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Its not "yankee bears" exactly. Wisconsin has held the record a couple of times. Ive never seen a full grown one of only 150lbs. I read an article (around here?) saying that ours were largest on average and breeding far younger than anyone elses. There was one killed in traffic over by Cadot that is estimated to have at one point been just under 900lbs.

Trophy Bear Areas

“While the average weight of bears taken in most areas is around one hundred fifty pounds, some bears get very big,” says Brian Bachman, a NABF founder and operator of Arrowhead Wilderness Lodge in northeastern Minnesota (218-828-7079). “Size depends on available food sources and genetics.”

“Most people who pursue bears are looking for ‘The Big One,’” says Bachman, who has been an avid bear hunter since 1978 and guides about 30 bear hunters each fall. “I’m often asked, ‘Where is the next record coming from?’ I don’t know, but I do know where the biggest bears are coming from now.”

Bachman notes that Canada boasts high numbers of bears, but more of the bigger bruins are being killed farther south. “Wisconsin has the most B&C entries in the top one hundred in the past ten years,” he says. “Wisconsin manages its bears very well and limits the number of hunters. It can take five years to draw a Wisconsin bear tag. Minnesota and Pennsylvania are not far behind. Minnesota has a lottery, but tags are easy to get. Pennsylvania does not limit bear hunters. I’d look to one of those states for the next record, and give a slight advantage to Wisconsin.”