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Author Topic: Bear hams  (Read 9910 times)

Offline wadu1

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #15 on: August 31, 2015, 04:04:08 PM »
I had mine done as smoked cured hams, by a butcher that was recommended. Even my wife liked it, she'll only eat moose no deer or elk for her to gamey.
"a fronte praecipitium a tergo lupi"

Offline n_mathews13

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #16 on: August 31, 2015, 04:08:39 PM »
Tag

Offline gaddy

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #17 on: August 31, 2015, 04:16:19 PM »
We did one of my prepared hams like any other, warmed in the the oven, was great. Even got the boys gal-friend to eat it. The other was warmed on an open flame in the mountains at elk camp, cut into 1" slabs like a steak. That was the best, now my mouth is watering.

Offline whacker1

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #18 on: August 31, 2015, 04:19:16 PM »
We did one of my prepared hams like any other, warmed in the the oven, was great. Even got the boys gal-friend to eat it. The other was warmed on an open flame in the mountains at elk camp, cut into 1" slabs like a steak. That was the best, now my mouth is watering.

The open flame is wonderful for bear

Offline gaddy

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #19 on: August 31, 2015, 04:51:33 PM »
I really need to get a partner to go back after bear. That was some of the best eats that i think I've eaten, aside from elk or moose.

Offline RB

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #20 on: August 31, 2015, 04:57:44 PM »
Congrats on your first Bear!
IAFF #3728

Offline bearhunter99

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #21 on: September 01, 2015, 10:25:00 AM »
I will post up a link when I get home that has an excellent tutorial on making hams.  I have used the same process for Pork and bear and it turns out excellent.  The biggest thing when making hams is to inject the brine, especially around the bone to prevent bone sour.  I actually just put four pork hams in the brine last night to smoke this weekend.  I will get the link posted up tonight.

As a side note, probably the best bear I have ever eaten was a ham that was smoked bone in and then cut into 1"+ steaks and then cooked over flame on the grill. :cue: :EAT:
RIP Colockumelk   :salute:

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Genesis 27:3
Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and take me some venison

Offline Figboot74

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #22 on: September 01, 2015, 11:20:41 AM »
I will post up a link when I get home that has an excellent tutorial on making hams.  I have used the same process for Pork and bear and it turns out excellent.  The biggest thing when making hams is to inject the brine, especially around the bone to prevent bone sour.  I actually just put four pork hams in the brine last night to smoke this weekend.  I will get the link posted up tonight.

As a side note, probably the best bear I have ever eaten was a ham that was smoked bone in and then cut into 1"+ steaks and then cooked over flame on the grill. :cue: :EAT:
Thank you for the help.

Offline Figboot74

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #23 on: September 02, 2015, 07:23:57 AM »
Update for those interested. I went with this brine recipe for the first ham.
http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/wild-chef/2012/12/meat-week-how-smoke-black-bear-ham
For ham #2: 10# bear ham,  1 gal ice water, 2 cups light brown sugar, 1.5 Kosher salt, 8 teaspoons pink curing salt(prague powder), 1 cup maple syrup.
Inject daily and brine for 10 days.
I am also making bear bacon and corned bear. Has anyone made bear stock with the scraps and bones? I normally do this with deer and beef bones. I think it would work our great.

P.S. If this thread needs to go to the recipe area a little help from someone with more knowledge than me would be needed. Thanks, P

Offline h20hunter

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #24 on: September 02, 2015, 07:24:53 AM »
Corned bear from my last one was the best corned meat I've had ever.

Offline Figboot74

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #25 on: September 02, 2015, 08:00:35 AM »
Corned bear from my last one was the best corned meat I've had ever.
Care to share a recipe?

Offline h20hunter

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #26 on: September 02, 2015, 08:05:07 AM »
Check with Sled on here....he did his own. The butcher (whom is a secret) has his own recipe. I can tell you they are cured in a vac chamber and tumbled for a day or two prior to packaging.

Offline h20hunter

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #27 on: September 02, 2015, 08:06:21 AM »

Offline Jonathan_S

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #28 on: September 02, 2015, 11:39:02 AM »
Smoked bear hams with apple wood and lots of brown sugar.

I'll die happy if that is my last meal.
Kindly do not attempt to cloud the issue with too many facts.

Offline Figboot74

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Re: Bear hams
« Reply #29 on: September 02, 2015, 02:07:18 PM »
My experience with bears is like Saylean said, It is the fat/lard that gives it a Gamy flavor, so I always try to trim as much as possible, smoke, so it can shed additional fat.

When you decide to cook it fully either at smoking before freezing or day of, I would again do it so that it can shed its own fat, Traeger, or some other method where the grease can settled out.  If covered, use a cookie drying rack to let the grease settle in the bottom of the pan.

the best bear roasts I have ever had were seasoned much like a prime rib, and cooked on an open flame with a rotisserie low and slow, but through where the bone would have been in a rear hind leg.

Many people think they can bread and pan fry a bear steak like they would a dear steak, and it cooks in its own grease and ruins the flavor......At least in my opinion.
Would it be be better to fully cook at smoking and then freeze or cure it then smoke day of serving?

 


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