Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: KFhunter on September 09, 2018, 01:52:10 PM

Title: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: KFhunter on September 09, 2018, 01:52:10 PM: wondering if they're edible?

I know of a 1 acre shallow pond (actually several) completely loaded with cattails, there's 3-4 bear in it and they've mowed it flat.
I know they pull them up and eat the rhizomes, but this is way beyond what I normally see, even for this pond.

Don't want to shoot one out of it if they taste bad having eaten so much of it?

:dunno:
Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: headshot5 on September 09, 2018, 02:04:52 PM: Kill one. Save some fawns. No guarantee on the taste... of course it's got to be better than a fish or carrion bear. :tup:
Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: Cylvertip on September 09, 2018, 02:12:19 PM: Cattails are edible and taste similar to cucumber. Bet one from there would be decent.
Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: KFhunter on September 09, 2018, 03:40:03 PM: ~~Well this is a gimme bear. meh, not too excited about them.~~ No bear is a "gimme bear" smack talking aside..I'm warming up to hunting these swamp bears.

Couple years ago I seen a monster way up high almost alpine eating huckleberries. I didn't shoot it because I was 100% focused on elk :bash: :bash:
So tempted to go back to that area just for bears, they were eating so many berries the scat looked like huckleberry jelly and was running purple juice out from the sides. I almost wanted to spread it on some toast, or put a dollop in my ice cream!

kicking myself since, especially when I didn't get an elk :chuckle:

For these swamp bears I might go for it, at least then I can focus on Elk legit in a couple days when I backpack in.

When I walked in a couple days ago a bear roared at me, I got too close to the swamp and a wind change brought my scent right to it about 40 feet away. *splash* *splash* roar roar crash crash :chuckle:

one of them for sure is a fatty, I'll post a couple pics
Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: KFhunter on September 09, 2018, 03:49:17 PM: Got a little salt pile 1/4 mile from that pond to see elk, deer but was surprised to see so many different bears. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180909/8a75e8897bb51f3013db6a922e6f8661.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180909/0fa2bf51cd483ffb0a4823d5d401e2ea.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180909/582cd10f448ea7a815d68e9769b67726.jpg)

That's just half of them, got Cubs too.
Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: L8NITE on September 09, 2018, 04:15:20 PM: Quite a few years ago I killed a nice blackie that had been living in the swamps and eating cattails and the meat was good...not as sweet as the ones I have taken in berry patches but but was definitely edible!
Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: WSU on September 09, 2018, 05:23:51 PM: If you don’t want to shoot it, I’m sure you could find a kid/new hunter or 10 that would be pumped to shoot one.
Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: emac on September 09, 2018, 06:44:52 PM: Shoot one make it all in to pepper or summer sausage

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Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: SilkOnTheDrySide on September 09, 2018, 06:48:28 PM: KF-That is a really nice bear. Are the first and second the same beat? Second looks more muscular, but could be the light.

He’s a TANK.

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Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: Jonathan_S on September 09, 2018, 06:57:35 PM: Cattails are mild enough that people eat them. Kill one and bring a friend
Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: jasnt on September 09, 2018, 07:03:58 PM: I’d go with ya. Need to get my daughter on a bear. Cattail is good. I’m sure the bear are too
Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: jackelope on September 09, 2018, 07:56:21 PM: Aren’t you the guy always preaching about killing more predators?
:chuckle:
Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: hunter399 on September 09, 2018, 08:04:23 PM: I say shoot it ,missed opportunity might not happen later in the season.

I seen you said something about elk huntin.
Seen a pic at work of a guy who just got a nice bull up by your neck of the woods.
Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: KFhunter on September 10, 2018, 08:38:20 AM: 2 hours I waited for this bear to get up and give me a shot, turns out it's a big one. Didn't connect, it got my wind and blew out. I was walking and stalking. (https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180910/a2101fdf8a468f9ceb9388649de92336.jpg)

(It sure felt like 2 hours lol, should have brought a rifle but I wanted to get the realm x blooded)

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Title: Re: cattail swamp bear?
Post by: jasnt on September 10, 2018, 10:28:35 AM: Good luck next hunt bud