Bear Meat

[sagemd]

You guys got it all wrong.
Making bear into peperoni or sausage is a waste of good meat.
Bear ham is better than pork.
Roasts are great and burger is good.
Back straps are small but great.
I have eaten all of the seven I harvested.

[yakimanoob]

I've had a few roasts, some stew meat, and ground meat in chili and spaghetti from my first bear we got on the high hunt this year.

I'm sure sausage and cured meats are great but don't miss out on the regular preparations.  Bear meat is fantastic, all around. 

As for the rotten spike carcass - I doubt any single meal, no matter how funky, would affect the meat.  Just like us, it's the habits, not the single meals, that matter most. 

Congrats! 

[yakimanoob]

Also yes, always have your radar up for trichinosis.  There does not seem to be good science around whether the parasites will die in a deep freezer, so IMHO you should always cook the meat to a safe temp. 

 

[callturner]

  Seems that it takes several months at a low temp. Most all bears carry it. just cook it and your safe. I love the roasts and steaks . Only the trimmings go to sausage, And bear makes the best chicken fried steak without a doubt!!!

[huntnnw]

sausage all of mine, not a fan of hams,steaks and roasts. had many no thanks

[CaNINE]

Bear is some of the finest slow braised roast meat I've ever prepared.  It also makes for very nice pastrami.   

[Pathfinder101]

Here's what Little Pathfinder's bear looked like when we visited him this morning...

[Axle]

MMMMMM bear tacos! 

[dmoua]

Bear street tacos are my favorite.

[444Marlin]

I like smaller bears early in the season that have been feeding on a berry diet.  I do straight burger grind and steaks.  My kids love it.

Older bears and those that have been feeding on dead animals is not so good.  I had a big 7 foot black bear a number of years ago that was very tough to get through.  Metallic taste.

I've been using my su vide to cook the bear steaks at 145 for 2-3 hours and then pan sear.  It's the only way to safely eat medium rare bear steaks.  Hank Shaw writes about it, and I haven't had trich yet.

[idaho guy]

We turn all of our bears into German sausages. I have tried bear most ways. I think it’s all ok to pretty good but it’s the best meat for german sausage hands down.

[Pathfinder101]

We turn all of our bears into German sausages. I have tried bear most ways. I think it’s all ok to pretty good but it’s the best meat for german sausage hands down.

Do you do your own, or have them done by someone?

[Slamadoo]

Thanks for all the info. I have a hind quarter thawing right now. Gonna go in a brine and then smoked ham. Plan on some summer sausage and burger with the rest. Maybe a roast or two. Depending on how this ham turns out, I might save the other hind quarter for another ham as well.

[idaho guy]

We turn all of our bears into German sausages. I have tried bear most ways. I think it’s all ok to pretty good but it’s the best meat for german sausage hands down.

Do you do your own, or have them done by someone?

 

I have them done by a guy lives near me

[Angry Perch]

Thanks for all the info. I have a hind quarter thawing right now. Gonna go in a brine and then smoked ham. Plan on some summer sausage and burger with the rest. Maybe a roast or two. Depending on how this ham turns out, I might save the other hind quarter for another ham as well.

Please follow up on how the ham goes, with pics, of course. I did a ham and it was money!