Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: Alchase on August 07, 2009, 12:11:10 PM

Title: Processing bear meat
Post by: Alchase on August 07, 2009, 12:11:10 PM: I wanted to hit you guys up on how you process your bear meat? I love bear sausage, but I have never killed my own bear "yet" mostly because I use to considered them incidental to deer or elk. Hopefully this season will change that.
Anyway, what do you guys prefer when processing/carving? And which cuts do you like the best? How much meat do you bring home after skinning and processing (average sized bear)?
Title: Re: Processing bear meat
Post by: h2ofowlr on August 07, 2009, 12:51:01 PM: I just do the norm like a deer. Cut back strap, quarters, etc. I usually freeze it first before I do anything, then cook it like pork to make sure you kill any bacteria.
Title: Re: Processing bear meat
Post by: LongTatLaw on August 07, 2009, 12:57:25 PM: I just carve it all myself except for sausage. I hate paying a processor for meat I killed! I just carve one inch steaks from almost everything but keep choice cuts like back straps and tenderloin marked as such. I use front shoulders and neck for roasts and/or crock pot meat...I barely do anything to them...just get em cut small enough to fit into a one gallon freezer bag!

Im sure someone could give a better guess but Id bet on losing half of the live weight by the time you remove guts, hide, head, feet, and major bones... :dunno:

I killed my bear that was probably just over 200lbs...I gave away a lot, ate a ton, and still had some left over to cook for the hunt-wa get together Jan 08.

poor 180 grain probably had to go buy a 2nd 15 cf freezer after those two pigs he just killed! WOW

good luck this season!

ps- bears cant be incidental in Aug brother ;)
Title: Re: Processing bear meat
Post by: Alchase on August 07, 2009, 02:03:53 PM: Thanks for the info guys, with luck my August will get allot tastier, lol
Title: Re: Processing bear meat
Post by: LongTatLaw on August 07, 2009, 02:20:53 PM: Just bring it on by the house in Lacey and Ill help ya chop it for a marginal fee...say...10 lbs!
Title: Re: Processing bear meat
Post by: Kain on August 07, 2009, 02:49:49 PM: Quote from: LongTatLaw on August 07, 2009, 02:20:53 PM
Just bring it on by the house in Lacey and Ill help ya chop it for a marginal fee...say...10 lbs!

THats a good deal. I hate butchering animals.
Title: Re: Processing bear meat
Post by: tlbradford on August 07, 2009, 03:05:05 PM: I get absolutely every bit of fat off that I can see. Then I leave everything as roast as much as possible, which is my favorite way to cook bear. If I want steak I'll thaw a roast and cut it into 3/4" steaks for the grill. I like a little thinner steak since there isn't much fat so it is hard to get the thick steaks cooked through without overdoing the outside of the meat.
Title: Re: Processing bear meat
Post by: LongTatLaw on August 07, 2009, 05:30:36 PM: tlbradford's fat removal approach is very popular...leave it all there and you have some fairly greasy meat...kinda like raccoon! ;)

however, to me if you remove it all... it affects flavor!

I keep a little layer of white!

Maybe try to do some meat with and some without!! one will be a clear favorite for you!!

Im not kidding on helping ya chop it up for a cut of the meat bro!

let me know!
Title: Re: Processing bear meat
Post by: Alchase on August 08, 2009, 08:11:03 PM: Thanks I appreciate the offer!
My son and I went up the Skokomish valley to Browns creek camp ground today on a scouting trip. We did not see any bears but we did see the biggest pile of bear crap I have ever seen, lol. And a couple of blacktail bucks (spike and two point), a doe and a song dog ran across the road in front of us. We did a little fishing in Spider lake and caught 5 little brookies that we returned. We will be going back later this week to camp and get serious about bears.
Title: Re: Processing bear meat
Post by: Crunchy on August 08, 2009, 09:05:05 PM: Hey Alchase,

That wasnt bear crap you saw, I was up there scouting as well, and ate some berriers that werent quite ripe.
Title: Re: Processing bear meat
Post by: PWN Kurt on August 08, 2009, 11:57:04 PM: breakfast sausage, teryaki sticks, and I'm trying some beer dogs and summer sausage. Last year I really liked the loins...slow cooker with BBQ sauce, and cooked on the grill.

ENJOY!

Kurt
Title: Re: Processing bear meat
Post by: Alchase on August 09, 2009, 03:19:49 PM: Quote from: Crunchy on August 08, 2009, 09:05:05 PM
Hey Alchase,

That wasnt bear crap you saw, I was up there scouting as well, and ate some berriers that werent quite ripe.

That must have put a hurt on you, lol
Title: Re: Processing bear meat
Post by: alanger on August 10, 2009, 12:40:42 PM: If i get one this year i am going for all sausage probably.