Black bear for dinner?
 

My first hunt of '06 will be spring bear. Can't wait!
Have never harvested a bear.
Arethey good to eat? And what meat handling precausions do I take?

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

I like really enjoy bear meat. Just make sure to remove all the fat you can, grill it so the remaining fat drops out, and cook it well done. Good luck on your bear kill!!

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

It is good to eat if you get them a little time after they come out of hibernation. During the winter, they put a lot of "urine" byproducts in their muscle for storage. If they have had time to emerge and eat again for awhile, they are good.

As stated, cook them like pork, WELL DONE. Just like hogs, they could have trichinosis, a parasite that is killed when you fully cook it.

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

suasage and stir-fry :D

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

I've wondered about that urine thing while hibernating. So how long after they come out? Couple days, or couple weeks. And is the pelt generally better in the spring or fall?
Thanks for the input. Locally I've either heard "it's better than elk" to "My dogs wouldn't eat it."
I don't like shooting something I'm not gping to eat. So, thanks again.

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

I personally will only eat it in pepperettes 'cause it tases good. I would't it it regualrily becuase to me it is like eating a wolf or a coyote. Both eat meat, berries, whatever, and rotton meat. Doesn't sound good to me.

I give them away to people who like it but it is supposed to be good and taste like pork![8D]



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RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

Not sure how long it would take. As far as the pelt, in the spring the pelt would be the best just after they emerge, before they have a chance to start shedding. A fall bear would have a great pelt and be better to eat, but probably harder to hunt.

As far as not eating something because of what it eats, chickens and turkeys (that aren't grown in a warehouse somewhere, eat bugs, including maggots! Ever eaten chicken or turkeys or their eggs from free range birds?

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

I really enjoy a fall killed bear which has been devouring blueberries, you get a really sweet meat. As far as spring bears, I don't have much experience but I have eaten some very old and tough bears and they make really good sausage. Also, make bear jerky... a great way to use the whole animal and trust me, good bear jerky lasts no time at all. You'll be booking/planning a hunt to get you some more.

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

We got a bear last fall and the backstraps were really good and tender. The rest of the meat is kind of chewy. Not bad though. Good in chilly.

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

I'll pass thanks. Bugs sound better than Rotton meat. I'm sure it won't hurt anything but I would sooner eat other things.

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

I've got about 20lbs of steaks in my freezer, the're OK but I prefer venison so I plan to sausage the rest.
As for not killing what your not going to eat, don't you guys have the same laws as us? In Ontario its illegal to allow game meat to spoil, I think its a good law to discourage idiots that will shoot an animal only to take a trophy and leave the carcass to rot.

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

In Alberta, it is illegal to let the meat of big game or meat to spoil UNLESS it is bear or cougar. In that case it is illegal to let thepeltgo to waste.

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

I have not read all the replies to the original post as I know that there will be alot of "only eat spring" or "only eat fall" posts. I have eatenmanyspring and fall bears from the Washington state and all I can say is "it is up to you". How you handle the meat, starting with field dressing, will dictate the edibility. It is very good as roasts, sausage, etc.

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

Bear peperoni is wicked good. Iam gonna get a spring bear made all in to peperoni.

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

its the old story about how you fix it i would just as soon have bear as deer both are great

RE: Black bear for dinner?
 

Thanks All!!!!
I had no idea that this topic would bring so much response.
I will treat the meat like pork. And look forward to hunting bear.
Here in "Cheyoming" . . . regulations require you to present and report your harvest within 72 hours of the kill. Because of harvest number restrictions, an area may be closed before the season dates are over.
Thanks again, feel much better about putting that first bite in my mouth!