It took five years to do it, but the state of North Carolina finally confirmed Billy Walkowiak’s 2004 black bear as the 17th largest ever taken in the state.
Billy’s bear had an official weight of 647 pounds and was estimated to be nine years, nine months old. It was shot on a dog hunt in Hyde County, NC, a hotbed for big bears in the state.
The state record is an 880 pound bear taken in 1998 with a shotgun, also on a dog hunt, in Craven County.
Bill had a full-body mount done, check it out after the jump.
As with any records program there are several ties at various weights heavier than his, with a total of 37 bears larger than his.
