Most hunters are more interested in how to square a bear hide than it’s official score and how to measure a bear skull. However, the record keeping organizations don’t care how much it squares.
How to Measure a Bear Skull
Boone and Crockett judges measure the length plus the width of a cleaned and dried bear’s skull (regardless of species) and add the two measurements.
- Using calipers the greatest length is measured from the base, or back of the skull to tip of nose, minus the lower jaw.
- The greatest width is measured from cheek-to-cheek.
- The two measurements are then added together to get the score.
- It is posted in inches and 16ths of an inch and not simplified- example: 29 12/16″ instead of 29 3/4″.
- The score is taken only after 60 days has elapsed after the kill. Any prior measurement is considered “green”- or unofficial.
Minimum Scores for Boone and Crockett:
- Black Bear – 20″ (Awards) | 21″ (All-Time)
- Brown Bear – 26″ (Awards) | 28″ (All-Time)
- Grizzly Bear – 23″ (Awards) | 24″ (All-Time)
- Polar Bear – 27″ (Awards) | 27″ (All-Time)
To be an official score, your bear must be measured by an official Boone and Crockett Club measurer. See the Boone and Crockett Scoring Tool.
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