First black bear!

[The_Whitetail_kid]

Congrats

 

[mnoland30]

The second bear I shot had 4" of fat on its back. It was definitely not lean meat, but some of the best meat I've ever eaten. The rendered fat is great treatment for leather (and hands if you don't mind the smell).

I've had bear that ended up dog food. Like any animal, it depends on what they're eating.

The first bear was in my tent and out of season, so I didn't get to eat it.

 

[memtb]

The second bear I shot had 4" of fat on its back. It was definitely not lean meat, but some of the best meat I've ever eaten. The rendered fat is great treatment for leather (and hands if you don't mind the smell).

I've had bear that ended up dog food. Like any animal, it depends on what they're eating.

The first bear was in my tent and out of season, so I didn't get to eat it.

We've experienced the same thing! Our Spring bears, while lean, were delicious! My wife's Fall bear was awful! You couldn't even use it for dog food…..as when cooking it the smell was beyond bad! If I didn't know better, I'd think that it was feeding out of someone's septic system! memtb

 

[skipglo]

Congratulations! Kinda like women……you never forget your first!

I must ask however……where are ya hunting at in August? Seems too much like summer! memtb

That was going to be my question!

 

[marksman1941]

We've experienced the same thing! Our Spring bears, while lean, were delicious! My wife's Fall bear was awful! You couldn't even use it for dog food…..as when cooking it the smell was beyond bad! If I didn't know better, I'd think that it was feeding out of someone's septic system! memtb

I cooked up some crock pot bear last night and made some pulled bear tacos with it. Absolutely fantastic. I think I'm sold on the summer, berry fed bear hunting now.

 

[skipglo]

Paint me very surprised that their seasons open that early! memtb

Or still open that Late!

 

[marksman1941]

Or still open that Late!

I didn't know how long they spanned until this year either. Maybe it's to make up for how short every other season is, and the bag limit of one deer and one elk per year

 

[Dean2]

In Alberta you can hunt Black Bear year round on private land, no tag required, shoot as many as you want. On Crown Land, there is a spring and fall season, along with 2 Tags available. Personally, Spring Bear, once they have been out of the Den a few weeks and cleansed their system, are good eating. If baiting bear,we never use meat scaps as rotten meat negatively impacts the flavour. Biggest trick with either one is to shoot bears that have not been eating carrion or at the dump. Grain or berry fed bears taste way better. Fall bear shot out of Barely and Oat fields in the river valleys are pretty hard to beat.

 

[Dean2]

Wrong thread

 

[HRM Johnny]

Congratulations. Thanks for posting this. I enjoyed the "novel." Thanks for the pictures.

 

[JONFIVE]

It's currently 3am, and I'm finally in bed after packing out my first black bear. I'm still too excited to sleep I think.

A good friend of mine is an avid bear hunter, but has been seriously sick (crohns) and hasn't been able to hunt for a few years. This year things are better, and he invited me out for an evening bear hunt while the blackberries were still ripe.

Around 8pm (still well before end of shooting light) I spotted a black bear across the draw at 300. He was moseying along and thankfully not spooked, cause I took my sweet time fumbling with ear plugs before I could get lined up on him.

I finally got situated, flopped on my belly for the shot, and my overloaded pack whacked me on the back of the head and made me eat the rifle stock. After I shook that off, I ranged the bear again at 350, checked me dope chart on the rifle, and whacked him with a .300 win shooting 180gr Norma Oryx out of my browning a bolt.

He dropped like a stone from a solid high shoulder hit and rolled downhill. After an education 90 minute bear breakdown and deboning, we packed 110 pounds of meat (which did include the head, required by local DFW) uphill 2 miles to the trucks. That part was a bit rough.

But, a celebratory whiskey drink and cooldown were followed by a 1am Taco Bell stop, capped with some meat cleaning and prep so it can sit overnight (or for a few hours at least).

Sorry for the novel, I'm just excited and thought I'd share. Also I have no clue how to pose with bear so beat with me on the picture lol

Congrats. And enjoyed hearing the details

 

[skipglo]

I didn't know how long they spanned until this year either. Maybe it's to make up for how short every other season is, and the bag limit of one deer and one elk per year

Probably just too many Bears...how was the hide...many or any bald patches?

 

[marksman1941]

Probably just too many Bears...how was the hide...many or any bald patches?

I didn't do a thorough check over but I didn't see any thin or bald patches on him. I was mainly after the meat so we didn't even try to save the hide.

 

[memtb]

I didn't do a thorough check over but I didn't see any thin or bald patches on him. I was mainly after the meat so we didn't even try to save the hide.

Good for you! My handgun bear was a "naked" blond. She was so close…..I was focused on her head, not her body! I guess that I have a "face fixation"! memtb