collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: Springer or fall bear, which is better?  (Read 3139 times)

Offline jmscon

  • Forum Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+7)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2015
  • Posts: 1197
  • Location: Seattle
  • RMEF BHA TRCP
Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« 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.
My interpretation of the rules are open to interpretation.
Once I thought I was wrong but I was mistaken.

Offline bowhunterforever

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2008
  • Posts: 8540
  • Location: Lincoln, Co
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #1 on: May 08, 2017, 07:43:12 PM »
Tag
You sure you know how to skin griz pilgram

Offline Oh Mah

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+12)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 6614
  • Location: region 3 Montana
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #2 on: May 08, 2017, 08:39:08 PM »
Fur def. fall.Meat prob. not much diff. but leaner in the spring.
"Boss of the woods"
(this is in reference to the biggie not me).

Offline JakeLand

  • WA State Trappers Association
  • Trade Count: (+27)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Oct 2011
  • Posts: 4105
  • Location: Wet side
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #3 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

Offline Tbar

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+26)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 2889
  • Location: Whatcom county
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #4 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.

Offline kodiak 907

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Feb 2013
  • Posts: 1200
  • Location: Skagit Valley
  • Groups: U.S. Navy/Combat Recon, NRA, DU
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #5 on: May 08, 2017, 10:27:42 PM »
Fall bear, up high for the best taste.
Spider 2 Y banana

Offline fillthefreezer

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Aug 2011
  • Posts: 1486
  • Location: tacoma
  • @adventure_sd
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #6 on: May 08, 2017, 10:30:23 PM »
You guys commenting, have you eaten many spring bears? How bout handled their hides? 🙄


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Offline Oh Mah

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+12)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 6614
  • Location: region 3 Montana
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #7 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.
"Boss of the woods"
(this is in reference to the biggie not me).

Offline huntnnw

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: May 2010
  • Posts: 9254
  • Location: Spokane
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #8 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

Offline Tbar

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+26)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2011
  • Posts: 2889
  • Location: Whatcom county
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2017, 11:19:49 PM »
You guys commenting, have you eaten many spring bears? How bout handled their hides? 🙄


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Yes,  if it was directed at me. Only western Washington though.

Offline Oh Mah

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (+12)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Oct 2015
  • Posts: 6614
  • Location: region 3 Montana
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #10 on: May 08, 2017, 11:21:00 PM »
I guess it would mostly depend on where your hunting in both cases.
"Boss of the woods"
(this is in reference to the biggie not me).

Offline ghosthunter

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+19)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 7155
  • Location: Mount Vernon WA
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #11 on: May 09, 2017, 07:15:47 AM »
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:
GHOST CAMP "We Came To Hunt"
Proud Parent of A United States Marine

We are all traveling from Birth to the Packing House. ( Broken Trail)

“I f he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Offline MooseZ25

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Dec 2013
  • Posts: 240
  • Location: Colville
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #12 on: May 09, 2017, 07:23:46 AM »
I sure like to handle spring bears better, less fat to deal with.
Live Every Day To The Fullest

Offline ghosthunter

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+19)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2011
  • Posts: 7155
  • Location: Mount Vernon WA
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #13 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:
GHOST CAMP "We Came To Hunt"
Proud Parent of A United States Marine

We are all traveling from Birth to the Packing House. ( Broken Trail)

“I f he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” ― Theodore Roosevelt

Offline gaddy

  • Non-Hunting Topics
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 2920
Re: Springer or fall bear, which is better?
« Reply #14 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 ?

 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Springer Fishing Opportunity 3/29 & 3/30 by Blacklab
[Today at 12:48:56 PM]


Long Beach Clamming Tides by dilleytech
[Today at 12:39:19 PM]


Let’s see your best Washington buck by abhold87
[Today at 12:03:27 PM]


Bearpaw Season - Spring 2024 by bearpaw
[Today at 11:45:41 AM]


Walked a cougar down by Rainier10
[Today at 11:17:49 AM]


SB 5444 signed by Inslee on 03/26 Takes Effect on 06/06/24 by hughjorgan
[Today at 09:03:26 AM]


Springer 2024 Columbia River by WSU
[Today at 08:31:10 AM]


Average by lhrbull
[Today at 07:31:56 AM]


CVA optima V2 LR tapped hole for front sight by Remdawg
[Today at 07:09:22 AM]


Which 12” boat trailer tires? by timberhunter
[Yesterday at 08:22:18 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2024, SimplePortal