Spring bear vs fall bear

[KFhunter]

Which is tastier? 
 
other than garbage bears, don't count them. 
 
 

[Fowlweather25]

They both suck! Haha I would go with fall bears cause they eat a ton of berries. If it makes a difference.

[KFhunter]

ya, I dunno was curious
 
I put my boy and myself in for spring bear - group deal.   Not much chance of getting drawn as we have no points.
 
 
 
anyways, decided I wanted to make some bear sausage and roasts perhaps.   

[Wazukie]

I prefer fall bear because of the diet of berries and such, much tastier.

[bearpaw]

I prefer fall bear because of the diet of berries and such, much tastier.

Regarding the meat I agree.

[carpsniperg2]

I have meat from about 12 different bears over my shot years. I shot my big spring bear last year and it was the best eating bear I have ever ate. I cant stand eating steaks off the falls bear! I always turn them into summer sausage and jerky. Glad I did not just dump it all in the grinder and tried the steaks first.

[bearpaw]

Maybe I just got into a couple bad tasting spring bear. 

I have seen bad tasting fall bear too, but I thought a higher perccentage of fall bear were good eating, maybe it's all just co-incidental to what each bear has been eating or doing before harvest. 

[carpsniperg2]

I really think you hit the nail on the head. I just think the spring bears ain't eating the nasty stuff yet. Unless they are in a area with skunk cabage

One of my friends use to bait bears back when it was legal. He use to use fish heads and guts and stuff. That bear meat was the nastiest worst smelling a tasting bear meat I have ever been around

[Wildsau]

I prefer the Fall Bear.  They have been eating nuts, berries, game, etc., and their fur is building up for the winter.  The Spring Bear, haven't eaten anything for months and when they come out of hibernation, they are bound to be less picky then in the fall.  Also, they have been rubbing the winter fur off and can look mangy (sp). 

No, those who love Spring Bear, knock your socks off, but for my money, I'm sticking with Fall Bear.

[boneaddict]

I agree with your observations Bearpaw and sounds like a sound theory to me wildsau.    If I decide to ever try with my max points, it will be for the hunt and jerky and sausage I guess. 

[bearpaw]

I prefer the Fall Bear.  They have been eating nuts, berries, game, etc., and their fur is building up for the winter.  The Spring Bear, haven't eaten anything for months and when they come out of hibernation, they are bound to be less picky then in the fall.  Also, they have been rubbing the winter fur off and can look mangy (sp). 

No, those who love Spring Bear, knock your socks off, but for my money, I'm sticking with Fall Bear.

The only thing I would add, the spring hide condition depends on what part of the state you are hunting, how early spring starts warming up, and the rubbing habits of each bear. Some of the best hides are taken in the spring, but if you live in a warmer region, or if you don't look over a bear before pulling the trigger, you could be disappointed.

[high country]

I shot my spring bear in my avtar on a day i was just scouting. I left my truck at home and took my 4runner. I was nervous as to how nasty the ride home was gonna be. That bear smelled like fresh cut grass and was as sweet as pie, and tender as filet mignon.

I will take any bear that does not eat fish or garbage.

[wazzu99]

My spring bear ate great and didn't have all the nasty fall fat on it to trim off

[BOWHUNTER45]

I like the fall .... high country blueberry fed bears plus if you wait until late September you will get some good meat plus a nice shinny hide   

[huntnnw]

doesnt matter,,because all of it is in sausage or jerky with heavy seasoning mixes...makes it hard to tell any difference