Which states have the biggest black bears? Depends on how you measure big, evidently. Pennsylvania records a 789 pound bruin, which scored highest ever on Boone and Crockett's skull measuring scale (not sure what the score was), and NC has an 880 pounder recognized as the heaviest black bear ever killed. Pennsylvania has more in the top 30 than other states (12) using the Boone and Crockett scale.
But what is the true measure of big? PA certainly has some monster bears, at least five killed there at least 700 pounds. NC has four over 700, including a 784 pound bear killed in 2014.
Here's what I find fascinating though. The PA bears are mainly taken in the mountains, and our biggest bears are from our coastal plain counties.
It is rare to find bears in the NC mountains that top 450 pounds, while down east bears top 600 consistently. Really strange how their mountain bears are bigger than ours, yet our coastal population are as big or bigger.
My main point is, what should be used as a record? B&C skulls, or weight? A really heavy bear could have a smaller head than one less heavy, so which is bigger?
But what is the true measure of big? PA certainly has some monster bears, at least five killed there at least 700 pounds. NC has four over 700, including a 784 pound bear killed in 2014.
Here's what I find fascinating though. The PA bears are mainly taken in the mountains, and our biggest bears are from our coastal plain counties.
It is rare to find bears in the NC mountains that top 450 pounds, while down east bears top 600 consistently. Really strange how their mountain bears are bigger than ours, yet our coastal population are as big or bigger.
My main point is, what should be used as a record? B&C skulls, or weight? A really heavy bear could have a smaller head than one less heavy, so which is bigger?