Bear Hides

[butcherboy]

Hey all, my son and I are wanting to head up north and do some bear hunting. Would anyone like our bear hides?? Would like to give them away.

let me know, thanks.

[Mateo]

Yes! I'd very much like one. If you are in calgary.

[the hammer]

Yes please. I m in Calgary

[Battle Rat]

Where up North?
If you are going by Alberta Taxidermy at New Sarepta, contact Manfred.
I used to be able to cover most of my gas bill by selling a few bear hides to him.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Need to find, then shoot bear first, then give hide away!

[Scruffee]

Originally Posted by Big Grey Wolf

Need to find, then shoot bear first, then give hide away!

There's this very common French Canadian saying that goes: "don't sell the bear's hide before you've killed it".

It applies to any situation where someone makes assumes success before accomplishing any tasks but it literally applies to this thread.

[35 whelen]

Originally Posted by butcherboy

Hey all, my son and I are wanting to head up north and do some bear hunting. Would anyone like our bear hides?? Would like to give them away.

let me know, thanks.

Just a question ? do use the meat,

[Smoky buck]

I wish Alberta did not have the hide rule. I eat the meat and a bear has to be really special for me to keep the hide for myself

Odds are if I shoot a bear this spring I will be stuck trying to find the hide a home

[Fowl91]

I would take them as well if anyone has them to give away. I know some amateur tanners who would like to learn on some free hides.

[saskfly]

Originally Posted by 35 whelen

Just a question ? do use the meat,

X2?

[Rackmastr]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

I wish Alberta did not have the hide rule. I eat the meat and a bear has to be really special for me to keep the hide for myself

Odds are if I shoot a bear this spring I will be stuck trying to find the hide a home

Yep and just across the border in BC you dont have to keep the hide and must salvage the meat. Funny differences.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Rackmastr

Yep and just across the border in BC you dont have to keep the hide and must salvage the meat. Funny differences.

That is where I started bear hunting. The funny thing is you have some in BC who wish it was hide only and those in Alberta who wish it was meat only. No matter which one is mandatory someone is not happy

Too bad Alberta did not have a program where hunters could donate bear hides. Maybe they could be sent to the fur auction and proceeds go to wildlife/habitat

[Stinky Buffalo]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Too bad Alberta did not have a program where hunters could donate bear hides. Maybe they could be sent to the fur auction and proceeds go to wildlife/habitat

That's actually a really good idea!

I love bear hunting (and Heaven knows we need to keep the population in check), but a fella only needs so many hides.

When I told Incredigirl that we could save on our meat bill if I bring a nice plump bear home, she threw up a bit in her mouth. Just not a palatable concept for her, I suppose...

[35 whelen]

I used to donate to a taxidermy shop ,back in Manitoba

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Stinky Buffalo

That's actually a really good idea!

I love bear hunting (and Heaven knows we need to keep the population in check), but a fella only needs so many hides.

When I told Incredigirl that we could save on our meat bill if I bring a nice plump bear home, she threw up a bit in her mouth. Just not a palatable concept for her, I suppose...

Bear meat definitely has a stigma to it and this prevents a lot of people from trying it. You also get people like my brother who says it tastes fine but cannot get past the fact of eating bear. My grandpa would not even try it because he says the look too much like a person when you skin them

I have also fed people bear meat many times and they are in shock how good it is

Not my top choice of meat but still good and some recipes I really enjoy

[35 whelen]

I used to make sausage with fall bears and give away as moose ,people loved it

[KegRiver]

I know trappers can sell bear hides and bears are not classed as fur bearing animals.

I suspect it may be legal for anyone to sell the hide of a bear they shot, but I'd check it out thoroughly before deciding what to do.

I know it is legal for anyone to sell a tanned hide so a hunter could have the hide tanned and then sell it. Just add the cost of tanning to the selling price.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by 35 whelen

I used to make sausage with fall bears and give away as moose ,people loved it

I have not found a person yet that did not like well made bear sausage. Stir fry, tacos, and burgers also go over well

[brewster29]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

That is where I started bear hunting. The funny thing is you have some in BC who wish it was hide only and those in Alberta who wish it was meat only. No matter which one is mandatory someone is not happy

Too bad Alberta did not have a program where hunters could donate bear hides. Maybe they could be sent to the fur auction and proceeds go to wildlife/habitat

As a long time BC hunter I can tell you the bear meat recovery requirement was solely implemented in order to placate the granola eater types. Bears were not to be considered only a "trophy" animal. The same line of reasoning recently resulted in cougar having the same requirement.

What it has done is greatly reduce the number of bears being shot by casual hunters, since handling the meat is a much more onerous requirement than recovering a hide.

Unfortunately, as many know, an increase in bear numbers will result in a decrease in ungulate calf/fawn survival. In meetings with provincial wildlife biologists, regarding low ungulate counts, local hunters were told they could/should shoot their limit of bears to help out!

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by brewster29

As a long time BC hunter I can tell you the bear meat recovery requirement was solely implemented in order to placate the granola eater types. Bears were not to be considered only a "trophy" animal. The same line of reasoning recently resulted in cougar having the same requirement.

What it has done is greatly reduce the number of bears being shot by casual hunters, since handling the meat is a much more onerous requirement than recovering a hide.

Unfortunately, as many know, an increase in bear numbers will result in a decrease in ungulate calf/fawn survival. In meetings with provincial wildlife biologists, regarding low ungulate counts, local hunters were told they could/should shoot their limit of bears to help out!

Grew up in a family of bear hunters and watched the law’s progress in BC in stages from no retention to hind quarters to all edible portions. I completely realize it was political and not hunters because those who wanted the meat always could

It had a huge impact on bear harvest at first but in recent years more in BC target bears and eat bear meat. I have not been gone from BC long

Not advocating Alberta to go mandatory meat harvest but instead I find it a pain to have to recover the hide when I don’t have a use for it unless it’s something special. In a perfect world it would be hide or meat recovery hunters choice but that is not the case.

[Flight01]

Originally Posted by 35 whelen

Just a question ? do use the meat,

Not sure about OP , but I eat bear meat. Also trim and render all that fat. Walking White gold . Great in pastry and other cooking and very common used “medicine”

[Flight01]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Grew up in a family of bear hunters and watched the law’s progress in BC in stages from no retention to hind quarters to all edible portions. I completely realize it was political and not hunters because those who wanted the meat always could

It had a huge impact on bear harvest at first but in recent years more in BC target bears and eat bear meat. I have not been gone from BC long

Not advocating Alberta to go mandatory meat harvest but instead I find it a pain to have to recover the hide when I don’t have a use for it unless it’s something special. In a perfect world it would be hide or meat recovery hunters choice but that is not the case.

NL and BC are meat recovery not hide. AB is hide recovery not meat.....???
Either way it’s good that people get out in early season and save a few calves and fawns.

[Battle Rat]

Originally Posted by KegRiver

I know trappers can sell bear hides and bears are not classed as fur bearing animals.

I suspect it may be legal for anyone to sell the hide of a bear they shot, but I'd check it out thoroughly before deciding what to do.

I know it is legal for anyone to sell a tanned hide so a hunter could have the hide tanned and then sell it. Just add the cost of tanning to the selling price.

Any bear legally shot, so tagged or shot on private land may be sold.
It's on page 19 of the trapping regs.
Basically the same for beaver and coyote where you don't need a trapper license to sell them.

[Hunter3006]

Hi,
I was also wondering about bear hides. Last year was my first bear hunt and it was awesome! I sent the hide to a taxidermist and am still waiting for it to be finished. I tried bear meat 2 years ago and love it. A totally underrated meat in my opinion lol. This year, my son and I will be hunting bear again and were wondering what to do with the hides. We are located in the High Level area. Is there anyone on here that would like our hides or know of someone wanting them. Free to the taking We may possibly have 2.

[shawn]

Considering the current state of our ungulate populations harvesting predators, such as bears should be a top priority. I wonder if changing the regulations to allow for taking the meat OR the hide would increase harvest rates. Personally I know if I didn’t have to retain the hide, I would probably hunt them more. My brother loves bear meat but I don’t see him hunting them much more due to the hide retention rules. How would we go about getting this rule changed?i know writing political figures seems to be a useless endeavour.

[aardvaark]

Originally Posted by Hunter3006

Hi,
I was also wondering about bear hides. Last year was my first bear hunt and it was awesome! I sent the hide to a taxidermist and am still waiting for it to be finished. I tried bear meat 2 years ago and love it. A totally underrated meat in my opinion lol. This year, my son and I will be hunting bear again and were wondering what to do with the hides. We are located in the High Level area. Is there anyone on here that would like our hides or know of someone wanting them. Free to the taking We may possibly have 2.

Might be an idea to post this in the trapping section, you might get a trapper that will take it, flesh it, and sell it. But you have to leave the claws on. And get it to him in a short period before the hair starts to slip. Or freeze it if you have a freezer with you. Salt it only if it’s been fleshed. And find out how to skin out the paws to leave the claws on and flesh out of there.

[wildwoods]

I would shoot more bears if it were an “either/or” scenario with hide vs meat. And if they need a certain quota shot, why not have a “donate the hide” program?

[Osky]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

I have not found a person yet that did not like well made bear sausage. Stir fry, tacos, and burgers also go over well

Smoky, black bear also makes the best jerky on the planet.

Osky

[Ronaround]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Bear meat definitely has a stigma to it and this prevents a lot of people from trying it. You also get people like my brother who says it tastes fine but cannot get past the fact of eating bear. My grandpa would not even try it because he says the look too much like a person when you skin them

I have also fed people bear meat many times and they are in shock how good it is

Not my top choice of meat but still good and some recipes I really enjoy

Question.Keep in mind im asking as i dont have a slightest idea on the answer> Spring bear, mainly around the first week or 2 in may, is the meat decent to really eat as,they just came out of hibernation ,pushing the plug out maybe a week at most?
Is all the waste in the system purged enough for a decent bear meat? lastly when there on some old nasty bait like overripe beaver ,will that not complicate the issue?
my last guide said it wasn't good ,not sure if it was a pain to additionally process or the thoughts from above>

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Osky

Smoky, black bear also makes the best jerky on the planet.

Osky

I like bear jerky but I will take moose or elk jerky over it any day. It could be you use a better recipe though because a good brine can go a long ways