Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bear Hunting => Topic started by: dblakney on September 14, 2010, 09:52:35 PM

Title: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: dblakney on September 14, 2010, 09:52:35 PM: Anyone know what is different when it comes to field dressing a man eater as apposed to dear or elk... Hitting Pasayten next week and I am considering a Bear tag. Never hunted them before and there is not much youtubage regarding field dressing black bears. Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: Kain on September 14, 2010, 10:20:08 PM: http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,49969.0.html (http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,49969.0.html)
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 14, 2010, 10:52:13 PM: Thanks Kain! :)

If it is hot ot side Bear Fat can and will go rancid pretty quick. You will want to get it skinned out and cooled down pretty quick.
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: dblakney on September 14, 2010, 10:54:56 PM: That rocks fellas! Thanks. Nice detail on the skinning ect. Perfect!
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: dblakney on September 14, 2010, 11:01:07 PM: I assume that I should treat the meat the same way I would a deer/elk. keep it clean and get it to processing ASAP. Are the best cuts on the hind legs? From the pics I have viewed it looks like those would be the obvious portions of meat to get chops ect. Not sure if a bear has back straps.. Ha ha! :)
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: Billy on September 15, 2010, 12:28:36 AM: It's just like skinning a human...................Bahahahahahahaha, just kidding :chuckle: :tung: :chuckle: :sry:.....No, really it is.
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 15, 2010, 02:22:17 AM: Pretty much dblakney. Just kep in mind about the fat going rancid. It will turn faster than a deer or elks will. Plus the majority of hides on a Bear are Black. Black absorbs heat. Get that hide off and get the meat cool.
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: chongo469 on September 15, 2010, 09:02:29 AM: So how long before it starts to spoil in say 50-60 degree weather?.......Are we talking 1 hour or a couple of hours or several hours?........
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 15, 2010, 10:21:39 AM: I am not sure I have never had one do it. BTKR would be the one to ask about that as he has delt with more Bears in the field. i will send him a link to this thread.
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: dblakney on September 15, 2010, 01:36:07 PM: Sounds like you really have to move on a back country bear to get it cool and out! All part of the challenge! Looking forward to what BTKR has to say.
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: billythekidrock on September 15, 2010, 04:49:43 PM: Everything starts to spoil the second it dies. :dunno: :chuckle:
You will have several hours, but you still need to take care while gutting and skinning to keep bacterial growth at a minimum.

There are way too many variables to give precise times but with proper care you will be fine at this time of year.
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on September 15, 2010, 04:57:14 PM: Quote from: billythekidrock on September 15, 2010, 04:49:43 PM
Everything starts to spoil the second it dies. :dunno: :chuckle:

Smart @ss!
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: hunterheinz on September 15, 2010, 10:36:12 PM: I shot a bear years ago at last light in late August and had to recover it at first light the next morning. Day temps were low 90's, night temps maybe low 70's. I field dressed immediately and had about a 1 hour pack out with two buddies. Drove an hour home skinned and took meat to the butcher and meat was fine. No discoloration & no foul smell-other than the regular bear fat smell(which I kinda like lol). Made excellent Summer Sausage and Pepper Sticks. Even had the Hide tanned. Not to say this is a good idea but just to give an example. I try to get the animal field dressed immediately and get the hide off ASAP and into the freezer.
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: one-eyed Ross on September 16, 2010, 07:03:40 AM: Up in the high country, it should be cool enough that it won't be an immediate problem....but like in all things, "should" is defined as "ought to be not necessarily will be"...
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: DoubleJ on September 16, 2010, 09:54:24 AM: Say I have 2 bear tags and an elk tag to fill. I shoot a bear early in the morning. It's the last day of elk so, I want to stay in the woods all day. How do I care for the bear meat then? I'll be at about 500ft elevation

P.s. There's a small cool creek nearby. Can I put the bear meat in a game bag and throw it in the creek and let the water keep it cool all day?
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: DoubleJ on September 16, 2010, 12:57:49 PM: Anybody?
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: billythekidrock on September 16, 2010, 04:04:10 PM: Quote from: DoubleJ on September 16, 2010, 09:54:24 AM
Say I have 2 bear tags and an elk tag to fill. I shoot a bear early in the morning. It's the last day of elk so, I want to stay in the woods all day. How do I care for the bear meat then? I'll be at about 500ft elevation

P.s. There's a small cool creek nearby. Can I put the bear meat in a game bag and throw it in the creek and let the water keep it cool all day?

If you want to hunt elk then don't kill the bear. If you kill the bear then take the time to dress/process properly.
Title: Re: Bear Care... Not Care Bears...
Post by: DoubleJ on September 16, 2010, 05:37:12 PM: Quote from: billythekidrock on September 16, 2010, 04:04:10 PM
Quote from: DoubleJ on September 16, 2010, 09:54:24 AM
Say I have 2 bear tags and an elk tag to fill. I shoot a bear early in the morning. It's the last day of elk so, I want to stay in the woods all day. How do I care for the bear meat then? I'll be at about 500ft elevation

P.s. There's a small cool creek nearby. Can I put the bear meat in a game bag and throw it in the creek and let the water keep it cool all day?

If you want to hunt elk then don't kill the bear. If you kill the bear then take the time to dress/process properly.

Thank you