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Bear Hunting

HOW TO SIZE UP A BLACK BEAR

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A wild bear, upon first sight, always appears enormous. That’s why, on your first bear hunt, you shouldn’t kill the first bear you see. Only if your skilled guide suddenly hisses “Take him!” should you consider breaking this rule.

Examining a bear’s physical characteristics is the most reliable way to tell if it is an adult bear worth killing or a juvenile to be avoided. Beyond those indicators, observing the bear’s personality and its interactions with other bears might shed light on its age, size, and social standing.

  1. Initial Impressions

A huge bear could be the first thing that comes to mind. However, one shouldn’t always rely on one’s first impressions. It would be difficult, for example, to estimate the bear’s size if there were nothing else of comparable mass in the vicinity. It is quite hard to estimate size in the wild if it goes out into a coastal flat or into a clover field.

Bear hunters might use the bait’s container as an indicator of the bear’s size. In this situation, the outfitter will provide suggestions based on the size of the barrel. Certain length logs are also placed out by some guides. The bear is kept if its length is greater than that of the log.


2 Leg Placement

The bear’s legs are one of its many distinguishing features. If they’re spread out, that’s a good sign that the bear is healthy and strong. A little animal may be identified by its close-set front and hind legs.

  1. Leg Length

A large bear’s legs appear to be too short and too widely spaced apart. They’re not, but aging boars typically have bellies so big that they practically touch the floor. This creates the illusion of shorter legs.

When there is a large amount of visible space between the pelvis and the floor, the legs appear longer. What you’re seeing is most likely a baby bear.

  1. Ear Position

A bear’s size and age may be estimated from its ears as well. If the ears appear to protrude from the sides of the head, you’re probably looking at a huge bruin. If they appear to be protruding from the bear’s skull, it is likely to be a juvenile.

  1. Ear Size

Think about proportion as well. It’s presumably an ordinary bear if the ears appear to be about normal for the bear’s head and body. The bear is probably young if its ears appear to be huge. Avoid it.

On the other side, if the ears are little, it’s likely that you’re looking at a prize bruin. Prepare to fire a gun or let out an arrow.

  1. Face

Older bears tend to have more blocky features than either females or young males. A giant bear’s head may seem little in comparison to his massive frame.

  1. The Neck and Shoulders

A mature bear’s front shoulders are wide and strong, similar to those of a buck. They even have thick, muscular forelegs to match the rest of their body. The necks of large bears are broad and short, blending seamlessly into the rest of the animal.

  1. Attitude

One may learn about a bear’s age and social standing in the area by observing its demeanor and actions. A mature bear is a bear that walks confidently towards bait or into a tidal flat. They don’t let their lack of fear show and exude confidence and composure.

9: Relationship with Other Bears

If you’re observing a group of bears and one of them wanders out and scares the others away, you may claim the newcomer as your prize. Similar to deer herds, bear societies have established social structures and dominance hierarchies. They move slowly and steadily, almost as if the younger bears surrounding them don’t exist.

10:  The Swag

A bear’s confidence is a quick and easy method to gauge its size.  Bears of smaller size have a very calm and collected disposition.  A huge bruin will “waddle” about a little and seem quite authoritative.

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Bear Hunting

Huge Buck Bagged by Persistent Ohio Hunter After 24 Months of Pursuit

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Avery Stump proudly displays his impressive 19-point buck in an image provided by Avery Stump. After dedicated efforts spanning almost two years, Avery Stump finally achieved success on November 11 by successfully bagging a magnificent buck in the 200-class category, located in the north-central region of Ohio. The ambitious 19-year-old hunter reminisces to Outdoor Life about his initial encounter with the remarkable buck during a deer drive on his family’s privately owned land in Wyandot County during the autumn season of 2021.

Stump reveals that an incredibly massive buck suddenly emerged and swiftly vanished into concealment, surpassing all their expectations. Determined to apprehend the elusive creature, Stump made a conscious decision to keep their family away from the sighting spot, focusing instead on studying the buck’s behaviors and routines.

Immediately, without any delay, he began his task of strategically positioning cellular trail cameras throughout the designated zone during that same week. Stump identified a patch of low-lying land adorned with towering blades of grass, impenetrable vegetation, and thorny bushes, which he deduced served as the buck’s preferred resting ground. After securely installing his cameras, he refrained from visiting the area throughout the entirety of the previous autumn season.

Heeding caution, I refrained from recklessly intruding upon his territory; instead, I allowed him ample room to roam undisturbed, deliberately avoiding any intrusion into what I perceived as his refuge. Postponing my investigation until after the conclusion of the imminent hunting season, I meticulously explored every corner of the terrain, driven by the desire to unravel the mystery of his presence. My efforts unveiled ancient scrapes and evident trails of his distinctive marking, compelling me to strategically install additional surveillance cameras.

The buck in question was attributed an official score of 211 5/8 according to the Buckmasters scoring system, courtesy of Toby Hughes from Buckmasters of Ohio. As the spring of 2023 approached, a rumor circulated about the capture of a massive buck within the vicinity. However, the protagonist continually found himself unable to verify if this was indeed the same buck he had been diligently tracking. For months, a pervasive concern lingered; fearing that the elusive deer of his aspirations had vanished from his grasp.

As September arrived, heralding the arrival of archery season, Stump found himself ascending his tree stand at the crack of dawn on opening morning. As he climbed, the ladder emitted a resounding crack in the dim light, triggering a realization within him that his cover might have been blown.

For three whole weeks, I had absolutely no visual documentation of the deer’s presence. However, I vividly remember the moment that sent a chill down my spine – my body froze as I realized I was in close proximity to the deer’s resting spot, and the possibility of encountering the majestic buck lingered in the air. The lighting conditions were just sufficient enough for me to discern a deer-shaped silhouette standing 40 yards away. Despite my uncertainty regarding whether it was indeed the elusive big buck, it suddenly darted away, prompting me to resume my hunting endeavors from that very stand.

Believing that he had missed his chance for the season, Stump relocated his cellular cameras to an alternative family hunting property situated roughly one mile along the road. In just 48 hours, he successfully managed to capture a series of photographs featuring a distinct buck, an impressive 9-point creature. Consequently, he made up his mind to pursue his hunting endeavors in this newly discovered location on the memorable day of November 10th.

That afternoon, Stump found himself perched in a camouflaged shelter, strategically luring a buck within shooting distance through a series of rattling and grunting sounds. Time gradually passed, and soon enough, he caught sight of a majestic deer emerging from the wilderness, closely tailing a female deer. With anticipation building, he prepared himself to gaze upon the anticipated sight of a magnificent 9-point buck. However, to his surprise, his eyes locked onto the enormous buck that had been skillfully observed and documented by Stump since the year 2021.

Stump reveals, With his head lowered, he cautiously followed the doe’s trail. However, the shot opportunity presented itself at an unfavorable angle, compelling me to decline.

With his self-assurance rejuvenated, Stump returned to the exact location accompanied by his comrade Alex Lachner in the subsequent afternoon. Stealthily infiltrating the area and ascending a tree, the duo positioned themselves in their suspended tree seats by 3 p.m. Lachner positioned himself above Stump to capture the hunt on film.

Stump recalls the moment we hastily prepared for our hunt and suddenly noticed a majestic buck approaching us all the way from a distant corn field, around 200 yards away. Mesmerized, we keenly observed every move he made – creating a scrape, maneuvering through dense vegetation, and eventually engaging in two distinct rubs at a closer distance of 90 yards. However, as mysteriously as he appeared, the buck vanished into thin air, leaving us perplexed and intrigued.

At the moment of truth, an impressive 9-point buck emerged, eager to engage in an intense battle with the colossal antlered deer. A hush fell upon the hunters, their ears attuned to the clash of antlers marking the fierce confrontation between the powerful whitetails.

Although our eyes failed to catch a glimpse of their presence, the resounding thumps of racks colliding and the cacophony of brush being thrashed echoed through the air, originating roughly 100 yards from our position. Not long after, the grand buck made his appearance, cautiously inching forward with evident fatigue from his recent altercation with the 9-pointer. Observing him steadily retreating, we eventually saw him recline and take a brief ten-minute slumber.

Toby Hughes from Buckmasters of Ohio provided a snapshot of the remarkable rack, featuring mainbeams measuring 27 inches and an inside spread spanning 22 1/8 inches. The captivating encounter unfolded as Stump and Lachner observed the majestic buck rise to its feet and stride confidently in their direction around 5 p.m. With each step bringing the buck closer, Stump poised himself, drawing his bow with anticipation. The release of the arrow resonated with a slight brushing sound against the arrow rest, causing the deer to momentarily freeze. However, unfazed, the buck instinctively moved closer, presenting Stump with a challenging quartering away shot from a mere 30 yards.

New Piece: Ohio Bowhunter Triumphs Over His Father, Claims Majestic 10-Point Buck

At precisely 5:15 p.m., a magnificent deer stood no chance as a fixed-blade broadhead pierced through its lungs, rendering it lifeless with a mere few steps.

Stump claims that the buck he encountered was not particularly large in size. Based on its dental condition, he estimates its age to be around 4 years old. Surprisingly, the deer possesses a colossal rack with a total of 19 points. Buckmasters scorer, Toby Hughes, utilized the BTR system to measure the buck’s antlers and officially determined its score to be 211 5/8 inches.

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