Leavingbear meat behind in Idaho

[Mark Youngblood]

I just found out today that in Idaho you are allowed to shoot a bear and leave the meat behind..... that really irritates me and I am curious what the reason is...any ideas? to me that makes them like a "coyote" and people can just shoot them and let them lay.

[JLS]

Maybe because there are a significant carrier of trichinosis?

I killed a bear in Montana.  I had to salvage the meat, but the state offered free trich testing and if the meat was positive I could legally throw all of it away.

[WildlifeAssassin]

They also have large wilderness areas in desperate need of predator control where it would be otherwise impractical to hunt them.

[kentrek]

Idaho also doesn't require taking neck meat an rib meat on elk/deer

That's a lot of meat left in the woods pending on the critter..

[idaho guy]

they changed the rule a few years ago on salvaging the meat to encourage more bear hunting or more  killing in remote areas. All this changed after the wolves started hammering the elk and now Idaho is going off on all predators. I kill a bear in idaho almost every year and always salvage the meat. It makes the best german sausage and its stupid to leave it out there. Killing bears is good for saving elk calves but I dont really agree with totally hammering the population by increasing all the season lengths and increasing most areas to 2 bears. We had tons of bears and lions and tons of elk before the wolf so we all know the real problem just tough to kill enough wolves to fix the problem. So they are going to reduce all predators   

[grundy53]

I just found out today that in Idaho you are allowed to shoot a bear and leave the meat behind..... that really irritates me and I am curious what the reason is...any ideas? to me that makes them like a "coyote" and people can just shoot them and let them lay.

Maybe some folks don't think they are any different then a coyote. Not saying it's right or wrong. Just different perspective. For the record I like bear meat...

sent from my typewriter

[Mark Youngblood]

We certainly plan to salvage the meat if we get bears but I was really caught off guard today when this came up...was just curious what others thought about it....thanks!

[cougarbart]

we always salvage the meat! great dog food and crab bait!

[Timberstalker]

we always salvage the meat! great dog food and crab bait!

This sure makes us hunters look good.......... Jeez

[LongTatLaw]

Ive eaten every scrap of the bears Ive killed. I prefer bear to deer. No waste from me.

Ive been known to kill myself hiking every inch of meat, cape, skull ....10 miles outta the mountains. Most of us dont think a 225lb bear is until ya have one dead 10 miles from the truck and ya only have one guy with ya = rough day

[j_h_nimrod]

Bears are really underrated as a good animal anymore. I cannot say I like it the same way I like a good cut of venison but certainly utilize all I get. It is the same in AK, no need to salvage meat (except maybe spring black bear, can't remember for sure though). There are some areas where you can harvest 2 brown bears and 2 black bears and not salvage any meat and sell the green hides and skulls. They are almost as bad as coyotes in many areas anymore.

[Ironhead]

Idaho also doesn't require taking neck meat an rib meat on elk/deer

That's a lot of meat left in the woods pending on the critter..

Do you have a link for this? 

[kentrek]

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/rules/?getPage=63

Click on general wildlife laws, scroll down to the waste of game section

[mossback91]

Ive eaten every scrap of the bears Ive killed. I prefer bear to deer. No waste from me.

Ive been known to kill myself hiking every inch of meat, cape, skull ....10 miles outta the mountains. Most of us dont think a 225lb bear is until ya have one dead 10 miles from the truck and ya only have one guy with ya = rough day

I always thought you preferred groundhog?

[Ironhead]

http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/hunt/rules/?getPage=63

Click on general wildlife laws, scroll down to the waste of game section

Thank you for the link.

[smalldog]

Smoked hams and summer sausage or burger is the only way I will eat Bear.  I love bear meat and don't understand why someone would leave the meat.  If you don't eat the meat then don't kill it. I have hunted for about 46 years and was raised this way.  Respect the animals right to exist if not going to eat it.

[Longbowz]

Unfortunately too many folks think that bear meat isn't good.  Usually it's the ones that haul the bear around in their pickups all day showing off.   

[j_h_nimrod]

I have found in general that people think bear meat is no good. Black, brown (grizzly), spring, or fall and people turn their noses up. I have eaten fall fish stream brown bear that was better than many rut bucks I have had the displeasure to choke down. Bear is really underrated and it is disappointing to see.