Planning on hunting black bear this September and did a little preseason scouting. Found sign and markings in North Georgia on some public land where I've seen Black bears before. Pretty health population here. I can positively identify tracks and scat but a little unsure with tree markings and rooting. The photo of the rooting is huge but can't tell if it's hogs or bear.

How high are the highest marks?

Looks like bear sign to me. But they dont root...they dig.

2nd pic highly likely

3rd pic maybe

4th pic hog

At least that is my guess, not any bears in my area

Bout 4-5 Feet off ground

What about the first pic? The rest of the bark was in tact and not flaking. I thought it looked like a big old bruin tore it up. Could be lightning for all I know though

First pic looks old. Can't tell from the pic, and I don't know if bears peel trees in your area to eat the cambium in the spring. If they do, look at the wood in the open scar, if a bear peeled it there will be little grooves all over in the surface. Looks like claw marks but close together, they are actually from their front teeth that they use to scrape the cambium layer off, more obvious on fresh peeling but you will be able to see them if you look close for a few years.