Was not expecting bears to show up where we hunt but they have. And I am no good at all in estimating weights on them. Somebody give me a swag on these:

First one the bear is about a foot or so behind the tree and a little below grade. After measuring the height on the tree the tallest spot on the bears back is about 32" maybe an inch or two more.




This smaller guy is trying out a cattle mineral block that is 10.5" tall and 8.5" wide and has settled a little into the soil. First pic he's about a foot and half behind the block.

I am by no means an expert or even good at judging bears. But I would call the color photos a very young male. Like 120-130#. The black and white photos are harder for me to tell, but would also call that a male maybe a year older than the other. Maybe a 150-170# bear. He actually looks like he is lifting his leg to pee. Color photos the bear looks lanky like a male. Both look small to me, although the black and white photos seem like a little older than the color photos.

Hoping the bigger one is 200 or so. Got it again on some later pics so petty sure it'll keep coming. There's what looks like 4 or 5 different bears showing up. Wife stopped shooting stuff a few years back but for some reason decided she would like to eat a bear. Told her it'll be a lot easier if it's dead so she says "OK I'll shoot one". Got what looks like 2 litter mates coming in that are about the size of the small one in color above. All those will probably be safe though the legal size is only 75 lbs. But if the bigger one shows on opening day I'm pretty sure it'll be boom-boom time.

I'd give the bigger bear #180-200 and the smaller #75-85

I'd say 150 or so and around 75 pounds for the second . Bear are one of the toughest animals to judge though , especially off a picture. With bear look at the ears and legs . If you see what looks to be big ears on top of the head thats because it's a small head. Big bears their ears will be smaller and more on the side of the head. As far as legs If you see skinny legs = small bear. For instance the attached pic is from a trail cam picture from a 450lb bear from two years ago.

200 and 115

If you do kill the bigger one or either one let us know what it weighed . Does whoever is closest get a prize ?

180#

110#

200 and 120?

, we's close.

Troutnut,
That's a giant Bear.

I wouldn't call a 450 lb Black Bear a "giant"

There are lots of 500 lb bears killed in NC most every year, and the NC (and world) record is 880 pounds.

http://www.bing.com/search?q=880+lb+nc+black+bear&FORM=HDRSC1

Here's a "little" 780 pounder:
http://www.carolinabeachtoday.com/2012/12/photo-780-pound-black-bear-taken-in.html

Hey shootem,

What county are you hunting in?

Snyper,
That's a giant bear!

Thanks for the education. Just dont see many Black bear in Texas.

Ronnie,
A 450lber anywhere is a BFB despite what that knucklehead says.

Eastern North Carolina has some huge bears but any black bear that goes 400 + is a big damn bear.

500+ here is considered a trophy. It's not unusual to shoot a 700lb bear here though.

Troutnut: Yes. 2 attaboys and a much obliged.
Wilkeshunter: Ashe

Just looking at the bigger one it looks like some heavy legs and a not too big head. Still hoping it'll go 200 or so. We're not skull hunting. Just a good mature bear will be a great season bonus plus we get to eat the bear. Never done that. Wife will be on the trigger first....if they come.

Just had chow at the local cafe and got to talk to a local with pics of bears tearing up his deer feeders. One was almost exactly 5' 8" tall from his measurements on the pod. Had another on all 4s that looked bigger that he said stood 6' in another pic. Season opens Monday morning and wife & I will be overlooking the remains of a toe sack of cull apples and another of cob corn in the shuck I'll put out in the morning. I ain't proud :-). Going to hunt 3 days if it takes it then 3 or 4 next week. We B da bear busters. Black Bears Matter.

As a club we took 3 bear last season and were very proud of ourselves for doing so. According to this 1 trail cam photo, there is a LOT more work to be done.

Looks like you have a bear problem !

Man, you guys posted some nice pics. As for us the bears never showed. But betting they'll be there next year.