Field Judging Brown Bears

When booking their brown bear hunt, every hunter envisions taking a monster boar. But that’s not as easy as you think. First, you have to hunt where big bears live. Second, it is notoriously difficult to determine the size of a bear, especially from a distance. You HAVE TO LEARN the ins and outs of field judging brown bears!

A big bear will look long with short legs. A round bear is a small bear. A long-legged bear is a small bear.
Big boars will look like they have small heads in proportion to the size of their bodies.
Ears will be on the sides of the head and appear small.
Body language is a dead giveaway. A mature boar will have a slow, deliberate swagger. Everything is calm and understated.
When a big brown bear faces you, there should be lots of shoulder protruding out from both sides of his head.
Trophy sized boars don’t have wrists. Their forearm is muscular and runs straight down to the toes.
On Kodiak Island, guides look at color. Generally speaking, the darker the bear the older it is. A “black” bear will always warrant a closer look.
One suggestion that we have is don’t overlook a “good” bear with a gorgeous coat.