Why bear hunting?

[Dave in LB]

I am interested in bear hunting a litltle bit (and was very interested on my first deer hunt in Oct. 2002) I am not sure how the meat is. I have hear that it's similar to pork/ham(same family) but often that it's greasey and needs to be slow cooked or crock potted. I consider myself mainly a meat hunter thus far as I am just getting started and I have no strong desire to collect trophies, although I would love a bear skin rug, a bison hide and a Cape Buff rack. That being said, and I am sure there's a great challenge, what is the lure of bear hunting for you all?

 

[snoopdogg]

Dave,

Beyond the same enjoyment you get while hunting for deer, these guys are potentially dangerous. Especially hearing them and/or seeing them up close. A rush for sure.

Oh yeah, I like the meat too.

 

[Tom Petterson]

I shot a black bear this year and i was not impresed with the meat. It was not grease nor did it taste like pork. I thought that it was not gammy like deer or good like wild boar. I thought that it was more blan. If all you want is a bear rug I think there is one for sale on ebay and this site. I shot a bear in the fall and the fat on it was about 3'' thick on it. It was the gresest thing i have ever cleaned. I did not enjoy cleaning it or eating it. The hide is off being made into a rug and i will think twice befor shoting another bear.

My dad shot a brown bear in alska and the people in camp thought he was crazey for wanting to eat it. He brought some home and i ate it it tasted good with no game flavor at all. The way a bear tastes probaly has alot to do with what he is eating. I think that bear are fun to hunt but the next one I shot will be the big one at my cabin or a really neat hide or he will be chewing on my leg berfor I shot another bear.

That was the only two bears i have ever ate so ask more people what they think befor deciding wheater it is for you or not. I am not sure that black bears are all that dangerous most of the time when the realize what you are the run as fast as they can as far as they can. One thing two know is that bears are very nosiey when the walk around and sound like a big bull running through the brush. Good Luck

 

[Oregon Archer]

i havent had a lot of bear meat but the stuff i have had was great. the best thing to do with bear meat in my opinion is to have it made into summer sausage and pepperoni. or smoke it. these make great snacks while you are out hunting deer.

 

[marmot]

It depends a lot on what they have been eating. Personally, I've never gotten a bad tasting black bear. To me it tastes more like beef and ground hawg than anything else.

Forget the eBay rug thing, for some unknown reason they have outlawed all bear things. Really a dumb and baseless rule I think. Probably some bunny hugger on their Board of Directors.

 

[RIFLEMAN]

I love running bear with my dogs. It is an extremely exciting and challenging sport. Though I am content to just tree them and leave them to run another day, I have taken a few over the years.

I am by no means a discriminating eater, but I have never had a problem with the taste of bear meat. I have never encountered the reputed greasy quality of the meat. The worst tasting bear I ever ate was my first bear...but he was 19 years old according to Fish and Game!

The salami is wonderful, but I have enjoyed the chops, roasts and other cuts as well.

 

[Grizzledbastard]

Oh what incredible adventure it is.

Just the fact that you know you could come face to face with one any second is enough to run your blood and keep those legs moving, and arms grabbing - as you scale rock faces, slopes of timber, thick woods, and streams. What a blast!

And then, at night - you get out of the tent to go pee and strap your .45 with you just incase.

I hear, from my buddy that took me hunting - that it's VERY delicious, and all about how you care for it after the shot. The meat and hide can start spoiling as soon as ONE HOUR after the kill.

We didn't get one last week when we went out. A little too early, I reckon, though we did find some scat and track.

I'll be out after them this fall myself, but this time, here in CA.