Post by: Johnb317 on August 21, 2013, 07:43:51 PM
a. they are spooking the elk
b. we may run right into one or two.
My hunting partner says they are a pain to skin and butcher and not interested in the meat (I've never hunted bear). He wants me to ask if anyone would be interested in a gutted carcass if need be. (Raymond wa area)
I'm wondering if his assertion about cleaning and butchering is true. How long could it take to butcher out a bear, throw him in the cooler and get back to elk hunting, and aren't they pretty good this time of year? Bear burgers?
I want to be clear before anyone gets their shorts in a bunch, I feel ethically bound to never let an animal go to waste, as well as we follow the laws very carefully. He just wants to know if anyone would want the meat.
Thanks
Post by: syoungs on August 21, 2013, 07:45:33 PM
Post by: billythekidrock on August 21, 2013, 07:47:29 PM
Not very hard to skin or process. Just cool quickly and remove all the fat just like you would any wild critter and it will be fine.
Post by: bendotti on August 21, 2013, 07:50:54 PM
Post by: nwwanderer on August 21, 2013, 08:00:45 PM
Post by: syoungs on August 21, 2013, 08:13:48 PM
How long of a window do you have with bear meat before you start to notice degraded meat quality?
Post by: Ridgeratt on August 21, 2013, 08:14:21 PM
Then get it cooled down, and the fat off it. That will spoil the meat faster than anything.
If you not sure what to do. Quick is to have the hams smoked, save the ribs and chops, grind the rest in to sausage.
Depending on the sex and the age of the bear will also determine the flavor and taste!!
Post by: syoungs on August 21, 2013, 09:58:47 PM
sure is nice having an industrial grinder, walk in cooler and smoker at my disposal :tup:
Post by: ICEMAN on August 21, 2013, 10:06:53 PM
Bear fat is highly valued by pastry chefs as the best lard for light pastry dishes.
Post by: AdnaHunter on August 22, 2013, 11:15:36 AM
Post by: LITTLEBUCK on August 22, 2013, 12:15:09 PM
Post by: Fl0und3rz on August 22, 2013, 12:18:02 PM
I want to be clear before anyone gets their shorts in a bunch . . . .
Good call.
Post by: JohnVH on August 22, 2013, 07:21:11 PM
Post by: Bowslayer on August 23, 2013, 03:33:28 PM
Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.
JMEO
Post by: ICEMAN on August 23, 2013, 05:31:55 PM
I've had excellent bear meat and it-was-so-bad-you-want-to-become-vegan bear meat. The difference? Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder. There are scent glands behind the animal’s hind legs you've got to handle right, you've got to remove of all the fat, and then try and skin it without getting hair all over the meat (this is tricky and why many hunters in the south burn the hair off like a hog).
Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.
JMEO
Not calling you out, but... You wont bother butchering bear? This mean you will not hunt them or?
New interesting queestion, would leaving the meat in the woods be considered waste of wildlife? Should it?
Post by: h20hunter on August 23, 2013, 05:33:51 PM
Post by: Austrian Hunter on August 23, 2013, 05:34:35 PM
I've had excellent bear meat and it-was-so-bad-you-want-to-become-vegan bear meat. The difference? Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder. There are scent glands behind the animal’s hind legs you've got to handle right, you've got to remove of all the fat, and then try and skin it without getting hair all over the meat (this is tricky and why many hunters in the south burn the hair off like a hog).
Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.
JMEO
Not calling you out, but... You wont bother butchering bear? This mean you will not hunt them or?
New interesting queestion, would leaving the meat in the woods be considered waste of wildlife? Should it?
:yeah: :bdid: I think this is considered waste of wildlife leaving any bear meat behind!
Post by: ICEMAN on August 23, 2013, 05:37:49 PM
I've had excellent bear meat and it-was-so-bad-you-want-to-become-vegan bear meat. The difference? Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder. There are scent glands behind the animal’s hind legs you've got to handle right, you've got to remove of all the fat, and then try and skin it without getting hair all over the meat (this is tricky and why many hunters in the south burn the hair off like a hog).
Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.
JMEO
Not calling you out, but... You wont bother butchering bear? This mean you will not hunt them or?
New interesting queestion, would leaving the meat in the woods be considered waste of wildlife? Should it?
:yeah: :bdid: I think this is considered waste of wildlife leaving any bear meat behind!
OK, so how about a Cougar. Bobcat? How is it decided what meat you have to consume? (Just playing Donahue here...)
Post by: Jonathan_S on August 23, 2013, 05:42:03 PM
Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder.
Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.
JMEO
:cryriver: So you love to butcher wild game just not bear? What does it take to properly butcher a bear, 2-3 hours for anyone with a clue and a sharp knife? Maybe another 1-2 hours to trim fat? I wouldn't call it tricky, just a little more time.
Post by: Austrian Hunter on August 23, 2013, 05:42:30 PM
I've had excellent bear meat and it-was-so-bad-you-want-to-become-vegan bear meat. The difference? Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder. There are scent glands behind the animal’s hind legs you've got to handle right, you've got to remove of all the fat, and then try and skin it without getting hair all over the meat (this is tricky and why many hunters in the south burn the hair off like a hog).
Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.
JMEO
Not calling you out, but... You wont bother butchering bear? This mean you will not hunt them or?
New interesting queestion, would leaving the meat in the woods be considered waste of wildlife? Should it?
:yeah: :bdid: I think this is considered waste of wildlife leaving any bear meat behind!
OK, so how about a Cougar. Bobcat? How is it decided what meat you have to consume? (Just playing Donahue here...)
I had Cougar, loved it!!! Some of the best I ever had :drool: in the wild game department. Never had Bobcat but I would try. :dunno:
Post by: billythekidrock on August 23, 2013, 07:38:17 PM
Dressing out the bear is not like a deer...it's harder.
Personally, I love to butcher wild game but won't bother with bear.
JMEO
:cryriver: So you love to butcher wild game just not bear? What does it take to properly butcher a bear, 2-3 hours for anyone with a clue and a sharp knife? Maybe another 1-2 hours to trim fat? I wouldn't call it tricky, just a little more time.
I agree. Nothing tricky to processing a bear. There is no need to make it out to be a scary thing. Cool and butcher quickly and you will have quality meat.
Post by: JohnVH on August 23, 2013, 08:17:23 PM
Post by: Bowslayer on August 24, 2013, 09:24:55 AM
The original question was from a someone that had never cleaned a bear. My first time, I had and would want guidance or at least ample instruction, because unlike a deer, I personally find bear more tricky (not scary) for reasons stated. It's great to see that so many of the hunters on this forum are pros with such things.
Someone kinda asked if I hunt bear but waste the meat. If I hunt bear, I harvest the meat or donate it.
Post by: LITTLEBUCK on August 24, 2013, 09:48:48 AM
Post by: TheFewTheProud on August 24, 2013, 10:27:11 AM
Post by: Jonathan_S on August 24, 2013, 10:51:35 AM
Bear meat breakfast sausage is by far the best.
It's spooky how good it is. I made 120 4 oz patties of bear breakfast sausage in 2010 and I'm still convinced someone stole it with how fast it was gone.
Post by: Smossy on August 24, 2013, 11:20:53 AM
Post by: Guy on August 24, 2013, 04:42:40 PM
Just asking.
Guy
Post by: bowhunterforever on August 24, 2013, 04:50:58 PM
Isn't it true that WDFW views the bear as a predator, and hunters are not required to take the meat?:yeah: Good question
Just asking.
Guy
Post by: Jonathan_S on August 24, 2013, 05:54:14 PM
Isn't it true that WDFW views the bear as a predator, and hunters are not required to take the meat?
Just asking.
Guy
Why would you consider it when there are 1,000s of people on this site who'd take the meat and feed themselves for months with it?
They're a game animal right? I can't tell you for certain because I'd never leave a bear so I'm not overly concerned with knowing. :twocents:
Post by: snowpack on August 24, 2013, 06:06:43 PM
Isn't it true that WDFW views the bear as a predator, and hunters are not required to take the meat?I think I heard before because it requires a tag, the meat would fall under the same wastage as deer/elk. Things that don't need a tag like coons, coyotes and bobcats can be left. It is a good question I'd like to know too. Especially if in the future wolves require a tag....I wouldn't want to touch a wolf much less eat it...just treat like a yote.
Just asking.
Guy
Post by: bowhunterforever on August 24, 2013, 06:10:29 PM
Post by: Alphamax on August 24, 2013, 10:38:04 PM
Post by: Turner89 on August 24, 2013, 11:09:55 PM
weird, weve done a few, nothing harder than any other animal to us.:yeah:
The first bear I shot was eating, and rolling in spawned out humpies :puke: :puke: The meaat was aweful. I figured that would be the last bear I ever shot.
A couple years later a friend of mine shot a bear that had been feeding on berries, and no where near fish. I cut a steak off it to see if there was a difference, and couldn't believe how good it was.
My son and I both shot bears this last spring, and usually have some for dinner at least once a week. We have to make room for a couple more bears, and deer. I just made steaks out of both of them :drool:
Post by: snowpack on August 24, 2013, 11:12:39 PM
http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/83/What+is+the+definition+of+%22wastage%2C%22+and+when+does+it+apply%3F (http://wdfw.wa.gov/help/questions/83/What+is+the+definition+of+%22wastage%2C%22+and+when+does+it+apply%3F)
Quote
What is the definition of "wastage," and when does it apply?But the RCW appears to be written for big game or animals worth more than $250 (however that was determined?).
•You may not allow game animals or game birds you have taken to recklessly be wasted.
•You must make a reasonable attempt to remove and use all edible meat from the carcass of harvested game fish, game birds, and game animals.
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.170 (http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.170)
Quote
(1) A person is guilty of waste of fish and wildlife if:I agree it sounds like it applies to bears.
(a) The person kills, takes, or possesses fish, shellfish, or wildlife having a value of two hundred fifty dollars or more or wildlife classified as big game; and
(b) The person recklessly allows such fish, shellfish, or wildlife to be wasted.
Post by: Smossy on August 25, 2013, 08:14:11 AM
Post by: justaguy on August 26, 2013, 08:21:19 AM
Post by: Broken Arrow on August 26, 2013, 08:47:11 AM
Post by: Jonathan_S on August 26, 2013, 10:29:34 AM
heck BBQ marinated crow breast are even good.
Hmm. I haven't tried this but I can't imagine even trying. Brave man