The hardest thing for a bear hunter to do is judge the size of a bear. We’ve come up with a method for our hunters to judge bears very accurately. Before our hunters go out in the field, we do a “Bear Seminar.” For now let me just say that if a bear is standing at the bait barrel and it’s head is even with the top of the barrel, it is a seven foot bear (nose to tail). Below are examples of bears that are seven feet and bigger.

Also note that if the bear is on all fours and it’s back is even with the bottom of the barrel, it is also a seven foot bear.

Nose to Tail: This enables our hunters to judge a bear within 2-3 inches (length). This is the diagram we use in the seminar:

Below are examples of at least seven foot bears: