Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: jmscon on May 08, 2017, 07:37:38 PM

Title: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: jmscon on May 08, 2017, 07:37:38 PM: Which is generally better? Fur, meat, etc.?

Is spring bear more of a quality hunt or preferred because it's the first big game hunting of the year? Is the meat better? Fur better?

Fall bear eating berries better?

Just tying to figure it out, thinking of getting into it in the next year or two.
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: bowhunterforever on May 08, 2017, 07:43:12 PM: Tag
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: Oh Mah on May 08, 2017, 08:39:08 PM: Fur def. fall.Meat prob. not much diff. but leaner in the spring.
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: JakeLand on May 08, 2017, 09:33:53 PM: I say a fall bear up high or in the berries! But if you get one that has been eating salmon or garbage some of the worse table fair
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: Tbar on May 08, 2017, 09:57:40 PM: The fur is way better on spring bears as long as they haven't started rubbing. Early spring bears have their full winter coat. The spring meat is mild, berry bears are a little more flavorful.
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: kodiak 907 on May 08, 2017, 10:27:42 PM: Fall bear, up high for the best taste.
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: fillthefreezer on May 08, 2017, 10:30:23 PM: You guys commenting, have you eaten many spring bears? How bout handled their hides? 🙄

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Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: Oh Mah on May 08, 2017, 10:59:39 PM: yep and yep,my spring bear hide was a bald spot knarled mess.my fall bear was heavier and had a beautiful brown coat.Didn't notice any diff. in taste over here not much for salmon where i hunt just berries.
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: huntnnw on May 08, 2017, 11:02:44 PM: A spring bear that hasn't rubbed by far has a better hide than fall! Handled 40 or so fall bears and none have the length of hair a spring does. Fall bear will be better eating if it's gorging on berries, apples, pears and nuts versus a spring bear that's eating grass , skunk cabbage, calves and fawns
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: Tbar on May 08, 2017, 11:19:49 PM: Quote from: fillthefreezer on May 08, 2017, 10:30:23 PM
You guys commenting, have you eaten many spring bears? How bout handled their hides? 🙄

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Yes, if it was directed at me. Only western Washington though.
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: Oh Mah on May 08, 2017, 11:21:00 PM: I guess it would mostly depend on where your hunting in both cases.
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: ghosthunter on May 09, 2017, 07:15:47 AM: Quote from: Tbar on May 08, 2017, 09:57:40 PM
The fur is way better on spring bears as long as they haven't started rubbing. Early spring bears have their full winter coat. The spring meat is mild, berry bears are a little more flavorful.

Based on my recent experience with one bear, this is spot on. :tup:
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: MooseZ25 on May 09, 2017, 07:23:46 AM: I sure like to handle spring bears better, less fat to deal with.
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: ghosthunter on May 09, 2017, 07:30:46 AM: I would wager there is a lot in play to answer the op question.

Weather has a lot to do with it. The two spring bears just taken in Skagit both had nice hides and coats. Next spring could be different.

Also I am a firm believer that the work for how the meat tastes starts after the shot. The bear or any animal did their part, but many hunters fail in doing their part. How fast you get animals skinned, cooled and handled all play a part in what it tastes like on the table.

For years I have stuffed my animals with block or bags of ice when transporting. I work very hard at keeping it clean ,cool.

I know a guy who drove back from Wyoming with two deer thrown in the back of his truck by the quads with the skins still on and no means of cooling.

Recently talking to the Game guy who pulled my bears tooth , he said something that stuck with me. " Bears are individuals, done of them are the same "

There is some truth to that I think.

:twocents:
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: gaddy on May 09, 2017, 07:46:22 AM: I don't have any experience with spring bears, or many fall bears for that matter. I was told years ago by an avid bear hunter that the spring bears meat was full of toxins after hibernating, that the meat was tainted. That it took a while of good eating to flush their systems and get their muscles (meat) back to prime condition. One of the reasons I have never targeted spring bears. Was he wrong ?
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: Tbar on May 09, 2017, 08:29:05 AM: Quote from: MooseZ25 on May 09, 2017, 07:23:46 AM
I sure like to handle spring bears better, less fat to deal with.
I avoid fall bears because I'm not a fan of all the grease/ fat.
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on May 09, 2017, 08:51:48 AM: Quote from: gaddy on May 09, 2017, 07:46:22 AM
I don't have any experience with spring bears, or many fall bears for that matter. I was told years ago by an avid bear hunter that the spring bears meat was full of toxins after hibernating, that the meat was tainted. That it took a while of good eating to flush their systems and get their muscles (meat) back to prime condition. One of the reasons I have never targeted spring bears. Was he wrong ?

Total BS.

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Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: fillthefreezer on May 09, 2017, 09:07:43 AM: Quote from: Tbar on May 08, 2017, 11:19:49 PM
Quote from: fillthefreezer on May 08, 2017, 10:30:23 PM
You guys commenting, have you eaten many spring bears? How bout handled their hides? 🙄

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Yes, if it was directed at me. Only western Washington though.
not you tbar, we are of the same thinking here.

i have never seen 5in long hair on a fall bear
Title: Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
Post by: Machias on May 09, 2017, 10:58:10 AM: My spring bears have had some fantastic coats as well as much longer claws, if you get them shortly after they come out of the den. Fall bears particularly up high in late Sep or early Oct have some beautiful hides, but not nearly as thick. I did shoot one spring bear that was rubbed pretty good behind the front shoulder, but I was making a shoulder mount and he had fantastic hair for that. I think they taste similar no matter spring or fall. I think what matters more is what they were doing prior to and shortly after the shot. Relaxed bears and bear meat that is cooled quickly taste great.