Question for the guys who kill bears anually???

[jrebel]

For those of you who kill bears on a yearly basis....and sometimes two bears a year, What do you do with them.  As seen in an earlier post, I finally connected with my first bear ever.  It was a smaller bear but a bear non the less.  I am going to make breakfast sausage out of the meat so I can mix it with pork (pork makes everything taste better  ).  I took the hide to the taxidermist and am gettng a full body mount (cause it is small and has great color), but it is outrageously expensive. 

1.  What do you guys do with the meat, or what would you reccomend / your favorite??
2.  What do you do with your hides / furs.....a bear rug will cost 1,000-1,500 / bear and the full body mound cost 3 -4 thousand. 

There is no way I could afford to do this twice a year.  Maybe a rug once a year, but then what do you do with the rugs? 

Just trying to figure this stuff out, cause I now have bear fever.  I don't really want to kill another this year cause I am now officially broke (full body mount) and I still have a late buck hunt this year that I plan on mounting.  Probably 5K in taxidermy this year alone.  My wife may divorce me...  

Thanks in advance

Johnny

[7mmfan]

I've wondered the same thing, about the hides mostly. I can handle all the meat, but it seems like such a waste to through a nice bear skin out. Guess it happens to thousands of deer and elk hides every year though so whats the difference with a bear?

[romaknows]

Dont be scared of bear meat , it is very good.Cut it up just like you would a deer or elk.

[CAMPMEAT]

Just get your next bear hide tanned only. Boy oh boy, I don't know where your getting those prices at. That's really expensive and shouldn't be that much. Shop around.

[boneaddict]

I usually turn most of mine into sausage.   Some burger for certain recipes.    Most hides get tossed or left behind.  I am after a real particular bear to have mounted, so have been alot more selective in the last few years.

[kglacken]

Just get your next bear hide tanned only. Boy oh boy, I don't know where your getting those prices at. That's really expensive and shouldn't be that much. Shop around.

I got my first bear full body mounted for $2500

[jrebel]

My prices are ball park figures.  It obviuosly depends on the size of the bear and mount you choose etc. etc. The full body mount I am getting is less as I was given a decent deal.  However it will be pushing 3k but I was particular with what I wanted and am buying some extra's to make it a true work of art. 

[CAMPMEAT]

Just get your next bear hide tanned only. Boy oh boy, I don't know where your getting those prices at. That's really expensive and shouldn't be that much. Shop around.

I got my first bear full body mounted for $2500

Wow, no kidding !!! I must be out of touch with prices. I have noticed the westside is a lot more expensive than some of the eastside prices I guess.

[mountainman]

We do it all in jerky anymore. Simple and kids love it too! Meat is ok if taken care of properly. Hides? You've seen the shop! LOL! AND some in storage and home in the closet... Agree with Bone...has to be a pretty special one for me to do another one!

[carpsniperg2]

summer sausage for me. I will eat some of the cuts like tenderloins.

Talk to your taxidermists. Some will trade you credit for bear hides if you don't plan on mounting it. 

[Kowsrule30]

Burger or sausage the meat up.... Most hides if I know I can't sell them or not worth taking it out or adding another trip if I really don't car just get tossed.... I have 4 bear hides tanned.... If would have to be a monster Or the cinnimon boar that pushing almost 400# that I'm after....And I'd probably get some kind of wall mount....

[Austrian Hunter]

Pepperoni sticks  Smoked German Sausage and Bratwurst......  I have one rug hanging on the wall, One half mount I will pick up Sep 10th. 

I am out of sticks so let Sep 1st get here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[rasbo]

pepperoni,roasts..unless the bear means something special,I dont mount it

[lewy]

Ive euro'd every bear skull that ive killed and had a few mounts/rugs done as well. As far as the meat, I cube up the good stuff in the hind end for stew meat, which is awesome, and grind the rest in with my deer and elk. Congrats on the bear

[Huntbear]

Still waiting to have this problem with my first bear...

However,,,, pepperoni and breakfast sausage are fantastic made from bear... the roasts off the hams smoked are awesome....