Spring bear meat?
Contributors to this thread:Bears
From: solo hunter19
12-Jun-24
My wife and i have an archery bear hunt booked in Canada for spring of 25. I have never killed or eaten a spring bear but have killed a few fall bears and the meat was fantastic.
I was on the Wisconsin site where they were talking about spring bears from Canada and some eluded to the fact that they are almost inedible in spring. If so, this really has me bummed out since a large part of why we hunt is for the meat in any species.
Can any of you that have taken spring bears from Canada give me some Insite as to what your experience has been with the meat from spring bears.
Solo
From: longsprings
12-Jun-24
Never tried it in the spring because outfitter simply stated not ti eat it in the spring and would not even bring any out of the woods to try in camp. That is all I can share with you
From: jmiller
12-Jun-24
I've only shot one spring black bear but it is delicious
From: g5smoke21
12-Jun-24
They will be fine as long as they aren't eating trash
From: Stoneman
12-Jun-24
IMO - Early spring bears are the best, they have been hibernating all winter purging their fat stores. First thing on the menu is green grasses, clover, and other plants. Total system cleanse.
Verses a fall bear who has been eating anything and everything an omnivore can including rotting carcasses.
I’ve had both and definitely prefer a spring bear but that’s not to say a fall bear with a more confined diet wouldn’t be excellent as well.
At the end of the day, you are what you eat.
From: molsonarcher
12-Jun-24
IMO theres nothing wrong with it. Personally Ive never had a fall bear, but I had last years bear turned into summer sausage and its fantastic.
From: huntr4477
12-Jun-24
Years ago I hunted at a camp that baited exclusively with smelly, rotten meat and fish. I never took any of the bear meat home because it was loaded with long threadlike white worms. More recently I've been hunting with an outfitter who only baits with pastries, doughnuts, oats, and assorted sweets. The meat is better than any other game meat I've ever had.
From: Kevin Speicher
12-Jun-24
Every bear I've shot, whether it be spring or fall, US or Canada has had worms visible upon skinning/gutting. I've not seen worms in the muscle yet, all tasted great. I believe a lot of outfitters don't want to put in the extra effort to quarter and bone the animals out. I've also had outfitters in Canada tell us they don't eat bears due to parasites/worms.
From: APauls
12-Jun-24
Most of the people I know love it. I made a special thread about the RIBS! loll
From: Bou'bound
12-Jun-24
Well cared for meat is fine. Enjoy.
From: BrentC
13-Jun-24
I just returned from Saskatchewan. I did not see any signs of parasites on guts or meat. Apparently I’m the only client they ever had field dress one. Only kept the back straps. Guides say it’s terrible but I don’t see how. I think they just don’t want to mess with it.
From: Tyler
13-Jun-24
I’ve eaten at least a dozen from Manitoba all were excellent.
From: Old Reb
13-Jun-24
I've taken 2 spring bears from Qubec and one fall bear from Maine and I couldn't tell any difference in the taste. All were delicious in my opinion. Just remember to cook it to the proper temperature. I never saw worms in the meat of my bears. Although, I did see them in the meat of another hunter's bear when we were in Canada and that was not appetizing.
From: grape
13-Jun-24
I’ve killed and eaten lots of spring bears. They are awesome. Bears get a bad rap. Once your mind is made up that they are bad, pretty tough to change that mind set. It’s the negative stories above that make the mind set that they are bad. Read a few of the political threads on this site. Nobody is changing anyone’s mind. Pretty much the same with this topic!! You should probably talk to guys that eat bear meat frequently.
From: welka
13-Jun-24
From two different camps, we were told by the OF and guides to stay away due to possibility of getting trichinosis from the meat (think bad sick!). However, if you read the literature, it's likely in bear meat at all times so not sure why some say it's better in the fall. You can get rid of it by cooking meat above 160-170 and EVERY bit of meat has to be that hot so that is probably what creates the fear (OFs/guides don't want to say it's ok to eat since not everyone will cook it properly). To each his own, but if you eat it, cook it thoroughly!
From: carcus
13-Jun-24
Great meat, I've only had 2 that didn't taste good, both were ancient bears, neither had many teeth left, and in both circumstances I left the bear overnight, and both times it was really warm. I don't know if it was a age thing or heat thing that made the meat bad
From: Plum lake
13-Jun-24
We quarter and de-bone almost every bear that we bring into camp. 20-30+ a year. The hunters take all their meat home. There is absolutely nothing wrong with spring bear meat. It tastes great and I’d sooner it eat rather than whitetail.
From: Helgermite
13-Jun-24
I've eaten several spring bears from NW Ontario and the meat is excellent!
From: longsprings
14-Jun-24
I sure can tell you a fall Pa bear is delicious, we have fed many folks a delicious bear roast and they assumed they where eating beef. Good stuff
From: solo hunter19
14-Jun-24
Thanks to everyone for replying. I was glad to hear all the positive things about eating spring bears. I love bear meat and I would have considered canceling the spring hunt if the meat was inedible.
Thanks again Solo
From: bluedog
14-Jun-24
I too enjoy bear meat. Best I ever had was from a couple fall Arizona bears that had come down from hills and feeding on prickly pear fruit. Tremendous
From: ahunter76
14-Jun-24
taken both & both were delicious.
From: DConcrete
15-Jun-24
I’m always perplexed by the statements of, as long as they’re not eating trash.
In their own diets, without mankind, they’re eating carrion. They eat everything regardless. It’s all “trash” so to speak.
Whether it’s rotten human food, Or a rotten gut pile. Whether it’s doughnuts, Or rotten fish.
Bears are awesome. And I’ve eaten only spring bears. Never had a bad one.
From: spike buck
15-Jun-24
Some outfitters say Spring Bear is no good only because they don't want to deal with it... There is nothing wrong with Spring Bear meat. Ontario law requires hunters to not let Bear meat to go to waste.
From: carcus
15-Jun-24
I wish Manitoba would do the same, here you can waste the meat, terrible
From: Thornton
15-Jun-24
I brought my Manitoba bear home. I'll let you know how it tastes after I get my smoker fired up.
From: grape
15-Jun-24
Chris….excellent point!!
From: Stix
15-Jun-24
Agree with Stoneman. Exceptional tasty from spring kills.
FYI, I do ALL my bear meat chopped into cubes, use a tenderizer, and in the crockpot.
