Bear hunting
- Thread starter tecumseh
- Start date
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,496
- 6,498
If you take the bear soon after it has exited the den, the fur can be in good shape. As soon as it begins to warm, the bear will begin to rub the fur. Late fall bears will have a hide that is indistinguishable from an early spring bear, otherwise. The meat in the spring can be somewhat darker in colour, but flavor-wise, it is good. Then, again, nothing beats a late fall bear that has been feeding on grain. I like the meat from both periods.
Thebear_78
Handloader
- Sep 30, 2004
- 3,099
- 876
Only thing to worry about is if the bear has gotten into fish. Spring bears are great, a highland "berry" bear can be quite good, a bear who has been eating spawned out salmon can be inedible.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Thankful Otter
Handloader
- Oct 8, 2012
- 783
- 97
I agree with what Dr. Mike and Bear have said. Would like to add, save the fat. Bear fat makes the best lard. Make some pie crusts with it, and good luck
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,496
- 6,498
The fat also makes good leather treatment and provides relief from the stiffness and ache of osteoarthritis. By all means, render the fat and make a few pies (or donuts). And, yes, avoid dining on a bear that has been feeding on winter kill.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Yep!
Spring bears can be delicious if you get one pretty soon after they've left the den since they're feeding on shoots and fronds and the like. Once they go to a scavenging diet all bets are off.
Fall bears shot in the alpine that have been berry feeding are simply outstanding eating. Fish bears are just the opposite, even skinning one without gagging is a challenge.
The fat does make incredible pastry and the best cat head biscuits on earth (it's a Southern thing).... it's rumored that some world class pastry chefs will use little else but rendered bear lard in their best dishes.
Spring bears can be delicious if you get one pretty soon after they've left the den since they're feeding on shoots and fronds and the like. Once they go to a scavenging diet all bets are off.
Fall bears shot in the alpine that have been berry feeding are simply outstanding eating. Fish bears are just the opposite, even skinning one without gagging is a challenge.
The fat does make incredible pastry and the best cat head biscuits on earth (it's a Southern thing).... it's rumored that some world class pastry chefs will use little else but rendered bear lard in their best dishes.
- Thread starter
- #7
gerry
Ammo Smith
- Mar 1, 2007
- 6,947
- 1,903
Thebear_78":2a79n0j9 said:
Yes, to all of the above
There are all sorts of differences depending on where you are on what the bears will do. In this area once the bulk of the salmon have spawned in early October, the bears disappear. Because of that the hides are better in the spring until they start rubbing.
Can't wait to head out in a few weeks time
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,833
- 6,302
Yes! Not going this spring, but I'll be after one in September!
Bear hunting is just COOL! Fun as all get out. Challenging.
Guy
Bear hunting is just COOL! Fun as all get out. Challenging.
Guy
LD375
Handloader
- May 18, 2009
- 1,239
- 3
Guy Miner":2mefmiog said:
+1 Guy! :grin: ..I'm heading north on May 28th for spring bear this year, going to be using my 300 win mag and 180gr Nosler Partitions (protected point) they shoot well under .5" out of my Tikka, I'm also going to run one into the jugs in a week or two, should be good bro
Lou
My nephew and I have been doing the spot and stalk hunts over the last two years with no sucsess , but have had fun doing it. We are kicking around the idea of going to a full on bait site this spring but that is a huge commitment. I'm not sure if my work and family time ( 3 girls in baseball and I'm a coach) will allow me the time needed to do it properly.
The fact that it would be an hour and a half drive by truck to where we hunt then another half to three quarters of an hour on quad to where the bait would be also makes it tough..
If I was young and single I'd be all over it . Lol
The fact that it would be an hour and a half drive by truck to where we hunt then another half to three quarters of an hour on quad to where the bait would be also makes it tough..
If I was young and single I'd be all over it . Lol
DrMike
Ballistician
- Nov 8, 2006
- 37,496
- 6,498
Super-7,
The sacrifices for your girls is worth everything you invest now.
The sacrifices for your girls is worth everything you invest now.
Well guys & gals I believe I am going to see if my 35 Whelen is up to putting down a black bear this year :wink:. I have not bear hunted in over 30 years but there is such a problem with them taking Moose calves I am going to try and eliminate a couple!!
With what has gone on these past 6 months with Moose hunting we have to try & help the population as much as possible.
Blessings,
Dan
With what has gone on these past 6 months with Moose hunting we have to try & help the population as much as possible
.Blessings,
Dan
Guy Miner
Master Loader
- Apr 6, 2006
- 17,833
- 6,302
Pretty sure the .35 is up to the task!
ENJOY your hunt!
Guy
ENJOY your hunt!
Guy
SaskBoy that's as good of reason as any!! I secured permission again about an hour and a half north of me on a couple thousand acres of prime bear habitat.
It sounds like with the economy the way it is here right now, the boys from Calgary won't be up baiting this year. So that gives us a wider window to hunt the property as we didn't want to intrude or interrupt their hunt . I'm working this coming weekend , maybe the week after we will head up for a tour and look for sign.
It sounds like with the economy the way it is here right now, the boys from Calgary won't be up baiting this year. So that gives us a wider window to hunt the property as we didn't want to intrude or interrupt their hunt . I'm working this coming weekend , maybe the week after we will head up for a tour and look for sign.
35 Whelen
Handloader
- Dec 22, 2011
- 2,249
- 566
I would love to meet the bear of any color, including white , that cant be knocked as flat as a flounder, the moment you drop the firing pin on him, with a 35 Whelen, as long as you do your part Dan ???
A big black bear around here is 300lb dressed, there has been hundreds of them shot with 30/30's over the years, not a problem if they are hit correctly.
However any bear hit to far back with big heavy bullets, that are going to go right thru them,without transfering hardly any energy into the bear, are going to run off, require tracking down, and more shooting....................
I would much rather have a hunter use a .243 and make a high shoulder shot, on a black bear, than show up here with a 375 H&H (my personal favorite brown bear gun) And not listen ; about where to hit them, and have them shoot the bear like they would a deer........"behind the shoulder" and you will likely have a wounded bear running off........... if I had to guess and you had 3 bears 300lb each, and they were lined up so you could just shoot one shot from a 35 Whelen with a 250gr bullet, and hit all three of them thru the lungs, I would guess the last one, in the back of the first two, would get hit the hardest!
Good luck Dan ,and keep your vertical crosshair right up that bears front leg.......... :wink:
Ps. I actually had a simalar experence once in Roy, Montana hunting antelope , just as I fired at a nice one another one steped behind the one I was firing at, I was holding behind its front shoulder, the caliber 30/06 shooting Noslers old 165gr "solid base" bullets, it doubled lunged the first one, exited and shoulder shot the one behind it!
Killed both of them instantly....
A big black bear around here is 300lb dressed, there has been hundreds of them shot with 30/30's over the years, not a problem if they are hit correctly.
However any bear hit to far back with big heavy bullets, that are going to go right thru them,without transfering hardly any energy into the bear, are going to run off, require tracking down, and more shooting....................
I would much rather have a hunter use a .243 and make a high shoulder shot, on a black bear, than show up here with a 375 H&H (my personal favorite brown bear gun) And not listen ; about where to hit them, and have them shoot the bear like they would a deer........"behind the shoulder" and you will likely have a wounded bear running off........... if I had to guess and you had 3 bears 300lb each, and they were lined up so you could just shoot one shot from a 35 Whelen with a 250gr bullet, and hit all three of them thru the lungs, I would guess the last one, in the back of the first two, would get hit the hardest!
Good luck Dan ,and keep your vertical crosshair right up that bears front leg.......... :wink:
Ps. I actually had a simalar experence once in Roy, Montana hunting antelope , just as I fired at a nice one another one steped behind the one I was firing at, I was holding behind its front shoulder, the caliber 30/06 shooting Noslers old 165gr "solid base" bullets, it doubled lunged the first one, exited and shoulder shot the one behind it!
Killed both of them instantly....
