RE: black bear eating
I think bear is great! It just needs to be cooked properly. Make sure that every ounce of fate & grizzle it trimmed off before cooking and marinate, marinate, marinate!
Otherwise it will be like shoe leather. I usually trim it up and let it soak in salt water or Coca Cola (of all things) for an entire day. I then cook it in a stew or like a pot roast in a crock pott for a day w/ potatoes, carrots, etc. I have also done it in one of those oven bags... That was excellent too.
My buddy makes a stir fry with it which is pretty good too.
As for the butcher, I don't see why they won't cut it up for you. There are 2 around here that both do bear every year.
I hope this helps. You'll want to hunt them every year now! Good luck!