First time eating bear…great success!

[Turkeytider]

Trichinosis creeps me out.





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Gotta cook it good, for sure! Sometimes I think I took too much microbiology in school!

 

[OldPete]

Glad to see it turned out well for you. I've done a few bear hams in my day also and have learned that especially with the bigger bears it is best to smoke for a couple hours and finish in the oven.

 

[BRWNBR]

Black bear burger with 5% pork added is what I do. Its amazing. Better than moose in my families opinion. Black bear roast in the crock pot is pretty much the best wild game roast going. Black bear breakfast sausage…well…it’s a home staple

 

[Poser]

We eat black bear Bolognese about once a week on average. I also routinely make black bear guinness stew and carnitas, too. I agree with others, I like it better than venison.

 

[BCD]

While what you cooked up looks and sounds delicious, bear is one of my least favorite. I haven't hunted one in a long long time.

I will never eat bear again.

 

[Jason Snyder]

Bear is fantastic in about every braised recipe I’ve used it in. Chile Colorado, Irish stew, French Dips…

 

[Ram94]

I will never eat bear again.

Go on…

 

[LostArra]

I’ll admit, I was a bit nervous—cooking bear for the first time and for eight friends—but it turned out incredible! Some of the tastiest ham I’ve ever had. I even made biscuits with rendered bear grease as a side.

Half the guys there had never hunted before, and I’m convinced that after this meal, they’d support hunting wholeheartedly. There’s nothing quite like gathering with friends, sharing game you harvested, and embracing what we were made to do!

You are a bold chef with pit master skills and some very good friends. Trying out your first bear recipe on some non-hunters takes guts. Kudos to you. Those photos could be in a cookbook.

I test new recipes on my son in-law (a hunter) who will eat anything without complaint if he has a bottle of hot sauce nearby.

 

[MI223]

I shot my first bear about a month ago on public land here in the Appalachia and decided to host a bear dinner for a group of friends. What better way for men to gather/fellowship than by feasting on a beast!

I used a recipe from Steve Rinella’s cookbook, and it turned out fantastic. First, I brined the meat in a salt and sugar mixture for five days. Then I slow-cooked it on my Kamado Joe at 225°F for around eight hours, aiming for an internal temperature of 170°F. Eight hours was longer than needed, so I took it slow. About 1.5 hours before serving, I started basting the meat with a honey and brown sugar glaze, with a touch of cinnamon and ginger.

I’ll admit, I was a bit nervous—cooking bear for the first time and for eight friends—but it turned out incredible! Some of the tastiest ham I’ve ever had. I even made biscuits with rendered bear grease as a side.

Half the guys there had never hunted before, and I’m convinced that after this meal, they’d support hunting wholeheartedly. There’s nothing quite like gathering with friends, sharing game you harvested, and embracing what we were made to do!

Thanks for sharing. Going on my first bear hunt this June. I have always been a little weirded out by eating bear just due to ignorance. After some research I am excited, it sounds like a terrific game meet

 

[PAcondor]

Bear meat with a touch of pork loin ground together makes for a great burger!

 

[teph45]

My family and I have eaten enough of them to say they taste like the best pork we have ever eaten. We take very good care of our bear starting as soon as they hit the ground. If you can skin and quarter them and get them in a hanging cooler as quick as possible they will be great. We go so far as to pack them with ice on the way to camp from the woods. I think a lot of folks that think bear is not good have not truly taken good care of the meat. Even save the ribs and throw them on the grill for a real treat!

 

[RADunfee]

By far one of the best game meats. I use a ton of ground for various things. Bearsagna, bearghetti, tacos, burgers, etc. But you should also try a Mississippi pot roast!

 

[deerhunter5555]

Black bear is delicious ground into breakfast sausage. Cut in pork fat and add seasoning recipes for sausage found online.