Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game How to tell a boar from a sow black bear?

We are elk hunting in Idaho this year and you can shoot a bear instead of an elk. I have not hunted bears before and was wondering how you tell the difference? Is it just that sows have big butts and boars have big wide chests? Any help is much appreciated.

I've also heard many experienced bear hunters say that sow "wrists" look dainty compared to boars. Mature boars will have thick forearms all the way down to their front paws, while sows front legs will taper above the front paws. Take that for what its worth, good luck!

Lift up their tail and check... That's how I do it.

I have no doubt you lift up their tale Ranger1, though I have my doubts you know what to look for!

Beretta I had to do a lot of research on this. The typical responses are "Small ears"; a wide triangle between the nose and ears vs a narrow one, little to no sunlight beneath the belly, the wrists like tjkwonta said above.

After looking at 10 different bears on my first hunt, I can tell you that I'm still not an expert at all.

The first bear i saw I wanted to shoot, but it was too small upon further inspection.

Then with each bear, it seemed a little easier to tell. The bear i did take required zero thought process, it looked huge. Round belly, giant head, little ears. Also, it acted like it was the king of the beach, it didn't slink out of the shadows, it was walking big and confidant. It wasn't acting nervous at all. Granted, in Grizzly country they may all act nervous.


Good luck and post a report when you get back.

So to sum up the advice so far, a boar has:

Big wrists and forearms
Big chests
little ears and
Swagger.

Oh and of course, lift the tail. Yikes, this might be harder than I thought!

Everyone knows you can't tell a sow anything.... regardless of species.

Dang - you beat me to it! ! I started reading at the top and you had already gotten there.

There are a few units where one cannot shoot a black bear in the fall. The tag substitution thing is not applied statewide. Read your regs to be sure.

The only sure way is that a boar will never be accompanied by cubs. Other than that, just try for a big bear. I would pay much more attention to learning how to differentiate size than sex.

They don't like having their tails pulled. It's best to roll them over, rub their tummy and watch for a reaction.

+1

It is easier to run them up a tree, barking like a hound, then look in the right place. When you hear their jaws popping, it is time to shoot or get out of the way...

Dude !! THIS was my first bear hunt, too !! Wasn't that hard to tell one from the other.... We were sleeping on the boat in PWS, AK and I woke about 7... OK, 8 one morning and had to drain the main vein and had it running good off the back of the boat when I looked at the end of the finger we were anchored in and said to my son... THERE IS A BEAR !! We got dressed.... grabbed the guns and jumped in the skiff and snuk up on a little tidal island and I shot the bear. Then we boated over to him and I lifted his hind leg and YUP, IT'S A BOAR !! See !! NOTHING TO IT !! Good luck with it and enjoy every minute of it. Do not be a tard !! Remember the danged camera !! Only pics we got of our 2 bears came off my sons phone.

Never have hunted bears but I was told to use the two finger method to tell the difference. Sneak up on the bear and stab under its tail with two fingers. If one goes in it is a boar if both go in it is a sow.

All of the other advice was spectacular, but Boggy, I have to draw the line somewhere!

I was waiting for someone to mention this.

You guys are hilarious.

If it humps another bear chances are it is a boar, unless the sow is "experimenting"

Just watch to see which one gets on top........unless of course there are homo bears