Please don't rag on those of us that don't actually like bear meat. I live in the NWT, and the meat of black bears is NOT required to be taken. Just the hide. Thats the part that the tag gets affixed to. The first black bear I shot, I thought I would try the meat. I couldn't suffer it down. I tried slow cooking it in a stew. I did BBQ steaks (marinated) , I did a stir fry, and some sausages. The only thing that didn't make me feel like I was eating from a used geriatric diaper, was the sausages. (and they were the hot/superhot variety. ) I couldn't give the rest of the meat away. I have , in the years since, (8) never bothered, as I have met a total of 3 people that say they don't mind bear meat. BUT, they wouldn't take any of mine, because they said they only trust bear meat that they personally shot and prepared.
That leaves me with a dilemma each time I go bear hunting. I hate the taste of black bear meat, no one I know wants any of it if I get one, so some of you guys expect me to fill up my freezer with meat that is sure to freezer burn?
I feel bad for the guys who live in zones that require the whole bear to be used. Must be an awful pain in the azz to pretend they like the meat, go through the trouble of cutting it up, packing it out, butchering, and wrapping, (and then disposing of it in the municipal trash,) just so the wildlife officers don't hassle them with the possession of a trophy rug.