The time has come the Walrus said.....

[BwanaDave]

The time has come the walrus said, to speak of many things
Of sailing ships and sealing wax of cabbages and kings
And why the sea is boiling hot and weather pigs have wings.

We'll stick to the King part of the discussion, the official CGN Ursus Americanus King of the Internet.

Since I've never posted a poll before bear with me ( pun intended) while I try and figure out how this works

 

[medvedqc]

i voted. but it think this is biaised lol ....

 

[1963beretta]

Voted...no bias

 

[sigrunes]

What about the guy who downed one with a t97 ?? He's not in the poll , lol. Totally joking of course.

 

[bearkilr]

While the choice for "king" is pretty obvious, I voted for Ted's laker for no other reason than to keep Ardent from remaining at 100%. Sorry.
Of course, it's also a nice picture.

 

[AbdullahD]

While the choice for "king" is pretty obvious, I voted for Ted's laker for no other reason than to keep Ardent from remaining at 100%. Sorry.
Of course, it's also a nice picture.

Hehe

 

[Dorian Gray]

I vote for Beary Bonds with an honourable mention to Teds fish.

 

[BigUglyMan]

Man, for only a few bears it was a tough decision. Beautiful colour phase? Father Son Hunt? Double from the porch? Powder-coated bullets? Teaser photos before the money shot? Giant tasty fish?

Regardless who wins, great job folks.

 

[wilbar]

I voted for Savagelh's traditional archery bear. But my honorable mention goes to BCtrapper and his hunt with Grand-dad's rifle. Iron sights, full stock, butterknife bolt handle, double set trigger, old euro caliber, his pup tied to his belt, and he stalked in from 700yds to 20. Very well done!

Willy

 

[freddyfour]

I gotta go with Angus one this one but really BC Trappers harvested with a family rifle.

 

[Why not?]

For me, it has to be Bc trapper with his granddad's old 9.5X57 Mannlicher Schoenauer. Partly because it brought back memories of mine, and partly because it was a great spot and stalk hunt with iron sights.

Congratulations to everyone who hunted! Whether you got a bear or not, you got out and enjoyed some time afield.

Ted

 

[Ardent]

Each one had something really neat about it, method (traditional archery, heirloom 9.5x57, iron sights, cast and irons), colour phases, the only double in the spring season posted, family time... And on.

After careful consideration my knod goes to the least traditional entry, the 20lb lake trout.

 

[GOUMFACH]

All great entries but the biggest should get the crown... my vote goes to Ardent. Good job.

Did you ever get that bear on a scale? Any idea what it weighed?

 

[Ardent]

All great entries but the biggest should get the crown... my vote goes to Ardent. Good job.

Did you ever get that bear on a scale? Any idea what it weighed?

You know, I'm always uncomfortable with guessing bear weights. The numbers are much lower than most assume and then people figure you must be shooting small bears, when the reality is they're likely the most over inflated animal by hunters.

I didn't weigh him as the logistics of it weren't feasible, nowhere near a scale, and I didn't weigh the quarters and straps as they were immediately sent in different directions with different folks.

If forced to pin a number on him I'd say 350-375lbs, as a good spring boar here weighs 250 early season, 300 later (6'3 / typical shooter), and he was just shy of 7'. He didn't have any fat left and was pretty sinewy and old. The bear below is the 6'3 holotype I mention, at 293lbs (not this spring's bear to be clear).

I could claim he's 500lbs and the sad fact is few would bat an eye because bear claims are so inflated typically. A good black bear in most of Canada seems to be 200 to 250 pounds, I think a lot of folks shoot good bears and then assume they must be somehow falling short when they actually have done great.

 

[double gun]

Savagelh's Tradional archery gets my vote

 

[Ardent]

Hard to argue with that, was a job very well done, and you don't see a lot of folks using traditional archery gear.

 

[Superbrad]

I personally think anyone who got out and harvested a spring blackie is a winner....... Hell, I think anyone who got out and tried to harvest a spring blackie is a winner.......

I spent the better part of the season in Pittsburgh and Bahraine negotiating a contract...... I lost big time as my baits got hit repeatedly and nobody was there to take care of business.....

I voted for Angus, but good luck and a hearty congrats to all......

 

[GOUMFACH]

You know, I'm always uncomfortable with guessing bear weights. The numbers are much lower than most assume and then people figure you must be shooting small bears, when the reality is they're likely the most over inflated animal by hunters.

I didn't weigh him as the logistics of it weren't feasible, nowhere near a scale, and I didn't weigh the quarters and straps as they were immediately sent in different directions with different folks.

If forced to pin a number on him I'd say 350-375lbs, as a good spring boar here weighs 250 early season, 300 later (6'3 / typical shooter), and he was just shy of 7'. He didn't have any fat left and was pretty sinewy and old. The bear below is the 6'3 holotype I mention, at 293lbs (not this spring's bear to be clear).

I could claim he's 500lbs and the sad fact is few would bat an eye because bear claims are so inflated typically. A good black bear in most of Canada seems to be 200 to 250 pounds, I think a lot of folks shoot good bears and then assume they must be somehow falling short when they actually have done great.

You're right, I also notice the over inflated guesstimates on bear weights. I myself was sure my bear weighed 250 or better and was surprised when he only tipped 212 lbs on the scale. I know a few guides who run / work in bear camps and the biggest any of them had seen taken by midseason was 240 pounds. They usually only see 2 or 3 over the 300 mark each year so I would agree with your statement that most people taking good bears needlessly feel they could have done better.

 

[bearkilr]

I've weighed quite a few bears. In spring, most adult males aged ~4 years will weigh somewhere around 200-225 lbs. Going by skull size, those in the 19" to mid 20" will weigh 300-400 lbs. I've never weighed a 21+" or B&C book bear that was under 400 lbs. It takes a really big bear to reach that skull size. The bigger they are, the more residual fat they tend to have on them as well in spring.
I realize areas like VanIsle are a bit different in the skull size vs. weight aspect. Hibernation length plays a big part in that no matter the location. Some of the heaviest recorded black bears come from the eastern US coastal areas, like North Carolina.

 

[Sleeper]

I voted for Ardent for the bear

But it was hard to resist the open sight stalk.