What do you do with bear meat?

[ksberry209]

I have never wanted to bear hunt but have been told countless times by DFG guys in the field that if I value deer hunting I need to start harvesting bears. I’m a back country hunter so I’m not chasing trash / camp ground bears. I’m on the fence about getting a bear tag tomorrow before I head out for the D3-5 opener. I always see bears when hunting.

So if I do get a tag and I’m pretty confident I will see a bear where do I take it to process it around the Sacramento or Placerville area? I figure a lot of sausage and maybe a roast or 2. I know cook it well done!!! How do CA black bears taste?

 

[Planetcat]

Do it! First of all, harvesting a bear is an adrenaline rush and they are amazing animals. But overpopulated in some areas of the state due to use of dogs being prohibited a few years back, so they need to be thinned.
Secondly, there are a lot of recipes available on the internet. Like most critters, size, gender, and diet dictate how the meat tastes. I’m in El Dorado County and there are a couple butchers I’d talk to about meat cuts and sausage blends. I’ve eaten a lot of black bear sausage from upper northern California from different butchers with different recipes. All tasty and very high in protein. Give it a try. If it’s not for you, then you’ll know.

 

[ksberry209]

Thanks. The other part of this is I will be walking back at least 5 miles and not sure I want to deal with carrying out 200 pound bear (yea I know wishful thinking and all) compared to maybe a 70# deer on my back.

 

[JPHunt44]

The beats I hunt are usually on berries or acorns and taste great. I process myself and usually do ground for tacos and roast in the slow cooker. I treat it like beef but just cook it to higher internal temp.

 

[Planetcat]

Thanks. The other part of this is I will be walking back at least 5 miles and not sure I want to deal with carrying out 200 pound bear (yea I know wishful thinking and all) compared to maybe a 70# deer on my back.

Don’t shoot a behemoth. Lol. In all seriousness, shoot a nice 200 lb or less, keep the head and quarter it or bone it out. Hide, guts and bones will be 75% of the weight.

 

[JohnCo]

Don't you have to pack out the head and hide as well as meat?

 

[JohnCo]

"RETENTION OF BEAR SKIN AND EARS REQUIREMENT Pursuant to Fish and Game Code Section 4757, any person taking any bear must retain in their possession the skin and portion of the head bearing the ears during the open season thereon, and for 15 days thereafter. The skin and the portion of the head must be produced upon the demand of any authorized CDFW staff/officer. "