How Big?

Judging Bears from Trail Camera Pictures

- Clay Newcomb

It’s the age-old bear hunting question, “How much does it weigh?” I assume 99% of hunters who’ve ever seen a bear in the woods have wondered how much it. Trail cameras give us some good intel that can be studied and later compared to harvested animals for some solid facts. Over the years, I’ve gotten better at judging the weight of a bear from a trail camera picture--it’s kind of a necessary art. Judging the size of bears based on trail camera pictures is helpful for targeting the right bear...and it’s just fun.

Judging A Bear’s Weight from a Photo

No one should ever write an article about judging bear weight based off of camera pictures. Here’s why – it’s just guessing. It’s subjective, tricky, and it doesn’t really accomplish much. Every year I send my pictures to friends that are bear hunting veterans with years of experience of killing and weighing bears, and every year we scratch our heads guessing the weight. Often, we’re wrong. It is, however, fun and can help you pick a target bear. Getting pictures and guessing weights and size is one of the most enjoyable parts of baiting bears. Understanding the basics is key to being accurate and not be disappointed. Knowing the pitfalls will keep you out of the “liar” category amongst your friends. The difference between a bad judge of weights and a liar is a fine line, you know.