Bear meat

[Johnb317]

There ware some big bears where we are archery elk hunting and there is some concern that
a. they are spooking the elk
b. we may run right into one or two.
My hunting partner says they are a pain to skin and butcher and not interested in the meat (I've never hunted bear).  He wants me to ask if anyone would be interested in a gutted carcass if need be.  (Raymond wa area)
I'm wondering if his assertion about cleaning and butchering is true.  How long could it take to butcher out a bear, throw him in the cooler and get back to elk hunting, and aren't they pretty good this time of year?  Bear burgers?

I want to be clear before anyone gets their shorts in a bunch,  I feel ethically bound to never let an animal go to waste, as well as we follow the laws very carefully.   He just wants to know if anyone would want the meat. 

Thanks

[syoungs]

They are greasy and stinky when your working with them, but yeah ground bear, and bear sausage is awesome, worth the trouble imho, if I was closer I would take you up on the offer for sure!

[billythekidrock]

Properly cared for, bear meat is about as good as it gets in my opinion. I prefer it over deer and rutting bulls. It does not beat a good elk steak, but bear meat is great.

Not very hard to skin or process. Just cool quickly and remove all the fat just like you would any wild critter and it will be fine.

[bendotti]

I'd take the meat I love it.

[nwwanderer]

The key is the time between the kill and the cooler.  You will love the stuff if you can take care of it.

[syoungs]

the only bear I have ever helped process in feild was only about 15 minutes from the cooler, but where I am going next month, it could be much longer.

How long of a window do you have with bear meat before you start to notice degraded meat quality?

[Ridgeratt]

The faster you get it's coat off the better!!
Then get it cooled down, and the fat off it. That will spoil the meat faster than anything.
If you not sure what to do. Quick is to have the hams smoked, save the ribs and chops, grind the rest in to sausage.
Depending on the sex and the age of the bear will also determine the flavor and taste!!

[syoungs]

my dad has done custome processing his whole life as a side business, im spoiled in that regard, if I get one down this year ill make a few steaks, keep the ribs and the rest is going to sausage for sure.

sure is nice having an industrial grinder, walk in cooler and smoker at my disposal 

[ICEMAN]

My family loves the bear meat. Find it greasy, but sweet smelling.

Bear fat is highly valued by pastry chefs as the best lard for light pastry dishes.

[AdnaHunter]

Hell yeah I'd take the meat if you get one down let me know. I live local to that area and I have the pe ell access permit so I could help you get it out too.

[LITTLEBUCK]

Preparation is also key. I have found that cook it slow and low. have had people tell me they cant stand bear meat, come over for dinner and eat bear ( not knowingly and say it is great ), the best roast they have ever had. Like others have said, remove all the fat, keep it clean, get it cool and not to much better.

[Fl0und3rz]

I want to be clear before anyone gets their shorts in a bunch . . . .

Good call.

[JohnVH]

Ill take bear meat over deer anyday

[Bowslayer]

I've had excellent bear meat and it-was-so-bad-you-want-to-become-vegan bear meat. The difference? Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder. There are scent glands behind the animal’s hind legs you've got to handle right, you've got to remove of all the fat, and then try and skin it without getting hair all over the meat (this is tricky and why many hunters in the south burn the hair off like a hog).

Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.

JMEO

[ICEMAN]

I've had excellent bear meat and it-was-so-bad-you-want-to-become-vegan bear meat. The difference? Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder. There are scent glands behind the animal’s hind legs you've got to handle right, you've got to remove of all the fat, and then try and skin it without getting hair all over the meat (this is tricky and why many hunters in the south burn the hair off like a hog).

Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.

JMEO

Not calling you out, but...  You wont bother butchering bear? This mean you will not hunt them or?

New interesting queestion, would leaving the meat in the woods be considered waste of wildlife? Should it?

[h20hunter]

Yes....believe leaving the meat is wastage.....not talking about a two day dead bear....fresh kill.

[Austrian Hunter]

I've had excellent bear meat and it-was-so-bad-you-want-to-become-vegan bear meat. The difference? Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder. There are scent glands behind the animal’s hind legs you've got to handle right, you've got to remove of all the fat, and then try and skin it without getting hair all over the meat (this is tricky and why many hunters in the south burn the hair off like a hog).

Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.

JMEO

Not calling you out, but...  You wont bother butchering bear? This mean you will not hunt them or?

New interesting queestion, would leaving the meat in the woods be considered waste of wildlife? Should it?

   I think this is considered waste of wildlife leaving any bear meat behind! 

[ICEMAN]

I've had excellent bear meat and it-was-so-bad-you-want-to-become-vegan bear meat. The difference? Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder. There are scent glands behind the animal’s hind legs you've got to handle right, you've got to remove of all the fat, and then try and skin it without getting hair all over the meat (this is tricky and why many hunters in the south burn the hair off like a hog).

Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.

JMEO

Not calling you out, but...  You wont bother butchering bear? This mean you will not hunt them or?

New interesting queestion, would leaving the meat in the woods be considered waste of wildlife? Should it?

   I think this is considered waste of wildlife leaving any bear meat behind! 

OK, so how about a Cougar. Bobcat? How is it decided what meat you have to consume? (Just playing Donahue here...)

[Jonathan_S]

Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder.

Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.

JMEO

   So you love to butcher wild game just not bear?  What does it take to properly butcher a bear, 2-3 hours for anyone with a clue and a sharp knife?  Maybe another 1-2 hours to trim fat?  I wouldn't call it tricky, just a little more time. 

[Austrian Hunter]

I've had excellent bear meat and it-was-so-bad-you-want-to-become-vegan bear meat. The difference? Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder. There are scent glands behind the animal’s hind legs you've got to handle right, you've got to remove of all the fat, and then try and skin it without getting hair all over the meat (this is tricky and why many hunters in the south burn the hair off like a hog).

Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.

JMEO

Not calling you out, but...  You wont bother butchering bear? This mean you will not hunt them or?

New interesting queestion, would leaving the meat in the woods be considered waste of wildlife? Should it?

   I think this is considered waste of wildlife leaving any bear meat behind! 

OK, so how about a Cougar. Bobcat? How is it decided what meat you have to consume? (Just playing Donahue here...)

I had Cougar, loved it!!! Some of the best I ever had  in the wild game department.  Never had Bobcat but I would try.   

[billythekidrock]

Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder.

Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.

JMEO

   So you love to butcher wild game just not bear?  What does it take to properly butcher a bear, 2-3 hours for anyone with a clue and a sharp knife?  Maybe another 1-2 hours to trim fat?  I wouldn't call it tricky, just a little more time. 

I agree.  Nothing tricky to processing a bear. There is no need to make it out to be a scary thing. Cool and butcher quickly and you will have quality meat.

[JohnVH]

weird, weve done a few, nothing harder than any other animal to us.

[Bowslayer]

As a newbie, I need to be more careful not to trip any wires here   

The original question was from a someone that had never cleaned a bear.  My first time, I had and would want guidance or at least ample instruction, because unlike a deer, I personally find bear more tricky (not scary) for reasons stated. It's great to see that so many of the hunters on this forum are pros with such things.

Someone kinda asked if I hunt bear but waste the meat. If I hunt bear, I harvest the meat or donate it.

[LITTLEBUCK]

I was a newbie the first time I shot a bear. No difference then deer or elk, what's on it comes off, what's in it comes out. Keep it clean, get it cool. Only difference is take all the fat off which falls in the statement above, what's on it comes off.

[TheFewTheProud]

Bear meat breakfast sausage is by far the best.

[Jonathan_S]

Bear meat breakfast sausage is by far the best.

It's spooky how good it is.  I made 120 4 oz patties of bear breakfast sausage in 2010 and I'm still convinced someone stole it with how fast it was gone.

[Smossy]

Bear backstrap roast is amazing.

[Guy]

Isn't it true that WDFW views the bear as a predator, and hunters are not required to take the meat?

Just asking.

Guy

[bowhunterforever]

Isn't it true that WDFW views the bear as a predator, and hunters are not required to take the meat?

Just asking.

Guy

Good question

[Jonathan_S]

Isn't it true that WDFW views the bear as a predator, and hunters are not required to take the meat?

Just asking.

Guy

Why would you consider it when there are 1,000s of people on this site who'd take the meat and feed themselves for months with it?

They're a game animal right?  I can't tell you for certain because I'd never leave a bear so I'm not overly concerned with knowing.   

[snowpack]

Isn't it true that WDFW views the bear as a predator, and hunters are not required to take the meat?

Just asking.

Guy

I think I heard before because it requires a tag, the meat would fall under the same wastage as deer/elk.  Things that don't need a tag like coons, coyotes and bobcats can be left.  It is a good question I'd like to know too.  Especially if in the future wolves require a tag....I wouldn't want to touch a wolf much less eat it...just treat like a yote.

[bowhunterforever]

I haven't left a bear either and all the bears I have shot were good eating. Few different people have told me that you don't have to keep bear meat and am curious if it is true or not?

[Alphamax]

You may NOT allow game animals or game birds you have taken to recklessly be wasted. I copy that from the washington hunting rags. Hope that helps, bear meat is awsome don't wast it.

[Turner89]

weird, weve done a few, nothing harder than any other animal to us.

 The first bear I shot was eating, and rolling in spawned out humpies The meaat was aweful. I figured that would be the last bear I ever shot.
 A couple years later a friend of mine shot a bear that had been feeding on berries, and no where near fish. I cut a steak off it to see if there was a difference, and couldn't believe how good it was.
 My son and I both shot bears this last spring, and usually have some for dinner at least once a week. We have to make room for a couple more bears, and deer. I just made steaks out of both of them

[snowpack]

The regs say what you wrote and so does the answer to a FAQ on a WDFW website.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/83/What+is+the+definition+of+%22wastage%2C%22+and+when+does+it+apply%3F

What is the definition of "wastage," and when does it apply?
•You may not allow game animals or game birds you have taken to recklessly be wasted.
•You must make a reasonable attempt to remove and use all edible meat from the carcass of harvested game fish, game birds, and game animals.

But the RCW appears to be written for big game or animals worth more than $250 (however that was determined?).
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.170

(1) A person is guilty of waste of fish and wildlife if:

     (a) The person kills, takes, or possesses fish, shellfish, or wildlife having a value of two hundred fifty dollars or more or wildlife classified as big game; and

     (b) The person recklessly allows such fish, shellfish, or wildlife to be wasted.

I agree it sounds like it applies to bears.

[Smossy]

I think someone said it before but Id say anything that requires an individual tag.. bear, deer, elk, coug, turkey, would without question be wasteful if left behind.

[justaguy]

If you're hauling meat/fat/skin out, I'm guessing the meat's the first thing to get into the cooler. Any opinions on what's the first, second, and third  (or more) load on the pack to get it to the cooler?

[Broken Arrow]

No more work than any other big game animal. I have found that east side bears that have fed on plums, apples, pears, etc. are delicious.  ( never had a west side bear). Best bear meet I have ever had was when i had smoked hams made out if. Also have had cougar back straps.....i think its better then pork. Light colored meat...very tasty....but i will eat anything....heck BBQ marinated crow breast are even good.

[Jonathan_S]

heck BBQ marinated crow breast are even good.

Hmm.  I haven't tried this but I can't imagine even trying.  Brave man