Author Topic: paw size and bear size (Read 650 times)

running&gunning · « **on:** August 02, 2004, 03:25:23 PM »

Can you tell the approx. size of a bear by the size of the paw print. I found a paw print that is 5 inches wide. What approx size bear would that be.

myronman3 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 03, 2004, 12:09:27 PM »

depends alot on the ground condition, greasy mud or sand? my experience is that a honest five inch wide pad is on the larger size. around here that can be between 350+.

talon · « **Reply #2 on:** August 03, 2004, 01:37:11 PM »

To state the obvious, a bear's front paws are quite a bit larger than it's hind. Which one are we talking about?

shooter · « **Reply #3 on:** August 04, 2004, 10:26:27 PM »

my last black bear had a dressed weight of 168 lbs and i measured his front paw at 5 inches.I dont think there is a reliable corellation that can be made.
Shooter

myronman3 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 05, 2004, 04:22:00 PM »

interesting. i do think, though, that a bear with a five inch wide pad wouldnt leave a five inch wide print; unless it were VERY damp soil. the last one we bagged had just under 5 inch front pad print, and he went 410 pounds dressed.
it could also be a diffence in regions; wisconsin is a long way from n.y. how big is considered big out your way?

bandcgrizzly · « **Reply #5 on:** August 05, 2004, 04:59:28 PM »

You can tell the size of a bear from the paw, however I am talking squared hide size, not the body weight. It is a well known method of adding an inch to the width of the front paw. Mud or snow or even soft sand will enlarge the print some however you will have a general idea what you are after if you can put a tape on it. For example a 7 1/4 inch wide front paw will be from a 8' 3'' squared bear. I have heard the big bear little foot theory, and the big foot little bear theory but I'm not buying it. Nine out of ten times this method will serve you as a sure thing. Another method is to measure the PAD only of the hind foot length wise, not the toes and that will give the square. All this info not of any interest to you? Determined to know the tonnage of that bear by track size only? When someone can reliably come up with a foolproof method for doing that, I'll congratulate them. I don't think I would put any stock in any thing I have heard of yet on that.