Bear? Sow or Boar?

[jerkbait]

In the other thread some of you are claiming to know the difference between a sow and boar. This is going to be my first year of bear hunting. So my question is what do you look for to identify a sow if she has no cubs with her? If alone assume it is a boar and shoot? I know it is not against the law, but I would prefer to protect the resource if possible.

Thanks for any info.

[bogwalker]

If you only hunt mature bears it is much easier to tell whether it is male or female. The main things I look for are the muzzle size and shape in comparison to the head. Mature sows have a shorter narrower snout than boars. Mature sows also have smaller narrower front feet than boars. Front pads usually max out at about 4" wide. Remember the old cartoons that show "large" women with tiny feet? Mature sows are kind of like that. I also cut some logs 4" at the ends and lay them by the crib to use for comparison of front foot size for research purposes. You could use this while hunting if you are really a bear nut like I am. There are other things to look for but these are pretty reliable. Remember that a sow might run her cubs up a tree before she enters your bait site. You might notice her breasts if she has nursing cubs. Hang some bait they have to stand up for while facing you to expose the chest. If you are in doubt just enjoy watching the bear and let it walk.