American Big-Game Hunting 



A better idea of these bears can be had 

 from measurements than from weight. The 

 bear first alluded to was a very large one 

 (one among three of the largest ever killed 

 by me), and, judging by one killed and 

 weighed subsequently, he probably weighed 

 600 pounds, though not fat. His length, as 

 he would have stood, was 6 feet 10 inches. 

 Measurements show that he could have stood 

 erect on his hind feet to the height of 8 feet. 

 His head was 18 inches long by 12 inches 

 wide ; his hind foot 1 1 Yz inches by 6 inches ; 

 fore foot, without the toes, 7 by 6 inches. His 

 forearm, after being skinned, measured 18 

 inches around ; his skull, which is preserved, 

 15^ inches by 9 inches. The tusks pro- 

 jected from the gums i ^ inches. 



With the 45-caliber rifle used, I have killed 

 nearly 40 bears — all, with the exception of 

 this one, with a 340-grain express-ball. This 

 270-grain express bullet was a 44-caliber used 

 for several years on deer from a 44-caliber 

 rifle. It did very good work in this instance, 

 but for a large bear the heavier ball is prefer- 

 able. The 270-grain ball flies remarkably 

 true for its weight. 



