Spring Bears

[Jim Wright]

I have noticed a number of Bear hunting posts here and I had a couple of questions. I have eaten Fall Bears a few times and found it quite good, am I correct in assuming that a Spring Bear just out of hibernation would not make very good table fare? Secondly if a Bear taken turned out to be rubbed badly enough to be a poor candidate for a rug, is there anything else that can be done with it? I had thought about a "European" Skull Mount. Any other ideas?

[Manitoba Stickflinger]

Spring bears taste wonderful....wivestales have made people think differently. Most guys are trying to kill mature males and fortunately they hold their hides the longest. Not usually issues with rubbing on the size of bears you want to take home.

[damascusdave]

I took a smallish bear in the spring of 2012 just because I had little hunting time...I did not want to spend the money for a rug so I am simply getting the hide tanned which would also work okay for a rubbed bear...I am still playing with the skull leaving it to age naturally...I will eventually clear coat it without any attempt to whiten it (I think white skulls look unnatural)...I will then sort out a way to display it along with the broad head attached to the broken carbon arrow piece I recovered

DDave

[joe skipp]

Spring Bear meat....  

[jrchambers]

personaly I think it depends how long the have been actively foraging I have tried some spring bears that were great with some fat, and some that were almost sickly looking when skinned, slimy and dehydrated,  just like a spring road kill moose I got. eewww.  I prefer fall bears by far if they are on berries

[tippit]

Spring bears are great eating.  All the bears I've shot have had nice coats as I tend to just watch the ones that look like the back of my head    The skull and lower jaw sit nicely on a shelf or table.  Plus the shoulder blade is a cool trophy as is a leg bone made into a knife...tippit

     

This one is from a bear that had his paw missing from a snare...

     
   

[Bobby Urban]

No matter what you do - rug, half mount/shoulder mount, full body mount, etc.  The skull will be available for a Euro - the Taxi doesn't use the real skull.  

Bear is the best wild game I have ever eaten but that was a fall bear.  I don't see why a long nap would change that if their diet going into the bed was good?  I have heard heavy fish eaters like Alaskan coastal bears can be less desirable but I have no experience unfortunately.

[Jim Wright]

I appreciate the information, I am thinking about northwest Montana so fish would not be a big part of the bear's diet. It is good to hear that most of you found Spring Bears meat good. Thanks again,  Jim

[Rick Wiltshire]

I am fond of spring bear.

[saltwatertom]

Spring brown bear is excellent.  Even the BIG ones we hunt on the peninsula.
It's a given that blackies are good in the spring, just don't have much fat on them.

[Bear Heart]

Our bears don't even hybernate here.

[Steve O]

I have eaten in fine restaraunts all over the world.  Bear pot roast made in the dutch oven is in my top 10 meals of all time.  Take care of it properly and you will be very pleased.

[akdd]

Spring Bear meat is excellent table fare.

[BigJim]

I have had my share of fantastic fall bear too! Locals in bear territory have never seemed too fond of it when I have asked.

I wouldn't leave it behind though as it can be as good as ribeye when done correctly.

BigJIm