We've all heard about the 8 foot Black Bears and 10 and a half foot Browns so I want to know the proper method that "squaring" is based on. I'd really like to hear from some experts and old timers as I've heard this term since I was just a babe and want to know the facts. I think the term gets used rather loosely these days.
You all know what I'm talking about so let's hear it!

For instance "that bear will square 9 feet".

It's the length of the front paw to other front paw + the length from nose to butt divided by 2.

There are many ways to measure a "squared" bear. that is why only skull measurements are used by record books and serious guides and hunters.
Officially the hide should be laid flat and measurements taken from front paw to paw and then nose to tail and the results squared.
On really large bears it is possible to add an additional foot or more by running the belly cut clear up through the lower jaw. P&T were notorius for doing this. It makes the hides "measure" larger but also makes taxidermy work harder.
Another method of "enlarging" an hide is to cut from rear paw directly across to the other paw and in front of the penis. this creates a flat of hide that then again adds over a foot to the length of the hide. It is not always done just to create a larger measurement. It also makes a rug more square in shape and is the prefered method if the hunter wants a rug rather than a full mount.
In addition you have hunters and guides who tug on hides when measuring them and in some cases streach them and tack them down before measuring. I even know of a guide who had one foot cut from a steel tape measure between the four and five foot marks and the tape re-welded. He killed lots of "big" bears.
In my experience, verified by the opinion of most AK bear biologists, it normally takes nearly an honest 28" B&C skull to make an honest ten foot bear.

Phil, thanks for the straight info when it comes to bears. Much appreciated as always!

Bob

Phil is right. My wife gets pretty Irate when a customer comes in and says "my guide said this...." (shes a taxidermist) as soon as they say that she puts the hide on the floor (if its not frozen) lays it out, and gives a good rough estimate. most of the time shes right, the customer is pissed and shes getting chewed out that a women doesnt know how to measure an animal. she just laughs. Alot of guides are real crooked on measuring a bear.

simple - get yourself 2 horses and tie them to the bear skin and have them pull in opposite directions. then using a rubber tape you measure the length. then to the same thing to the width. Multiply one measurement by theother