Arkansas Bear...Big?

[drthornton]

A good friend of mine is going to be Black Bear hunting in Arkansas in about a week.
Attached are some pics of the biggest bear he has pics of.

Can someone help gauge the trophy caliber of this bear?

The barrel is one of those 55 gallon blue barrels. (34.25" tall, 23.375" diameter)

Thanks

 

[Carrion Carrier]

I don't have experience with bears in the South. To my untrained eye, seems plenty big, but not a record breaker.

 

[highmountian]

Yep just a good big killable bear. Good luck to ya!

 

[----]

He looks fairly big to me too. I'd guess he's maybe two hundred pounds.
Short hair, but I imagine that's the norm down there.

 

[drthornton]

Based on past experience can you speculate from the pics on what the skull would score?

 

[DRAFTSTUD]

I spoke to a Local up at a Lake near my Farm outside of Waldron, Ar. and they were just ragging on all the Bears. Talking about the Game Wardens catching 4 and hauling them off only to have either them or others show up to replace them. Season opens Sept. 15th. It does not sound too good for the Bears up here, lots of Bear, but no respect for them. John

 

[TLC]

175 - 225 lb. bear.

1.5-2.5 years old looking at the ears and head.

5 - 5.5 feet long.

skull score? won't make the pope and young from the looks of it. 18 inch if I remember right. definately a shooter bear though.

 

[TOM IN TENNESSEE]

SE US, a shooter...otherwise....average.
Todd, think you nialed it pretty well!

 

[drthornton]

My buddy ended up killing the biggest bear that came in. Weighed in at 479#s. Still waiting on a skull measurement. Note: This guy is not the one in the Trail cams pics above.

 

[Mudranger1]

Holy smokes now that's a big bear! Sweet

 

[skooter1329]

great bear....congrads to your buddy.