Ways to try bear meat?

[yakimanoob]

Hey folks,

So here's the situation.  I plan on hunting bear this year for the first time, but when I shared this idea with my (amazing, hunting-loving, meat-eating) wife, she was unexpectedly appalled. Apparently to her, and to be fair even to myself before I started thinking about it, elk and deer are dinner but bears are not. 

After some long discussions on the ethics of bear hunting, we reached a compromise: I can hunt bear, but before I do, we both have to try the meat to see if it's worth eating (as we both agree that a desire for the meat is a pre-requisite to killing an animal).  I'm convinced by reading that bear meat is or at least can be delicious, but it's totally fair she wants us to try it to make sure we don't hate it and kill an animal for no reason. 

While I agree in theory, it does present a difficult practicality: how on earth do I acquire bear meat without hunting it myself?  We don't know anyone who bear hunts and has meat they could share with us, and I also want to ensure we try a berry-fed bear and not one that's been filling itself with rotten seafood. 

Any advice?  I've already googled to the best of my ability and it seems that, understandably, there's no one out there trying to farm black bears so they can legally sell the meat. 

Thanks in advance for the help!

[JDHasty]

McCleary Bear Festival - but it was a couple weeks ago

http://mcclearybearfestival.org/

[Luna butte]

The best recipe I can offer is

Hang n skin your Bear while your wife starts a Kraft brand Mac n chee.
Immediately upon removal of the hide throw away anything that ain't hide and enjoy the Mac n chee.

I've been privileged plenty with bruin meat and folks who can definately cook well struggle when attempting to make bear palatable.

It's an acquired taste.... Like dung, crazy folks love it.

[Luna butte]

Oops, sorry I didn't realize I was in the bear hunting forum. I'm going to say that all you are exempted from my prior post and I'm sure you all cook a fine bear steak, now excuse me while I slide out the forum door into lurker mode.

[idaho guy]

pm me your address and I will send you some bear sausage for free. After you have it you will shoot 2

[yakimanoob]

pm me your address and I will send you some bear sausage for free. After you have it you will shoot 2

Sent!  Thanks

[JL]

IMO, it just requires the right prep/recipe in relation to your taste buds. What doesn't though? One of the best meals I've ever enjoyed repeatedly was a 95% Bear meat massive diameter sausage that we used to cook up on the ice. Cast Iron and butter on a propane grill. That's it. I swear, it was so delicious nobody even bothered with eggs etc... and we always had non-hunters w/ us. Probably teriyaki if I had to guess and I'm sure the freezing temps and wind chill triggered some sort of a primal appetite... but one I'll always welcome.

[Timberstalker]

I've never had a piece of bear meat I didn't like. Period.
We are blessed on the east side to take Bears that eat fruit in the fall, no fish.

Anyone that says bear meat is bad, either didn't take care of it correctly/prepare it correctly or has f-ed up taste buds.

[h20hunter]

I like the roasts corned, the steaks grilled, the trim and what not in pep or summer sausage. Westside bears I believe are either great....eating berries and grass...or are unedible. Ask Stang...he shot a spring bear that was awful.  I only have two under my belt but both were fine eating.

[carpsniperg2]

I've never had a piece of bear meat I didn't like. Period.
We are blessed on the east side to take Bears that eat fruit in the fall, no fish.

Anyone that says bear meat is bad, either didn't take care of it correctly/prepare it correctly or has f-ed up taste buds.

It depends a lot on what the bears eat to. So if they have been chowing on skunk cabbage they might not be so tasty  I don't like them greasy the fall bears I have killed and ate where nasty compared to the spring bears I have killed. The less fat the better for me.

[yakimanoob]

Like I said, I'm convinced by reading that the meat will be great 

But as they say, happy wife, happy life. 

[WAcoyotehunter]

I have had several bears and generally enjoy the meat.  Try a simple recipe, seasoned and grilled (cooked through). 

[idaho guy]

pm me your address and I will send you some bear sausage for free. After you have it you will shoot 2

Sent!  Thanks

You will get the meat tomorrow-already made into german sausage. Your wife will MAKE you go bear hunting I swear ha ha. Sent ups so someone should be looking for it. It is froze now

[Machias]

I also think it has something to do with what the bear was doing before it was killed and obviously how quickly it is cooled and taken care of after it's killed.  I think bears run by dogs any distance do not taste near as good as a relaxed, unaware bear that has been eating berries.  I think a bear that has been run hard has a lot of lactic acid in it's muscles and does not taste near as good.  Also a bear killed but not recovered for some time does not taste as good as one gutted quickly, skinned and cooled quickly.

[MADMAX]

and remove ALL the fat