away. I remember two summers ago I had a big bear make rounds through my yard almost every night till all of a sudden he was nowhere to be found. After a few days I found a deer leg in my yard and my neighbor found the rest of the buck in his tree along with lion tracks. All of a sudden we missed our bear! So long as you have a bear around you usually are safe from lions. It seems people get too excited when judging a bears weight. Same with wolves. That bear looks 300 lbs tops.

BlueTrain · May 3, 2012, 11:03 AM

The bear doesn't look that big in the photo with the several raccoons. Good bunch of pictures, by the way.

I will say, however, that a black bear, even a cub, can look pretty big when he's standing on his hind legs. And for whatever you hear about them being shy, they are rather intimidating, especially in threes.

Double Naught Spy · May 3, 2012, 05:03 PM

Well, if the bear is that big now or looks that big now, just imagine how big it will be/look come winter!

BIGR · May 3, 2012, 09:53 PM

Well it looks like ol black bear is going to hang out around the house.

PA Hunter37 · May 4, 2012, 03:09 PM

I'm thinking 300 -350, from the size of the ears looks like maybe 3 -4 years old. Of course, I could be out to lunch as my knowledge is all book learned, never seen one up close and personal like.

azwizard · May 7, 2012, 11:10 PM

Sorry, Im thinking the bear is 250-300#. Bears have the same size ears from basically birth till death and that can make thier head's look larger or smaller dependning. That bear looks smaller. Still a nice bear if your hunting. Enjoy!!!!

mete · May 8, 2012, 04:29 PM

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...d-janitor.html

In NJ they go to school !

I first thought he wanted to learn but when he started to eat math books I assumed he had failed math !

This is the most northern county of NJ with lots of bears. But in NJ they always have a big fight to get a bear hunt because of the tree huggers .

FrontSight · May 22, 2012, 01:42 PM

OMG THAT IS A LOT OF COONS!! Do you trap?? If not, you really should! Wow, with 30 of them you can make over $300...

Manson · May 22, 2012, 04:50 PM

Looks to be about 300lbs. And the coon's aren't afraid of him because their combined weight exceeds his.

April 28, 2012, 12:41 AM	#4
Vermonter Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2010 Posts: 871	Weight I was going to say 350-400

April 28, 2012, 01:22 AM	#5
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2008 Location: 1B ID Posts: 5,398	Bears look a lot heavier than they really are. I don't think that one would break 350 lbs, and is probably no more than 300. __________________ "Such is the strange way that man works -- first he virtually destroys a species and then does everything in his power to restore it."

April 28, 2012, 01:27 PM	#8
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 4,937	Yes most overestimate a bear's weight .I've seen a real 400 # bear up close [15 ' ] ,that's a lot of bear !! I would guess that bear in the photo was 300# max . They also put on lots of weight in the fall for hibernation . __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

May 3, 2012, 02:13 AM	#13
Irish B Senior Member Join Date: October 10, 2010 Location: Colorado Posts: 359	The bears are starting to poke around my house too. Time to get the rubber buck ready just in case. Actually word has it there's a big male tom lion hanging around the neighborhood so usually if you have one it keeps the other away. I remember two summers ago I had a big bear make rounds through my yard almost every night till all of a sudden he was nowhere to be found. After a few days I found a deer leg in my yard and my neighbor found the rest of the buck in his tree along with lion tracks. All of a sudden we missed our bear! So long as you have a bear around you usually are safe from lions. It seems people get too excited when judging a bears weight. Same with wolves. That bear looks 300 lbs tops. __________________ If a man hasn't found something worth dying for, he isn't fit to live

May 3, 2012, 11:03 AM	#14
BlueTrain Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 5,809	The bear doesn't look that big in the photo with the several raccoons. Good bunch of pictures, by the way. I will say, however, that a black bear, even a cub, can look pretty big when he's standing on his hind legs. And for whatever you hear about them being shy, they are rather intimidating, especially in threes. __________________ Shoot low, sheriff. They're riding Shetlands! Underneath the starry flag, civilize 'em with a Krag, and return us to our own beloved homes! Buy War Bonds.

April 27, 2012, 11:52 PM	#2
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 5,199	At a guess I'd say closer to 400# than 300#.

April 28, 2012, 12:23 AM	#3
BIGR Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2000 Location: Mountains Posts: 1,231	I figured 430 plus maybe?

April 28, 2012, 02:39 AM	#6
BIG P Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,463	Shot one about the same size last year.It had a 16.5'' head and was 312lbs. They look pretty close to the same.Pretty nice little blackie.

April 28, 2012, 12:57 PM	#7
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 4,483	It is really hard to say. Bears are hard to judge. I killed one a few years back that I would have sworn was 300+ when it fell. By the time I got it to the truck 5 hours later I was thinking closer to 400. It was 260. Still a decent GA bear. This one looks bigger than mine, but not by much. I'd make a guess of 300-350, but I could easily be off 100 lbs either way.

April 28, 2012, 01:37 PM	#9
armed_librarian Member Join Date: July 16, 2011 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 41	Nice pictures! Noticed the Cat (I think) in the first picture then the bear sitting where it was in the second two. I hope you are not missing a pet.

April 28, 2012, 04:37 PM	#10
bswiv Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2006 Posts: 1,031	Can't say I know how to judge size but he looks just like the ones we have on our place.........100% anoying!!

April 30, 2012, 08:26 PM	#12
langenc Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2007 Location: Montmorency Co, MI Posts: 1,187	I think you should harvets some coon. I counted 14 but but noticed that was a couple falls ago. Neighbor has 6 cats living under her shed. I told her by fall there would probably be 18-20 and then what is she going to do. I have an idea to help out.

May 3, 2012, 05:03 PM	#15
Double Naught Spy Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2001 Location: Forestburg, Montague County, Texas Posts: 9,733	Well, if the bear is that big now or looks that big now, just imagine how big it will be/look come winter! __________________ "If you look through your scope and see your shoe, aim higher." -- said to me by my 11 year old daughter before going out for hogs 8/13/2011

May 4, 2012, 03:09 PM	#17
PA Hunter37 Member Join Date: January 30, 2012 Location: Currently in Virginia Posts: 34	I'm thinking 300 -350, from the size of the ears looks like maybe 3 -4 years old. Of course, I could be out to lunch as my knowledge is all book learned, never seen one up close and personal like. __________________ There aren't too many problems that can't be solved with either a quick mind or good aim.

May 7, 2012, 11:10 PM	#18
azwizard Member Join Date: February 25, 2008 Location: Formerly AZ, but now Northern Michigan Posts: 54	Sorry, Im thinking the bear is 250-300#. Bears have the same size ears from basically birth till death and that can make thier head's look larger or smaller dependning. That bear looks smaller. Still a nice bear if your hunting. Enjoy!!!! __________________ Was that 5 or 6? So do ya feel lucky punk? Well do ya....

May 8, 2012, 04:29 PM	#19
mete Senior Member Join Date: June 14, 2004 Location: NY State Posts: 4,937	http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...d-janitor.html In NJ they go to school ! I first thought he wanted to learn but when he started to eat math books I assumed he had failed math ! This is the most northern county of NJ with lots of bears. But in NJ they always have a big fight to get a bear hunt because of the tree huggers . __________________ And Watson , bring your revolver !

May 22, 2012, 01:42 PM	#20
FrontSight Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2005 Posts: 1,711	OMG THAT IS A LOT OF COONS!! Do you trap?? If not, you really should! Wow, with 30 of them you can make over $300... __________________ To kill something as great as a duck just to smell the gunpowder is a crime against nature. - Alan Liere Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve. - George Bernard Shaw

May 22, 2012, 04:50 PM	#21
Manson Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2012 Posts: 118	Looks to be about 300lbs. And the coon's aren't afraid of him because their combined weight exceeds his.