Hunting Washington Forum
Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: GrampasGuns on May 29, 2016, 10:39:59 AM
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I have never hunted bear before, but love watching these threads. I was curious what the main draw of a spring bear tag is. I know it adds a hunting opportunity in that God aweful stretch between turkey and deer. But I am also curious,is there a major difference in the flavor of their meat between spring and fall seasons due to changing diet? I see bear fairly regularly while running my dogs on grouse and I'd like to go after one next spring if I can pull a tag
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Spring bear for their winter coat before being rubbed, meat not the greatest.
Fall bear for their meat after eating tons berries. Coat not the greatest.
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I can't speak with any authority because I've not eaten enough bears, but my buddy killed a huge old boar this week and the meat is awesome. The flavor is indistinguishable from beef, but with a little more chew to it. We're thinking it will improve after a couple weeks frozen.
Makes sense that they would taste like grass-fed beef, since they're just walking around hoovering up grass all spring.
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I have killed spring and fall bears, and I really haven't noticed a difference in the taste, but I usually get pep sticks and breakfast sausage made of them anyway. But that's just me. Otherwise, early spring hides are awesome before being rubbed like 92x was saying, late fall hides are money too....
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If you want a bear for the meat then try and crack one around 100pounds, those are the best eating wise.
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Just don't eat a nasty fish eating bear.
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I have killed and ate both. I think the spring bears are far better eating. The falls bears seem to be more greasy and have a strong taste to them. I have tried to eat them with normal hamburger and steaks but cant seem to do it. They always get turned into summer sausage and pep. Now the spring bears have been great mild in flavor and cooked with some good garlic are very good. Diet has to do a lot with the taste just like deer. I have ate deer out of sage country and they stronger and gamey compared to acorn feed/hay fed deer. I think it's because of the lack of fat after coming out of hibernation that makes the springer better eating.
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The main draw for me for spring bear is that there is not much else to hunt I. The spring
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I was in Kapowsin yesterday, non huntable Bridge Gate side, and noticed a couple of bear piles loaded with salmon berries. Many piles just grass and wood. Early berries this year might make a nice difference!
No bear permit this year for me.
