butchering my bear info?

[weasel28]

When I get my bear this fall I am thinking about butchering it mysel.my game plan... Shoot bear,skin and gut bear.here's my next problem.should I cut all meat in the field or put whole thing on ice and do it when I get home? Meat lockers can be expensive that's y I'm asking for help.is there a detailed book (WITH PICS) showing how to cut he meat and the curing process. Any info may be of some help

[GoldTip]

Cut it up just like you would a deer, wrap it in butcher paper and put it in freezer.  Find a curing recipe online to cure the portions you want to taste like ham.

[weasel28]

Never done a deer either.only game I've done is pheasant,and waterfowl

[Ripper]

Search on line for a game processing book. There are plenty of them out there.

[Johnb317]

With elk I don't bother gutting.  Use the gutless method: skin one side, pull quarters from that side, backstrap and reach in for tenderloin. Roll over and repeat.  Then neck meat etc. 

[elk247]

  make sure you know how to cape out a bear. You don't want to waste time debating this. Then remove the quaters. Pretty self explanitory. Watch you tube videos for this. Dont forget your backstrap and tenderloins. Rib meat and neck meat i bag and use for burger or sausage. Get on ice asap. Do the detailed butchering in a cleaner environment than the woods.

[weasel28]

Thank u for the help.now my other ? Any experienced hunters want to hunt with me and show me the ropes

[Stick em]

With elk I don't bother gutting.  Use the gutless method: skin one side, pull quarters from that side, backstrap and reach in for tenderloin. Roll over and repeat.  Then neck meat etc.

I do the same thing for deer, takes about 30 min and the meat is in the cooler. I would debone the bear and only take meat. It's pretty easy once you've done one. I'd be happy to go for a bear with you and show ya what I know.

[206]

With elk I don't bother gutting.  Use the gutless method: skin one side, pull quarters from that side, backstrap and reach in for tenderloin. Roll over and repeat.  Then neck meat etc.

I do the same thing for deer, takes about 30 min and the meat is in the cooler. I would debone the bear and only take meat. It's pretty easy once you've done one. I'd be happy to go for a bear with you and show ya what I know.

Whaa...  No deer/elk liver and heart?  Lot's of good eats right there.

[Austrian Hunter]

I agree with others, learn from others!  In 2011 I killed a monster Black Bear and asked and old timer to help me gut my Bruin, I was too afraid to damage the hide for my mount.  He did help but I realized later made one huge error and I had no clue, he forgot to pull the anus out and I lost both hind quarters (about 100 lbs of meat) due to spoilage.   I am as guilty since I was right there but I thought in my excitement that I had the right guy helping me.   Well, the front and straps were awesome, this hinds were not eatable.   

[Austrian Hunter]

I should add it was late and the older gentleman would be in no shape to drag this beast out, so we said, lets gut and open the cavity and get the bruin in the morning with four more guys.  well we did that but one night with the anus and crap was enough to spoil the hinds. 

[Song Dog]

When I kill a bear I treat it just like a hog.  Get it cooled down quick and get it cut up within a day or two.  I cut all of the fat off and render it down for lard,  It makes the best pie crust and I use bear for any dish that calls for Pork.

[MLHSN]

If you have never harvested a big game animal I would highly consider going with an experienced hunter that can show you the ropes. Skinning, gutting and quartering out game animals is something I believe is best learned first hand and not through a book or video. I have seen some great youtube videos and have passed along DVD's to curious friends but first hand experience is what has made the difference for me. Your first big game animal down in the woods a few miles from the truck by yourself can be a daunting challenge if you are not prepared.

That's great advice, if you can find someone to teach you.  None of my family hunts.  A few of my friends hunt but they are already set in their seasons and partners.  I get it, hunting seasons are really short, and once you've been hunting with someone for over a decade, it's hard to readjust your game plan.

All that to say, ya, great, find someone if you can.  But many people can't so like me have to watch you tube videos and read books.  It's not the greatest method, and it will be trial by fire.  But I'll learn sooner or later.

There are plenty of people out there willing to give advice.  But there are very few that will jeopardize their hunting season to teach another.  Especially someone who isn't family.

[washelkhunter]

I like it. Hes already got his bear! Just waitin for the opener now. An easy way to learn is to buy a goat.

[MLHSN]

That's a good idea Sundance.  I never thought about asking a butcher or farmer to sit in and watch/help.  How similar do you think butchering a domestic animal is to cutting up wild game like bear/elk/dear?

I got a book called "Gut it, Cut it, Cook it."  The pictures are all in color and pretty good.  I also watched a number of you tube videos.  One set of videos was pretty good.  I can't remember the name of the guy.  He was a Chef and had a foreign accent.  Anyways, he lived in one of those state were you can shoot a ton of does in a year.  He went out several times and shot a few does and video taped dressing the dear.  Then he went back to his shop and videotaped processing it into the different cuts.

My biggest priority is to try and keep it clean and sanitary.  I know I'll mince up quite a few cuts but as long as it's clean I can at least turn it into hamburger.

[Stick em]

With elk I don't bother gutting.  Use the gutless method: skin one side, pull quarters from that side, backstrap and reach in for tenderloin. Roll over and repeat.  Then neck meat etc.

I do the same thing for deer, takes about 30 min and the meat is in the cooler. I would debone the bear and only take meat. It's pretty easy once you've done one. I'd be happy to go for a bear with you and show ya what I know.

Whaa...  No deer/elk liver and heart?  Lot's of good eats right there.

We use the liver and heart for dog treats, sometimes I'll take a leg bone or two to stick in the freezer for a summer treat. I bow hunt and usually the liver gets cut in a couple pieces.