Coastal BC Spring Black Bear Hunt?

ChromeArty

ChromeArty

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Hey folks,

I am a novice hunter, only took my first deer last season, and am seeing in my regs here that there is a black bear season from April 1st - June 15th in my area. I'm wondering if this is a worthwhile hunt to pursue? Are the bear emaciated from hibernation? I know that I could wait for fall and find a Blackberry Bear... we get tonnes of blackberries in this area.

I've heard some folks say that Bear "isn't that great" in reference to flavor, and I've never had bear (would like to rectify that). I know diet is a large factor in how the meat will taste. I'm wondering if post hibernation bear is not the best choice?

Ps... it may have been so mild this year they never even went into hibernation!

Cheers

Trev
 
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Depends where you're going. On the coast they will likely be eating fish. Not sure how palatable that kind of bear will be. If you get out in early spring you can probably catch a bear fresh out of the den that hasn't started rubbing its fur out yet.

Is it worthwhile? Well, you might kill a bear, and you might not. But either way you'll be out in nature (a good thing) and you'll be gaining valuable experience ahead of fall bear season (another good thing).

that's like the old beer commercial... "Tastes good, good for you, no downside!"
 
I tried my first bit of bear 2 months ago. Frozen yo - not in season! Anyways the meat was pretty good but I also ate a piece of pure cooked fat. This bear had been nailed in mid November by a friend; however, the fat was disgusting. It tasted like rolling a slow release tidepod of fish oil around in my mouth. Yes this bear would have had access to creeks, estuaries, streams and the beach.

Got a different spot lined up for later in June up Island with an upstanding member of this forum. Should be fun.
 
That's crap Dill - you've been posting your "almost had em" pics from the weather station previously. When we get one, I'll freight out a ham to your new location. :)
 
Stay away from beach bears if you want to eat it.

Trim off all fat. You can render it down for lard if you want. But your bear meat needs to be just meat, no fat or heavy connective tissue.

Choose one that's 5 foot or less for good eating. 7 foot for a nice rug. :)
 
Gatehouse said:
Stay away from beach bears if you want to eat it.

Trim off all fat. You can render it down for lard if you want. But your bear meat needs to be just meat, no fat or heavy connective tissue.

Choose one that's 5 foot or less for good eating. 7 foot for a nice rug. :)
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I'll post a pic later of a nice 7.5 rug...but yes we took all the fat off the beast other than the interstitial stuff.
 
I've always found spring bears to be better eating than fall bears. Less fat, eating all the tender stuff coming up in the spring. As has been stated previously, stay away from beach bears any time and salmon eating bears in the fall.
Burger, hams, sausage, peperoni, garlic coil, stew meat, summer sausage etc. (whatever needs topping up in the freezer) is my typical cutting order for a bear but then again I do all my own butchering and sausage making.
Oh...do up some ribs....pretty tasty as well...they usually get done up right away.:p
 
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Your in a great place for big bears. I’ve seen some big bears north of Seachelt around trout lake and up the logging roads from there. You also have a good population of wolves. Shoot a bear and watch the gutpile, wolves will come for sure. You can’t bait bears but you can bait wolves. I seen my first bear today and it was a dandy. Time to start packing a rifle at work
 
VanIsleCam said:
Anyways the meat was pretty good but I also ate a piece of pure cooked fat. This bear had been nailed in mid November by a friend; however, the fat was disgusting. It tasted like rolling a slow release tidepod of fish oil around in my mouth.
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Why would you eat pure fat, did you lose a bet? And I'm curious how it was "cooked", bear fat literally liquefies under a hot sun. It has a very low melting point.

As a side note, I've rendered quite a bit of bear fat (fall bear) and it's the perfect leather treatment. Some like to eat bear meat, I'm not a fan. Too much moose, elk and deer in the freezer.
 
bearkilr said:
Why would you eat pure fat, did you lose a bet? And I'm curious how it was "cooked", bear fat literally liquefies under a hot sun. It has a very low melting point.

As a side note, I've rendered quite a bit of bear fat (fall bear) and it's the perfect leather treatment. Some like to eat bear meat, I'm not a fan. Too much moose, elk and deer in the freezer.
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I cut the fat off the edge of the tenderloin having pan fried the pieces. How the fack can you you call yourself bearkilr when you eat anything but bear lol!?
 
VanIsleCam said:
I cut the fat off the edge of the tenderloin having pan fried the pieces. How the fack can you you call yourself bearkilr when you eat anything but bear lol!?
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It's just a forum name, and a lame one at that, I'll be the first to admit it. I skin other people's bears, I'm approaching 4 digits, so you can see why I don't eat them. I've seen it all and it ain't pretty. :d
 
BigUglyMan said:
Depends where you're going. On the coast they will likely be eating fish. Not sure how palatable that kind of bear will be. If you get out in early spring you can probably catch a bear fresh out of the den that hasn't started rubbing its fur out yet.

Is it worthwhile? Well, you might kill a bear, and you might not. But either way you'll be out in nature (a good thing) and you'll be gaining valuable experience ahead of fall bear season (another good thing).

that's like the old beer commercial... "Tastes good, good for you, no downside!"
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Had the same thought: May as well be hiking around the bush enjoying the country.

I'm in Powell River BC... we have tons of black Bear! I'm not sure they have much access to fish though. We only have one spot where the salmon come up stream, and I think that's a Pink run (every other year). They would have access to lakes and streams, but I don't think they'd be getting much there. But they would definitely have access to the beach... what would they be eating? Starfish? Clams? Seaweed? ... probably eh.
 
Bare said:
Your in a great place for big bears. I’ve seen some big bears north of Seachelt around trout lake and up the logging roads from there. You also have a good population of wolves. Shoot a bear and watch the gutpile, wolves will come for sure. You can’t bait bears but you can bait wolves. I seen my first bear today and it was a dandy. Time to start packing a rifle at work
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Yeah man. So many bears around here! We honestly need to start hunting them.

And we do habe wolves too... how does that work? Any season? Tag? Limit?
 
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