I'm 66 now. Been hunting bears with hounds and spot and stalk for over 45 years now. I have always loved eating bear meat. It helped me feed 4 kids, along with deer, turkey, and trout. We even eat groundhog. To cook it without greasy taste, par boil it after you trim excess fat, drain the fat off, then bake, broil, or grill it. It makes the best chili. Morel abound here too. The rendered fat makes the best biscuits, and the best snow proof/water proof for leather boots too. Canning it is the best! Bear last longer now, with the kids grown and gone. I've eaten it canned that was 3 years old, and it was fine. Grilled burgers from bear are also great! Smoked bear is also fantastic, but it can be pink. A meat thermometer is handy. I grilled bear my 2nd year at college and shared it with everybody, and they elected me as the SGA President my Junior year. I also taught many younger guys how to hunt, dress, and cook deer. I was 38 when I started college.
I have not had a chance to hunt bear. But it sounds awesome and I am a bit of a gourmand, liking "game" meat. Heck, if cooked right, I will eat carp. And, of course, the sweet fish like catfish, perch, crappie, and small mouth bass. My friend, John, would make canned squirrel. And he hunted whitetail on his aunt's property. He and I were about the meat. So, he would harvest old does that were not fawning any more. Trophies are great but venison is delicious. He would usually slice into medallions and pan fry some. Or grind to burger or chili size and mix in some chorizo for a slow cooker stew or chili. What I have learned is that you can lesson the "game" taste of venison, for example, with a few things. First, wet age instead of dry age. The water will take out some odd flavor. Secondly, trim off all the fat. Deer fat, what they call tallow, has a higher liquidation point. So, it is cooler and gelatinous at temps where beef fat or pork fat is still liquid. Otherwise, I have learned to treat venison like really lean beef. Easy to over cook so, be careful. But I would like to cook with other meats, as well. Sometimes, the grocery store will have bison, usually ground bison. About 16 to 18 dolkars per pound but that is understandable. A friend of mine who lives in a country had neighbors raising bison. But they are undomesticated, no matter how much of rancher you think you are.
My favorite way to preserve bear is not the freezer, it pressure cans super well then doesn't require refrigeration. A buddy of mine makes an almost pulled pork bbq and chili's canned bear that is absolutely fantastic. And prepped like he does you just open the can and fork some on to bread for a nice quick sandwich while hunting in the fall or when you are camping.
The taco argument would be easily won by "tacos" if you guys came to South Texas! But living here means bear meat is a long trip away. Great episode guys!!
Bear neck pot roast is the best bear roast i've ever had. Also bear Hungarian summer sausage needs no pork added. Makes an unbeatable sausage sandwich with good spicy mustard. Rendered bear lard is snow white and is the perfect cooking oil.
I,ve been hunting bear and eating the meat for 45 years . I prefere it to venison much more mild more like beef . Its a fine meat if taken care of properly and cooled out . Like all game including fish and fowl proper preparation is key to having a fine food!
As for smoking, I smoke a brisket that is so good. And I have smoked deer ribs to a consistency of savory soft jerky. And I smoked a feral hog from my friend, John, and his cousin. I had to separate it into two halves to fit on my grill. Delicious. I smoke with mesquite logs.
I’ve eaten best three times. (Never my kills) Once in stew, once nuggets fried in its fat, once in burger. I just didn’t like it. The stew was flat out awful- tasted rancid. Nuggets and burgers were ok. There is a stale flavor every time I have eaten it. And it’s so greasy, like coat your mouth can’t get it out flavor…. I love game meat, black tail, elk, bison, muleys, pig, turkey. No bear for me.
74 years old. Got my first bear tag for black bear in Western Idaho. So much to learn.
I'm 66 now. Been hunting bears with hounds and spot and stalk for over 45 years now. I have always loved eating bear
meat. It helped me feed 4 kids, along with deer, turkey, and trout. We even eat groundhog. To cook it without greasy taste, par boil it after you trim excess fat, drain the fat off, then bake, broil, or grill it. It makes the best chili. Morel abound here too. The rendered fat makes the best biscuits, and the best snow proof/water proof for leather boots too. Canning it is the best! Bear last longer now, with the kids grown and gone. I've eaten it canned that was 3 years old, and it was fine. Grilled burgers from bear are also great! Smoked bear is also fantastic, but it can be pink. A meat thermometer is handy. I grilled bear my 2nd year at college and shared it with everybody, and they elected me as the SGA President my Junior year. I also taught many younger guys how to hunt, dress, and cook deer. I was 38 when I started college.
I have not had a chance to hunt bear. But it sounds awesome and I am a bit of a gourmand, liking "game" meat. Heck, if cooked right, I will eat carp. And, of course, the sweet fish like catfish, perch, crappie, and small mouth bass.
My friend, John, would make canned squirrel. And he hunted whitetail on his aunt's property. He and I were about the meat. So, he would harvest old does that were not fawning any more. Trophies are great but venison is delicious. He would usually slice into medallions and pan fry some. Or grind to burger or chili size and mix in some chorizo for a slow cooker stew or chili.
What I have learned is that you can lesson the "game" taste of venison, for example, with a few things. First, wet age instead of dry age. The water will take out some odd flavor. Secondly, trim off all the fat. Deer fat, what they call tallow, has a higher liquidation point. So, it is cooler and gelatinous at temps where beef fat or pork fat is still liquid.
Otherwise, I have learned to treat venison like really lean beef. Easy to over cook so, be careful.
But I would like to cook with other meats, as well. Sometimes, the grocery store will have bison, usually ground bison. About 16 to 18 dolkars per pound but that is understandable. A friend of mine who lives in a country had neighbors raising bison. But they are undomesticated, no matter how much of rancher you think you are.
Any tips for hunting grizzly? I'm going next year.
No better burger than a bearger hands down. I've fed my bearger to people who arent hunters and they all loved it.
Shepherd's Pie -- with canned bear meat and a bear-lard pie crust.
My favorite way to preserve bear is not the freezer, it pressure cans super well then doesn't require refrigeration. A buddy of mine makes an almost pulled pork bbq and chili's canned bear that is absolutely fantastic. And prepped like he does you just open the can and fork some on to bread for a nice quick sandwich while hunting in the fall or when you are camping.
Corned bear roast for St. Patrick's day last year turned out phenomenal. Everyone thought it was better then beef.
The taco argument would be easily won by "tacos" if you guys came to South Texas! But living here means bear meat is a long trip away. Great episode guys!!
I’ve eaten lots of bears black and grizzly all been very delicious. Last one I had made into pepperoni. My friends and family loved it.
I render the fat as soon as I can and use bear lard to make biscuits.. They are incredibly flakey and delicious.
Bear neck pot roast is the best bear roast i've ever had. Also bear Hungarian summer sausage needs no pork added. Makes an unbeatable sausage sandwich with good spicy mustard. Rendered bear lard is snow white and is the perfect cooking oil.
I,ve been hunting bear and eating the meat for 45 years .
I prefere it to venison much more mild more like beef .
Its a fine meat if taken care of properly and cooled out .
Like all game including fish and fowl proper preparation is key to having a fine food!
I’ve heard coastal bears that are fattening up eating salmon can be greasy
I'm sold on canned bear meat! Just purchased a pressure canner for the bear I just harvested. Thanks guys
I can venison. No bears here.
Bear is my second favourite behind caribou
Can you kill the trig out of bear ribs if you slow cook at a lower temp for a looking time?
As for smoking, I smoke a brisket that is so good. And I have smoked deer ribs to a consistency of savory soft jerky. And I smoked a feral hog from my friend, John, and his cousin. I had to separate it into two halves to fit on my grill. Delicious. I smoke with mesquite logs.
Smoked bear ribs from a blueberry fattened fall bear! Hard to beat.
Team Taco! Go hard shell Go!
Crockpot your bear with some V8 juice for a day, shred and put on top of your nachos, tacos or burrito.
Ive only eaten bear once. A guy grilled it like a steak, had a layer of fat on the outside of it. It almost tasted like a Porterhouse. I was great.
Do you need to let a bear chill in a cooler for a week or so prior to processing? Like what lots of people do with venison.
So where's the weigh6 then, if ur not getting it in meat?
One question. I remember one of the vids where Mark got a black bear with his .300 WSM. Did he keep some meat and what did he make with it?
He sure did! He ate the heart and the tenderloins and used the rest for grind to make tacos, chili, etc.
Canning, or bottling, is good for all meat. In Newfoundland bottled moose is very common.
Bottled rabbit too
If you render the fat, does it last longer?
Scramble the meat brown and then slow cook it in a Crock-Pot for hours with your favorite chili
Team burrito FTW
I like corned bear then can it
I whacked a late August black bear in SW Washington and it was good eating.
I have never considered predator meat for the table. I understand cougar is also delicious.
words of wisdom here. Be quiet and listen!
Seems like it would be great for a pot roast....
I’ve had bear that was greasy and awful and I’ve had it that was awesome
I’ve eaten best three times. (Never my kills) Once in stew, once nuggets fried in its fat, once in burger. I just didn’t like it.
The stew was flat out awful- tasted rancid.
Nuggets and burgers were ok.
There is a stale flavor every time I have eaten it. And it’s so greasy, like coat your mouth can’t get it out flavor….
I love game meat, black tail, elk, bison, muleys, pig, turkey.
No bear for me.
Just freeze it for 15 days. I eat lot of raw bear meat. No problem. I make tartar.
Couldn't call Steven Rinella for this podcast?
He was sick with Trichinosis :-p
@@WantingWilderness who better to talk about it?! lol
Lampers is the man.
Love bear meat. It is better than venison.
I like bear meat civiche
Bro you gonna die
What ever the eating you can taste in their fat ,best is when the eating blueberries
Absolutely!
Bear meat is the exact same as dog meat, NOOO thanks.