Outdoor Forums: Eating Bear meat

Author

Topic: Eating Bear meat

5x5buck
Active Member
Member # 9452

posted

We have a good population of bears in the Sierras just about 1.5 hours east of us. We camp and fish there all the time, but have only seen bears 3 times. Well, not bad when you're considering we're loud campers and not exactly sneaky when it comes to trout fishing the lakes. However, there is a lot sign (crap, clawing, tracks, etc) and the established campgrounds all have bear-proof containers and warning signs. I want to hunt bear, but what do I do if I get one? I'm getting mixed reactions regarding eating bear. But then, I also got the same reactions regarding hunting wild pig. So far I've killed 3 wild boars up to 300# but can't seem to keep them in my freezer long (so good tasting [Wink]

). So, here's the dilemna: do I hunt for bear with the hopes they taste good? or just don't bother at all? I don't want to hunt a bear for its head or to make a rug and just leave its carcass. Any thoughts from you hunters?

Posts: 1862 | From: Central California | IP: Logged

speedy
Active Member
Member # 5084

posted

they taste like chicken [Big Grin]

Posts: 6275 | From: oklahoma city | IP: Logged

turkn8r1
Active Member
Member # 14478

posted

Bear is quite tasty so don't worry about that and enjoy the hunt.

Posts: 468 | From: southern mississippi | IP: Logged

Nashwaak Joe
Active Member
Member # 14120

posted

CHICKEN!!!! [Eek!]

Maybe if if layed in a dumpster in direct sunlight downwind of a hog farm!! To each their own,everyone has their own taste but I personnally wouldn't eat anything that smells that bad. There are alot of different foods that are so called delicacies that I will not eat though. I have friends that eat it and think it is good as long as it is butchered properly and prepared well. Just make sure if you do try it that you don,t get any fat.

Posts: 256 | From: New Brunswick Canada | IP: Logged

nicholas bod
Active Member
Member # 14135

posted

Bear is quite tasty!Tricinosis is a problem(wild boar too) just don't shoot or eat bear that were feeding anywhere near a dump.Cook it like pork and you will be just fine.boiled shanks then deboned are a real tender treat,just like beef!!

Posts: 1504 | From: Southwestern Ontario Canada. | IP: Logged

Billy Bob
Active Member
Member # 8025

posted

I worked with a guy that ate dog (I think when he was in the Philippines) and said it was good. Of course I'm not going to try that either [Smile]

Posts: 3184 | From: Lancaster, NY | IP: Logged

Nashwaak Joe
Active Member
Member # 14120

posted

I had full intentions on trying it one night at camp a guy had a big round steak off a fall bear. MAN the SMELL that came off that!! the best way I can describe it was like a very wet shaggy dog someone rolled arround on top of the wood stove. Although in '98 my uncle and I got a large cow moose that was not good table fare at all either. It almost turned me against moose meat which is my favorite wild meat.

Posts: 256 | From: New Brunswick Canada | IP: Logged

Jayman
Active Member
Member # 2014

posted

Tasted same long time ago after a few Bacardis...wish I could remember what it tasted like... [Embarrassed]

Posts: 2992 | From: Alberta, Canada | IP: Logged

5x5buck
Active Member
Member # 9452

posted

When I shot my first boar (around 230#) about 6 years ago, I was told by a Vietnam Vet that the boars they ate over there was very nasty. Needless to say, when I got my boat back from the butcher, it stank up the house just cooking it. Funny, the wife and daughter loved eating it. I had mixed emotions about it and didn't hunt them again for about 4 years. Then went out with a group of friends and killed another one, about 130#. Butchered it at the campground with my friends, Keith and Bud(weiser). I shared with my friends, as it was the only pig shot that weekend. Dang, that pig was delicious! Then this last one in February went closer to 300#. I really expected that one to be nasty as the first one. Nope! Also butchered that one myself at the same campground. Excellent table fare and ready to got out and get another one. So, I'm believing bear could be the same way. We're thinking the butcher totally screwed up the first pig. Maybe he hung it and aged it too long and it spoiled? Maybe the boat was just too much in its rut? Hard to tell. The last one was also a boar, much larger, and shot on the same weekend, 6 years later. The bear season has started and goes until either 31 December or whenever 1,700 bears are tagged in the entire state. There's a CA Fish and Game website that posts the number of bears killed so far and it was 8 bears as of this morning. Hmm, only 1,692 left. [Big Grin]

Might have to get our deer in October on the coast, then head East for some bear in November.

Posts: 1862 | From: Central California | IP: Logged

FloridaHunter
Active Member
Member # 10128

posted

I say enjoy the hunt and try the meat. The worst that can happen is you have a bunch of meat left over to send to hunters for the hungry or some other place. Hogs, I assume, are very similar to bear meat in that some taste better than others. A big boar hog taste disgusting to me, while a big bar hog cant be beat. Sows all taste good, big or small. Also, the diet of the animal determains the taste. A bear thats been eating fish will taste diffently than a bear thats been eating berries or game meat.

Posts: 1229 | From: Orlando, Fl | IP: Logged

hummingbird
Junior Member
Member # 15100

posted

Bear is actually pretty good...but its like deer..it can be a little gamey.

Posts: 11 | From: Macon, Ga | IP: Logged

Kimberman
Active Member
Member # 9758

posted

I wasnt crazy about bear the one time I tried it, it was tough and greasy and smelled a little rank.

Posts: 842 | From: Knoxville TN | IP: Logged

Buckbanger
Active Member
Member # 1096

posted

I've ate bear meat quite a few times. One of the outfitters I used to work for served it very often for dinner. His wife is one of the best cooks around and she knew how to cook bear meat. She advised me not to cut steaks and stick to roasts. I didn't listen and cut my last bear to utilize all the meat. She was right. Fried, barbequed, left in the sun, doesn't matter, bear steak isn't good. As someone stated, you have to remove all the fat and fat marbled in bear steaks is hard to get rid of. The roasts are delicious but I'd suggest draining a roast while cooking.

Posts: 335 | From: New Brunswick,Canada | IP: Logged

5x5buck
Active Member
Member # 9452

posted

Good tips and suggestions. I steak out most of our deer, with smaller pieces going through the grinder for ground venison. Later, that becomes burgers, chili, sausage, etc. Hmm, bear chili?

Posts: 1862 | From: Central California | IP: Logged

dogbert1918
Active Member
Member # 2345

posted

I've never had bear but have heard it is very tasty. I believe they are tied in with the pig family?? That's why males are boars, females sow--just like with pigs. Distant relative or something of that nature of the pig family. The biggest thing Ive heard about them is to get them gutted, skinned and cooled down right away. That has a big effect on ther quality of meat, if you leave it too long it starts to go bad quick. The hide might smell bad after killing one, but you don't usually eat the hide anyways. I think it's like a lot of other wild game, if you take proper care it, gut it, skin it, clean it off right away, you'll get a lot better quality meat out of it. Good Luck.

Posts: 302 | From: Coast Guard City, Michigan | IP: Logged

lampshade333
Junior Member
Member # 15175

posted

Bear Stew
- 3 sl bacon, cut up
- 4 md onions, quartered
- 4 md potatoes, quartered
- 1 pk fresh or frozen green beans
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 lb bear, cubed (or venison, elk etc )
- 4 carrots, sliced
- 1 pk fresh or frozen peas
- 1 (46 oz.) can tomato juice
Brown bacon in heavy kettle. Add bear and brown on all sides. Add onions and saute. Add all remaining ingredients and simmer 1 hour or until flavors are mixed and vegetables and meat are tender. Remove bay leaves.

Posts: 5 | IP: Logged