Keith Rogan
New member
Bronc,
Yeah, that's what I figgered.
I've measured a good number of bear hides and chatted with some of the most experienced guides in the world on the subject.
There is an honest way to measure a bear hide, but almost nobody does it any more. There is also an honest way to take a trophy picture, and that is rarely done anymore either.
If you look at the picture of the bear in question, you'll note that the guy is sitting well back from the bears head. He's doing that so the fore-shortening in the photo makes the bear look bigger. I would guess (and it's just a guess) that the bear in the photo is actually about a 9 footer and not much larger. The head is just not "square" enough to be a for-real "ten footer". And I don't see any reference to the skull size, which is the only objective means to draw a size comparison.
As for the measuring of a bear hide, cheating just a little bit will add a foot or more to the measurement. The person measuring probably doesn't even realize he is cheating because few people know how to do it, and most guides want their clients to get a "ten-footer" and use any shortcuts they can. It's good for business.
According to my old friend Hank Eaton who was one of those old-timey legendary bear guides from the 40's and 50's. An honest hide measurement is done with a green hide layed out on the ground. It is stretched out as well as possible then measured from tip of nose to tip of tail - cheaters fold out the piece of hide containing the vent to get an extra 6 or 8 inches.
Then (WITHOUT RESTRETCHING THE HIDE LATERALLY), you measure from tip of front claw to tip of front claw.
You then divide by two to get an honest square foot of the hide.
Note at the beginning that I said the hide was green. By that, I meant that it is very fresh and has not been scraped. When that hide is well scraped it will measure at least another foot and perhaps as much as an additional 18 inches.
Another method to add size is to run the tape across the curves of the hide rather than a straight measurement - you'll get several extra inches that way.
Some people just take the largest measurement (across the claws) and use that as the "size". The claw measurements will generally be 6 inches or so longer than nose to tail.
Anyway, I thought you guys might find this interesting. I don't think most people who claim to have shot a "ten-footer" are lying, I just don't think they know how to get an honest measurement.
When you hear that claim, ask what the skull measurement was. If the guy says 27 or 28 inches, he got an 8 1/2 or 9 footer. A ten footers skull will be AT LEAST 29 1/2 inches.
Yeah, that's what I figgered.
I've measured a good number of bear hides and chatted with some of the most experienced guides in the world on the subject.
There is an honest way to measure a bear hide, but almost nobody does it any more. There is also an honest way to take a trophy picture, and that is rarely done anymore either.
If you look at the picture of the bear in question, you'll note that the guy is sitting well back from the bears head. He's doing that so the fore-shortening in the photo makes the bear look bigger. I would guess (and it's just a guess) that the bear in the photo is actually about a 9 footer and not much larger. The head is just not "square" enough to be a for-real "ten footer". And I don't see any reference to the skull size, which is the only objective means to draw a size comparison.
As for the measuring of a bear hide, cheating just a little bit will add a foot or more to the measurement. The person measuring probably doesn't even realize he is cheating because few people know how to do it, and most guides want their clients to get a "ten-footer" and use any shortcuts they can. It's good for business.
According to my old friend Hank Eaton who was one of those old-timey legendary bear guides from the 40's and 50's. An honest hide measurement is done with a green hide layed out on the ground. It is stretched out as well as possible then measured from tip of nose to tip of tail - cheaters fold out the piece of hide containing the vent to get an extra 6 or 8 inches.
Then (WITHOUT RESTRETCHING THE HIDE LATERALLY), you measure from tip of front claw to tip of front claw.
You then divide by two to get an honest square foot of the hide.
Note at the beginning that I said the hide was green. By that, I meant that it is very fresh and has not been scraped. When that hide is well scraped it will measure at least another foot and perhaps as much as an additional 18 inches.
Another method to add size is to run the tape across the curves of the hide rather than a straight measurement - you'll get several extra inches that way.
Some people just take the largest measurement (across the claws) and use that as the "size". The claw measurements will generally be 6 inches or so longer than nose to tail.
Anyway, I thought you guys might find this interesting. I don't think most people who claim to have shot a "ten-footer" are lying, I just don't think they know how to get an honest measurement.
When you hear that claim, ask what the skull measurement was. If the guy says 27 or 28 inches, he got an 8 1/2 or 9 footer. A ten footers skull will be AT LEAST 29 1/2 inches.