Michigan Sportsman Forum banner

Is this a shooter?

2493 Views 14 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  Brent j clark
what does this one weigh? Is he a shooter? Plant Plant community Green Tree Natural landscape
Plant Plant community Green Tree Carnivore
See less See more
2
  • Like
Reactions: 2
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
Hard to tell for sure due to camera angle. My guess is 180ish, maybe more. I'd whack that bear if it was on my bait. Especially this late in the game.
  • Like
Reactions: 3
Looks like a good bear but hard to say how big without anything in the pic for size reference.
He looks thick.
  • Like
Reactions: 2
Hard to say. Ears appear kind of close together. Pictures are terrible by the way. lol
Young bear but it’s up to you if it’s a shooter.
  • Like
  • Haha
Reactions: 3
Depends on what you consider a "shooter" bear. If the bear is not a cub....typically younger than 1.5 years old, it can legally be harvested. The answer to your question solely relies on the hunter who has the opportunity to shoot this bear. Some hold out and want to harvest heavy old bears, and others harvest the first legal bear that presents itself. At the end of the day, shoot what you are satisfied with and pass up on bears that you would be okay with letting go and not filling your tag. I personally always hunt with the mentality; Don't pass on the first day what you would shoot on the last.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Michigan Sportsman mobile app
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 2
I hope you weren't sitting in your blind phoning a friend, I say Yes.
He is for me.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
To my bear eyes that looks like a young boar to me. Look at the girth on the left front leg. I'd guess that bears dresses over 200lbs and is above the Michigan Black bear average for sure. Some will say not a shooter others will say definite shooter.
  • Like
Reactions: 1
Water Sky Cloud Natural landscape Landscape
Here is another pic. I’m no expert but no way is he only 200 lbs
See less See more
I'm far from a bear guy but I wouldn't hesitate! My arrow would be sent!
Having shot and sitting with hundreds of hunters on a baits watching bears with over 45 year experience .....I learned many years ago to put some thing of known size to help judge the size of a bear at the bait ....especially for a hunter that hasn't seen many bears.....even experienced bear hunters like me......
I will say the bear in the picture is not very old....head is large for the body size....rear end is smaller for body size....belly has lots of ground clearance for a fall bear.....
Its great to shoot a large bear but this late in the hunt and having a good Michigan bear on the bait in good shooting light I would be pulling the trigger or telling my hunter to do it.....
This late in the hunt and also hunting in the UP there's not a lot of time left and cold weather will shut down baits real quick....
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 4
View attachment 856081 Here is another pic. I’m no expert but no way is he only 200 lbs
Lol…Buckman66…that isn’t the same bear as the first 2 pics. Why would you think it was? This last pic is definitely a bigger mature boar than your first two pics. First two pics approximately 200 lb young boar. Last pic almost double that size.

As others have mentioned put a marker on your bait so you can use it to reference size, both in pics, and while actually on stand. 55 gallon drum height (where legal) is a great universal reference. A ribbon around on the tree by the bait the same height as a 55 gallon drum works great on state land. Remove when season has ended of course. Good luck! Hope you get one.
See less See more
  • Like
Reactions: 1
You have two different bears. The third is much larger and may be bait smart. Ant day time pics.?
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
Top