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Author Topic: Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall  (Read 2782 times)

Offline salish

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Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall
« on: February 13, 2020, 11:41:30 AM »
I've never hunted bear before, but I ate some bear stew this past Christmas and it was delicious. I'm now thinking about hunting them. Is there any major differences between spring and late summer bears as far as table quality goes? It would seem like bears coming out of hibernation would have much less weight on them, whereas bears taken in August would have put on some weight from berries, etc. Just curious as to other's thoughts. Thanks.

Offline Bango skank

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Re: Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2020, 11:50:42 AM »
If you draw spring bear then kill a spring bear and a fall bear, decide for yourself which is better.  No need to choose, you can buy 2 bear tags.

Offline Jonathan_S

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Re: Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2020, 11:51:26 AM »
Springtime very good to incredible. Falltime it is occasionally terrible but sometimes the best.

Only terrible bear I've eaten had been hitting some carcasses. Even my big sage country boar was phenomenal eating.
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Offline 7mmfan

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Re: Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2020, 12:04:33 PM »
I have no personal experience with spring other than buddies that have killed a couple. Everyone of them said their spring bears were delicious. I know my fall bear last year as phenomenal. I'd gladly kill one in the spring and then again in the fall and do a side by side taste test.
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Offline CaNINE

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Re: Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall
« Reply #4 on: February 13, 2020, 12:12:27 PM »
black bear meat is my families favorite
The lazy do not roast any game, but the diligent feed on the riches of the hunt.

Proverbs 12:27

Offline salish

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Re: Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall
« Reply #5 on: February 13, 2020, 12:19:58 PM »
Thanks all, I appreciate the fast answers. Ok, I've got some planning to do. I've been dedicating spring to turkey hunting but I may think about combining them. Thanks.

Offline Ricochet

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Re: Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall
« Reply #6 on: February 13, 2020, 12:35:06 PM »
My experience has been its totally dependent on what they're feeding on.  A spring bear feeding on skunk cabbage or carrion will likely be nasty, a fall bear eating berries is usually excellent, if he's eating mushrooms or gut piles, not so much.
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Offline jrebel

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Re: Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall
« Reply #7 on: February 13, 2020, 03:11:04 PM »
Springtime very good to incredible. Falltime it is occasionally terrible but sometimes the best.

Only terrible bear I've eaten had been hitting some carcasses. Even my big sage country boar was phenomenal eating.

Exactly my experience.  Both are very good unless you find one that has been eating garbage or other carcasses.  You will know immediatly upon gutting and skinning.  If the meat smells like a carcass....don't eat it.   Darn sure don't take it home and try and butcher it in your wifes kitchen..... :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:   :puke: :puke: :puke:

Offline tgomez

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Re: Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall
« Reply #8 on: February 13, 2020, 06:19:23 PM »
Fall bear by leaps and bounds.
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Offline dmoua

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Re: Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2020, 09:40:51 AM »
Fall bear are very good if they have been eating berries all summer.
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Offline D-Rock425

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Re: Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall
« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2020, 07:18:56 AM »
I've had some spring bear burger that was a little funky compaired to the August berry eating bears I've had.  The spring bear I shot last year was made into hams, pepperoni and summer sausage all gave been great.

Offline salish

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Re: Bear Meat Spring vs. Fall
« Reply #11 on: February 20, 2020, 12:49:29 PM »
Thanks again everyone.

 


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