I shot a smallish bear 10 years ago on my first bear hunt. It was a spring hunt, an d the bear weighed about 125bs. It was aged at 3 1/2 years old. I got my chops busted over it becsue of its size.
The bear was average for the week as 4 other guys shot bear the same exact size.
I guess it depends on your perspective. If the area is capable of better, then a small bear is small. If the b ear is average for the area, then it is not. Also a Monday bear should be bigger than a Friday bear on a 5 day hunt if you get my drift.
I just got back from a hunt in NB. I shot a larger 200lb bear this time around, I basically took the guides advice at shooting anything bigger than 150 (the local average. It was good advice, as 3 bears shot that week ranged the size of mine, 3 were larger. I think on the next hunt I will hold out for somethign at least 300lbs, becase that area in the fall is capable of producing.
150 is not a baby, so you should not be ashamed of it. It's not a trophy. If you don't hunt that often, it's good bear.
