Spring Bear... Should I? some help please

[EMPyre]

Ok , first off, I don't mean to be presumptuous, but I kinda think I might be one of this forums favorite newbies.  Every time I have a question I get more help/suggestions than I could hope for, so thanks everyone!

Now, my real reason for posting...  I really want to get a bear tag this year, but...
I'm not really a trophy hunter and the wife is against bear hunting for this perception too.  I like to make use of the things that I kill, be it; trout, grouse, deer, whatever, it all makes it to the pot.  So question 1) is black bear good eats?  Can I justify the kill to someone that thinks they only make good rugs?  I've heard no, but some post here say otherwise.  I just don't want to end up with 100+ lbs of sausage and jerky.  2)  What should I know about the hunt that a black bear virgin might not expect?  And on this one please be expansive in your responses.  I have really made a shift this year from loving being in the river to being in the woods, and bear seems like a great way to keep the hunting alive more of the year.

Thanks again to the members here, you have all been great during my trials and tribulation this past deer season, and to the mods and admins for keeping a great and HELPFUL site up and operating.

~E

PS: Anyone want to tag team some waterfowl on a weekend before the end of the month around King or  Co.  Let me know!

[boneaddict]

In a matter of opinion, bear can be great or buck ass nasty, depending on all sorts of conditions.  It can be greasy, it can be very gamey, and it can taste delicious.  the other good or bad part is there can be a whole lot of it.  Honestly, I tend to like it in sausage.  What I do burger, usually ends up as meatloaf.  I've even had a great roast.  I wouldn't however expect to get th finest eating game animal out there, and there is a good chance that your wife may not like it.  Soooooo.........I didn't help you much.  You won't know until you try it.  If you aren't serious about the tag then I wouldn't apply for it, maybe get one in the fall general, as there are lots of folks that are really into bear hunting that would love to get that tag.

[RubblesPH]

Ya, what he said.  I would add that that the bears that I have eaten that were excellent were eating heavily on wild apple, plums and berries.  The others that weren't so great didn't have the abundance of wild fruit that I just mentioned.  We had one that the dog wouldn't even eat the pepper stick.  There may be a whole lot of factors that determine the taste of a individual bear: gender, age, available food source, competition for food, height on the totem pole, etc. 

I have never eaten a spring bear, so I can't comment on what they may taste like. 

I agree with boneaddict - if your not sure, save the special permit for someone that is and spend some time in the woods this year on the Fall hunt learnig about the animal and how to effectively hunt it.  Just my opinion.

Good post. 

 

[ICEMAN]

Bear is good eats. Butcher it yourself. Good luck!

[billythekidrock]

I have eaten spring bear, fall bear, fat bears, skinny bears, old (23.5) bears, young (1.5) bears, bears feeding on berries and bears with ungulates in their guts and I can say this, mostly it boils down to good game prep. Now Alaskan bears eating fish are another ball of wax...nasty.
The only thing better to me is moose/elk tenderloin or a steak off of a young elk.
Get it cool and in the freezer fast and it will be fine.
My suggestion would be to apply for a couple units near home so you can pre-scout and hunt without spending too much on gas. If you get draw for E WA how much time will you really drive over to scout and hunt?

Here are a few links to recipes using bear meat.
Roasts http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,1012.0.html
Jerky http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,1016.0.html
Canned http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,1013.0.html
Pepperoni http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,1015.0.html

[RubblesPH]

You've had better luck than me and I'm a fanatic about game prep....sometimes you just get a nasty one!   

[DeKuma]

I would agree with all of the above.
I love bear meat!  I may be a minority, but it is one of my favorites.  It could be I have just been lucky enough to take bears that either were in black berries or in mountain huckle berries......

They make nice shoulder mounts on the wall too!  Even the smaller ones.

Good luck.  I am local, in Bothell as well, hit me up if you need some help or just want to see one on the wall.

-Scott (DeKuma)

[WDFW-SUX]

Now Alaskan bears eating fish are another ball of wax...nasty.

Bears that have been eating fish are by far the most disgusting thing I have ever skinned or eaten.  I honestly don't know how anyone could eat 150lbs+ of fishy bear meat

[Coasthunterjay]

Ok , first off, I don't mean to be presumptuous, but I kinda think I might be one of this forums favorite newbies.  Every time I have a question I get more help/suggestions than I could hope for, so thanks everyone!

Thats because everone thinks your a hot babe, LOL . just joking we just think you have a hot voice. Nope that wrong to. Not sure why we all type back. Maybe because you have good questions...... .....


OK, sorry about that. Back to your question. Yes bear can taste good but i also have tasted good, and bad bear. Sometimes bear can just plain be stinky so having a picky wife i know where you are going with this one. Go onto google and type in a search for  bear recipes. There are alot of proffesional cooks out there that make specialty meals and an even bigger number of hunters out there that have probably had the same problem as you. Try these links out and see if it leads you to something good.

                             http://www.fooddownunder.com/cgi-bin/search.cgi?q=bear
                             http://www.theblackbearexpert.com/recipies.html
                             http://www.canadawilderness.com/fish_article_recipe_bear.htm

Personnaly for myself i butcher all my game animals. And i have always been taught that the top half is always your good steak meats and the bottom half all jerky and sausage, or ground meat. Not much for good cuts there unless you want to be picky and pull it out....

Hope some of this helps that last one there looks like a yummy recipe

[EMPyre]

Hey thanks everyone lots of great input.  I think I'll hold out on the Spring tag just to give you fanatics your odds.  That being said I wouldn't mind tagging along on a hunt when the weather turns a bit warmer.  If anybody needs an extra set of hands, eyes, legs let me know.  I'll take notes and keep them to myself for the Fall.  Thanks again.

Erich

[saylean]

One last thing...if you would like to try some bear jerky, summer sausage or a roast..hit me up! I have a ton of it from this last year. I am not a huge bear hunter (I have only killed two) but I definelty plan on continuing. Not only do I get a sweet rug or mount, but I get some great meat...as least..it has been great so far (one was eating a ton of black berries...the other not too sure..but she was eating maggots when I got her). I would be happy to hand you over a roast or some other type of meat cut, just so you and the wifey could try it out. All of my neighbors have loved it, so have a few others I have shared it with. Best of luck