How to Measure a Bear Skull

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.

1. Using calipers the greatest length is measured from the base, or back of the skull to tip of nose, minus the lower jaw.
2. The greatest width is measured from cheek-to-cheek.
3. The two measurements are then added together to get the score.
4. It is posted in inches and 16ths of an inch and not simplified- example: 29 12/16″ instead of 29 3/4″.
5. 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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