Bear Care Questions

[Fattony77]

My black bear season opens Tuesday morning and I have a very positive attitude going into it. So I want to be as prepared as possible. I'm going it alone, and need the advice of those that are experienced. What are the things I need to know in order to waste as little as possible of the beautiful bear that gives his life to me? I need to know everything!

How to prepare the skin for the taxidermist for a rug;

How to render and use the fat for grease;

How to care for the meat to avoid spoilage;

Anything else to help a newbie that has great respect for these magnificent beasts!

Thank you in advance for all of your help, and I wish you all great hunting!  

[ChuckC]

Good luck and shoot straight !

I have only one bear to my name, but like you I asked lots of questions.  Take a responsible shot so the bear dies quickly and so you can locate it fast.  

Get the skin off soon, get the meat cooled.  I had to check mine in whole (field dressed) so I had to hurry and get it checked then get the skin off.  

Then I spent a bit of time boning the meat and getting it into a large cooler for transport and cooling.  At that time I excised as much of the rump and back fat as I could an put it into a clean bucket, then froze it.  When I was able to, I thawed the fat and simply rendered it ( melted it on the grill, in a large vessel, then scooped off the liquid, passed it thru a funnel with a cloth filter) into individual quart sized storage tubs and then refroze them.

Before you go, have a plan for how to get it out of the woods.  A cart, or a mountain bike ( lay the bear over the seat and handlebars and walk it out) could help unless you have some help or can drive a quad to it.

Also, talk to a taxidermist and find out what cuts you should make and where, for a full body mount (expensive) and for a rug (less expensive).  As I recall, they may be a bit different.

ChuckC

[Fattony77]

Awesome! Thank you SO MUCH!!

[goingoldskool]

As ChuckC said, get the meat cooled quickly.... We normally bone out ours just like we do deer.  The meat is more marbled than deer, but most of the fat is just under the skin( some places several inches).

For a rug, skin it down to the wrists and ankles, and up to the head. Cut the feet off and head as close to the skull as you can. We have a freezer that we lay the skin in to flash freeze it,(just enough to stiffen the hide a little), then starting at the back legs, start rolling it up with the feet crossed and hanging out just a bit.

That way the feet will not be insulated by the fur. After it is rolled up to the head, with the feet sticking out, freeze it solid.

The meat is worked up just as deer is.

Good luck!

Rodd

[Bill Carlsen]

If you have to leave it overnight it has been my experience that the meat will be very "gamey". It needs to be gutted an cooled quickly.

[Fattony77]

Tradgang is SO AWESOME! You guys are great! I'll do my best to not let y'all down!

What are some of the uses for the rendered fat? I've heard of using it to waterproof leather, is it good to cook with? Anything else?

I'm stupid excited & hopeful for this trip! You guys are helping me feel more confident with every reply!

[goingoldskool]

I've never rendered it.... though, I hear it is great for waterproofing leather and blackpowder firearms.

[JimB]

Good advice,all.It's hard to add anything to goingoldskool's information about hide care but here is an article that gives you a diagram of where to make the cuts etc.
 http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm%3Fadfg%3Dbrownbearhunting.skinning
Just leave head and paws in.Your taxidermist will want to do those his way and regardless of what anyone tells you,don't put any salt on the hide.There are several important steps that your taxidermist has to perform BEFORE salt is applied.

Good luck with your hunt.

[akdd]

Get it gutted and cooled as fast as possible and you will have some great meat. I trim the fat off for rendering. It can be quite thick on fall bears.
Here is a link to the Alaska fish and game recommendations for skinning.
 http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=blackbearhunting.skinning

[ChuckC]

I have used it to make a pie crust and it was very good.  Nobody knew it was made with bear until they were told.  Most giggled and had some more.

I haven't used it for anything else other than surface rubbing of leather.

That reminds me

ChuckC

[killinstuff]

Bear fat is the best lard for a pie crust there is. You can use it on your boots but if you have pets you will learn the true meaning of "bootlicker". I have some that was cut with bees wax that works pretty good.If you have hair unlike me it makes a fine hair dressing if you like the slicked back look.

IMHO, if we could raise bears like we do cows, no one would eat cow again.  My favorite meat, raised or wild, except if they have been eating fish or rotting meat.

[ChuckC]

Actually, I pretty much agree with killinstuff, bear meat is fine stuff.  a little sweet tasting maybe.  I didn't have to worry about fish eaters and baiting with meat is not legal here in WI.  But Twinkies. .  watch out.   I like deer venison, but elk and bear get eaten first by this family.

ChuckC