Photo of the black bear skull after drying 60 days. The black bear skull measured 1/16th of an inch bigger than the previous skull and is now the state record for black bear at 21 9/16 inches. The total weight of the black bear was 660 lbs
Ballantine, MT – Adam Vogel of Ballantine had his black bear skull officially measured by a Boone and Crockett representative and confirmed that the black bear that was shot and killed two months ago is officially the state record by 1/16th of an inch at 21 9/16 inches. Not only was the black bear a state record for weight two months ago at 660 lbs., the official measurements for the big game animal was also the state record for skull size, which is measured by the official Boone and Crocket standards..
Boone and Crockett measurements for black bear are measured in 1/16 inches. The skull was measured at 8 inches wide and 13 9/16 inches long to make the total record at 21 9/16 inches. According to Brad Zundel, one of the few Boone and Crockett scorers in the Billings area; this was his first time measuring a Montana state record that will make it to the “All Time Book”, as he calls it, for trophies.
The paw of the record black bear shot and killed by Adam Vogel of Ballantine, MT on October 8th, 2014. The paw is placed next to a soda can for comparison and size
Adam Vogel, a 2002 graduate of Huntley Project, had to wait 60 days after shooting the whopping black bear before having the skull officially measured.
The 660-lb Black Bear was killed on October 8th near the Vogel Farm, shattering the previous record for weight. It was the first bear to be killed near the Vogel Farm in the 63 years that father Dan Vogel had lived there. Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks spokesman Ron Aasheim stated that they were aware of the biggest bear to date at 505 lbs but this one, he stated, “is worth following up on for measurements and skull sizes” in order for it to be considered official in the Montana Big Game Records books of which became official Wednesday December 10th at day 62.
When asked about what he thought about the record black bear, Brad Zundel stated, “I’m happy for Adam and it was cool to have actually scored a Montana state record”. He continued, “Some people aren’t worthy to shoot record big game animals but about 90% are”. Zundel concluded, “Adam is one of those types of guys worthy and deserving of a trophy like that,” referring to his attitude about hunting and respect for the animals.
Stay tuned to this week’s Yellowstone County News for full coverage and updated breaking news regarding the state record black bear
