My first bear! or animal for that matter

ceriksson

ceriksson

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well after 3 years of getting skunked, mainly due to my work schedule I finally managed to get my first Kill this evening. I just got home it is after midnight after gutting the bear and getting it to my brothers to skin and put in the freezer to take to get processed tomorrow.

I only really got into hunting around the same time I joined CGN so about 3-4 years ago now and every hunting season I barely get out hunting because I work mon-friday and was either sailing or on course in the fall and spring. I've got plenty of grouse but no large game. until now!

I went out this weekend with a friend, each of us on ATVs (also my first time trying this-- I had driven one when I was much younger)

We got up bright and early and got up behind Cowichan Lake and drove and drove and drove seeing plenty of Elk, but no Bears.. which was suprising because my brother and his friend were raving that they have always seen multiple bears in the area each time they go.. My brother and his friend have each taken bear out of the valley in previous hunting seasons.

So we were suprised to be out all day without a peep and we were almost on fumes so decided to give up and head back to the truck at about 6pm..

But on our way back we got a lucky break. A medium sized boar was just munching on grass about 80yards off the trail. I jumped off the ATV buzzing to get the chance to finally get my first real animal.

I had my brother's R700 in .35 Whelen with a Varix III 3-9 (I was supposed to bring my R750 in the same calibre but had scope issues at the range the day before)

It took me a second to see it as the bear was obscured by a branch from where I was trying to see it after my buddy pointed it out.

I shifted over a couple feet and got a good look at it.. it didn't take off right away which was good so I upped the magnification on the scope and scanned around quickly to make sure there were no cubs and I got down on one knee for a better shot and BAM. I hit it a little high on the shoulder but it did the job. the bear ran about 15-20feet and hit the turf hard.

We gutted it there. I wanted to do it so I did under my friend's guidance. We were lucky enough to be in a rare spot with open underbrush and only about another 50yards to a flowing creek where we took the bear to cool down and rinse out the cavity.. We strapped it onto the back of the ATV and made our way to the truck and to my brother's house who was there waiting set up to hang and skin it.

I also wanted to do as much skinning as possible as I really don't have any real experience doing it. i've helped with a deer before but that was pretty minimal.

Didn't get too many decent pictures but here is a crappy cell shot from just after we pulled it back out of the creek.

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Nice area though, some nice spots back there but we were way down at the bottom when I got the bear though.. Didn't see anything except lots of Elk up high (and low for that matter)

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VERY COOL! Congratulations on the successful hunt!!! My wife and I really enjoyed the steaks we got off of our bears, you'll be pleasantly surprised how tasty bear is!

Cheers
Jay
 
Good job!

It only gets easier from here once the first kill monkey (or bear) is off your back. Soon it will seem like there's not enough room in the freezer.
 
Random question for this thread, but what does Bear taste like? I assume you guys don't just kill it for sport. Anyone prefer it over Deer or Moose? That's all I've tried so far.

From a Hunter I have talked to, he said that Bears sometimes have lots of parasites or something like that?
 
RylanBrissette said:
Random question for this thread, but what does Bear taste like? I assume you guys don't just kill it for sport. Anyone prefer it over Deer or Moose? That's all I've tried so far.

From a Hunter I have talked to, he said that Bears sometimes have lots of parasites or something like that?
Click to expand...

Being an omnivore, bears can vary is taste depending on where you get them, when you get them, and most importantly their diet.

Bears eating fish during spawning are gross as are garbage bears.

Most primarily eat grass and clovers, etc and they taste quite good.. the best are bears eating mostly fruit and berries though


Most of the bear my family and friends get are turned mostly into salami, pepperoni, and ground meat etc.

I haven't had much bear that wasn't seasoned but regardless it is really good.

as for parisites, it depends on the bear and what their diet is.. Most bears out in the countryside away from human food sources tend to be pretty healthy
 
Good going!

Feels good doesn't it?

To answer Rylans's question:


I've shot bears right in the spawning streams whose scat was as blue as blue can be from salal berries and they tasted great. If they have been into the fish for a month or more, it might be a different story.

I shot my first bear in 1976 and last Thursday got my 20th or 25th, who cares? Who's counting? I have never ever, ever had any bear meat made into sausage, pepperoni, jerky, snacks or any other preparation. I don't know how many times I have been offered someones "awesome" sausage only to find it tastes like the garlic ring from Safeway.

Bear meat is great just the way it is, made to be married with garlic, pepper and paprika in moderation. It is great in stews, goulash, baked ribs with tomato and onion, spaghetti, lasagna, meat balls, patties, roasted, stir fried, the list goes on.

Parasites?

If you don't like the sight of little white filial worms here and there, go hunt something else.

There's always warnings about trichinosis, but they say that about pork too.

I've shot a few big bears over the years. We got nine gallons of rendered fat off the first one. Now I try to select a two or three year old for tenderness and mildness in flavour.

1997

mailgooglecom-1.jpg


2009

MichelMay2009128.jpg
 
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MD said:
Good going!

Feels good doesn't it?

To answer Rylans's question:


I've shot bears right in the spawning streams whose scat was as blue as blue can be from salal berries and they tasted great. If they have been into the fish for a month or more, it might be a different story.

I shot my first bear in 1976 and last Thursday got my 20th or 25th, who cares? Who's counting? I have never ever, ever had any bear meat made into sausage, pepperoni, jerky, snacks or any other preparation. I don't know how many times I have been offered someones "awesome" sausage only to find it tastes like the garlic ring from Safeway.

Bear meat is great just the way it is, made to be married with garlic, pepper and paprika in moderation. It is great in stews, goulash, baked ribs with tomato and onion, spaghetti, lasagna, meat balls, patties, roasted, stir fried, the list goes on.

Parasites?

If you don't like the sight of little white filial worms here and there, go hunt something else.

There's always warnings about trichinosis, but they say that about pork too.

I've shot a few big bears over the years. We got nine gallons of rendered fat off the first one. Now I try to select a two or three year old for tenderness and mildness in flavour.

1997

mailgooglecom-1.jpg


2009

MichelMay2009128.jpg
Click to expand...


I'm saving the ribs to cook and you may have just convinced me to save some of it for a roast and some stewing meat
 
"I'm saving the ribs to cook and you may have just convinced me to save some of it for a roast and some stewing meat "

Do it. You won't regret it. Trim as much fat off as you can though.
 
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