Bear Care... Not Care Bears...

[dblakney]

Anyone know what is different when it comes to field dressing a man eater as apposed to dear or elk...  Hitting Pasayten next week and I am considering a Bear tag. Never hunted them before and there is not much youtubage regarding field dressing black bears.  Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

[Kain]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,49969.0.html

[Michelle_Nelson]

Thanks Kain! 

If it is hot ot side Bear Fat can and will go rancid pretty quick.  You will want to get it skinned out and cooled down pretty quick. 

[dblakney]

That rocks fellas! Thanks. Nice detail on the skinning ect. Perfect!

[dblakney]

I assume that I should treat the meat the same way I would a deer/elk. keep it clean and get it to processing ASAP.  Are the best cuts on the hind legs? From the pics I have viewed it looks like those would be the obvious portions of meat to get chops ect. Not sure if a bear has back straps.. Ha ha!

[Billy]

It's just like skinning a human...................Bahahahahahahaha, just kidding .....No, really it is.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Pretty much dblakney.  Just kep in mind about the fat going rancid.  It will turn faster than a deer or elks will.  Plus the majority of hides on a Bear are Black.  Black absorbs heat.  Get that hide off and get the meat cool.

[chongo469]

So how long before it starts to spoil in say 50-60 degree weather?.......Are we talking 1 hour or a couple of hours or several hours?........

[Michelle_Nelson]

I am not sure I have never had one do it.  BTKR would be the one to ask about that as he has delt with more Bears in the field.  i will send him a link to this thread.

[dblakney]

Sounds like you really have to move on a back country bear to get it cool and out!  All part of the challenge!  Looking forward to what BTKR has to say.

[billythekidrock]

Everything starts to spoil the second it dies. 
You will have several hours, but you still need to take care while gutting and skinning to keep bacterial growth at a minimum.

There are way too many variables to give precise times but with proper care you will be fine at this time of year.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Everything starts to spoil the second it dies. 

Smart @ss!

[hunterheinz]

I shot a bear years ago at last light in late August and had to recover it at first light the next morning. Day temps were low 90's, night temps maybe low 70's. I field dressed immediately and had about a 1 hour pack out with two buddies. Drove an hour home skinned and took meat to the butcher and meat was fine. No discoloration & no foul smell-other than the regular bear fat smell(which I kinda like lol). Made excellent Summer Sausage and Pepper Sticks. Even had the Hide tanned. Not to say this is a good idea but just to give an example. I try to get the animal field dressed immediately and get the hide off ASAP and into the freezer.

[one-eyed Ross]

Up in the high country, it should be cool enough that it won't be an immediate problem....but like in all things, "should" is defined as "ought to be not necessarily will be"...

[DoubleJ]

Say I have 2 bear tags and an elk tag to fill.  I shoot a bear early in the morning.  It's the last day of elk so, I want to stay in the woods all day.  How do I care for the bear meat then?  I'll be at about 500ft elevation

P.s.  There's a small cool creek nearby.  Can I put the bear meat in a game bag and throw it in the creek and let the water keep it cool all day?