Stumble On Bear

[Vince]

I'm going to Newfoundland in September for a moose hunt.

I have the opportunity to add a "stumble on" bear tag for $400 and I'm wondering if it's worth it? For those of you that hunt Newfoundland is this something I should consider?

I'd love to get some opinions here.

Vince

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[DrMike]

There are some fine bruins over that way. They get fat on moose calves in the spring.

 

[Guy Miner]

Mmmm... Bear brats boiled in beer & onions, then finished on the charcoal grill... YES!

I know nothing of Newfoundland hunting, but bear can be really, really good. Bear & moose? Dang. What a hunt!

Guy

 

[DrMike]

When you've spent the money travelling that far and picking up a moose tag, $400 seems like a bargain for some excellent meat and potentially a fine pelt.

 

[Charlie-NY]

I hunted moose in Newfoundland last Sept and was offered the same option. I paid $950 extra for the bear tag and the ability to take a "stumble upon" bear or a bear over bait after a moose was taken. I bought the tag but several of the guys in my group didn't.

On the second day of my hunt I spotted a very large bear feeding on a logging trail as I was heading to the bogs. The bear spotted me and hauled a$$, never presenting me with a decent shot. However, after taking a nice bull moose I was brought to a bait site that produced a nice bear on the first day in the stand.

If I were you - I'd get the bear tag.

 

[Vince]

That's a nice bear Charlie.
I'm thinking hard about the tag. I'm inclined to get it and what DrMike said makes a lot of sense.

Vince

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[Anonymous]

I'd do it in a second...good moose habitat is good bear habitat.

The second you don't....a giant toad of a bear is going to be there every time you turn around.

I'm such an optimist...it's not unusual for me to have 5 or 6 tags for 4 or 5 species when I go out...heck, I'd take a Sasquatch tag if ADFG would issue one!

 

[DrMike]

I'd take a Sasquatch tag if ADFG would issue one!

What?!? No Sasquatch tag? Man, you need to move to BC. Always have a Sasquatch tag--just in case.

 

[Anonymous]

I'd take a Sasquatch tag if ADFG would issue one!

What?!? No Sasquatch tag? Man, you need to move to BC. Always have a Sasquatch tag--just in case.

I probably stand more chance of nailing a 'squatch than finding a full curl ram in a harvest tag area....

 

[Thebear_78]

$400 will seem pretty cheap when your staring at a nice black bear on your hunt!

 

[Oldtrader3]

If you are going to eat bear, most wild bear have trichinosis which can infect humans. Cook bear well before eating.

 

[Vince]

If you are going to eat bear, most wild bear have trichinosis which can infect humans. Cook bear well before eating.

I've never been a fan of bear meat the few times I've had it.

I'll treat it like pork. [emoji4]

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[JD338]

If you are going to eat bear, most wild bear have trichinosis which can infect humans. Cook bear well before eating.

I've never been a fan of bear meat the few times I've had it.

I'll treat it like pork. [emoji4]

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The secret to good tasting bear meat is to get it cooled down fast. To do this you need to get the hide off asap and put the meat on ice. When this is done, bear beat is second to none!

Vince, get the tag and bring a jar of honey. Find out if there is an active bait station there. If not, do a honey burn and you should bring in several bears.

Good luck buddy.

JD338

 

[Charlie-NY]

Trichinosis can be rather serious if gone undetected for some period of time. So, it is advisable to ALWAYS cook bear meat (and several other game animals, including wild pigs) the same way pork is recommended. I believe that the meat must reach a temperature of 140 degrees internally. Freezing bear meat for more than a month is "supposed to" kill the parasite in the meat than causes trichinosis.

Since bears consume all kinds of raw meat and dead animals they tend to be exposed to the parasite. The older a bear is the more likely it is that it has eaten from a contaminated source.

BTW - for those who have shied away from eating bear meat for some mental reason, you don't know what you're missing. This may be an interesting topic for another thread - who doesn't eat what; felines, canines, varmints, crows, etc from the collection of what we hunt.

 

[Vince]

If you are going to eat bear, most wild bear have trichinosis which can infect humans. Cook bear well before eating.

I've never been a fan of bear meat the few times I've had it.

I'll treat it like pork. [emoji4]

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

The secret to good tasting bear meat is to get it cooled down fast. To do this you need to get the hide off asap and put the meat on ice. When this is done, bear beat is second to none!

Vince, get the tag and bring a jar of honey. Find out if there is an active bait station there. If not, do a honey burn and you should bring in several bears.

Good luck buddy.

JD338

I used my Google Fu and now know what a honey burn is. [emoji2]

I'll be calling the outfitter to see if it's legal and that I can do it. They run bait stations but it cost more than I want to pay. $400 for a stumble on bear vs $1500 for a bait station.

I'm thinking honey and my jet boil.

Vince

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[SJB358]

I'd get the tag.. Some big bars come from Newfoundland every year.

I agree with others, berry/grass bear is very good. Take care of the meat properly and you'll love it!

 

[LD375]

I say, "go for it" Vince, you well have a great time in NFLD buddy

Lou

 

[Oldtrader3]

I would cook bear to 160*F just to be safe. The thermal death curve for parasites is exponential and really increases safety by adding another 20 degrees. You want a 10-6 kill (1 pathogen per 1 million cc's). To assure that overcook a little.

 

[Vince]

I would cook bear to 160*F just to be safe. The thermal death curve for parasites is exponential and really increases safety by adding another 20 degrees. You want a 10-6 kill (1 pathogen per 1 million cc's). To assure that overcook a little.

That's good info.
Thank you.

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[Charlie-NY]

If this is your first trip to Newfoundland then your in for a great time. The island is beautiful with great coastlines and interesting history. Most of the island is rural, rugged and wet. Not too many people outside of the few cities that I saw.
I had some free time so we went site-seeing along the Viking Trail (Hwy). We visited a few coastal towns that support summer tourism and that still had a few shops and eateries open. Food was great but everything cost a bit more than you might expect.

Regarding the cost of a bear tag & hunting; my outfitter charges $1,900 for a week of bear hunting. But, if you want to hunt bear during the week that you are already hunting moose, then he only charged half price ($950). I'm very happy that I spent the money for the tag.

My trip easily cost $5k and who knows when I'll ever get back to Newfoundland so the extra $950 seemed worthwhile right from the start.

One last thing - I've killed a lot of bears and have virtually no need for another trophy, mount, rug or anything else but quality of the hide on my Newfoundland bear is easily the finest that I have ever taken. The fur was VERY long, thick and jet black. It was so good that I'm having a half mount done that will drive my wife nuts when I bring it home! LOL