I had read somewhere recently that something like 90% of all black bears over 5 years old will carry it. You can cut out a golf ball portion of the tongue and send it off to certain labs/universities to get tested.
Printable View
Simple solution = meat thermometer.
I had a chance to try bear a few years back, and loved it! Given the opportunity, I would not pass up a chance to put some bear in the freezer.
Not sure why the huge scare over the meat. If It's treated the same as pork you will be fine. No reason to char it to make it safe. Like previously stated cook to 165 same as pork.
What HJ said.
I myself love almost all game meat (Divers being the exception). By far and I do mean by far, my girls, my GF, her daughter, anyone Ive given meat to.
They prefer bear.
Love the sausages, ground, roast.
The Back straps and sirloins Ive been doing in something of a stew for them (their favorite by far).
Wish I had more in the freezer myself.
I am considering a late Sept bear hunt next year.
When you consider what it cost to go Moose hunting, and how much meat a party of 6 might go home with assuming they get and fill a bull tag.
Vs 4-6 200-300 pound bears ( I think I got about 50pds from mine this year) plus all kinds and of grouse and fish, once each person in the group fills their bear tag.........
Bear requires a higher internal temperature than pork - no need to cook pork to 165. In fact, the USDA recently lowered the safe temp for pork to 145F due to the fact that pork is no longer allowed to be fed restaurant garbage containing rats and mice which was the norm a few decades ago. That is what caused the farm raised pigs to contract trichinosis and in turn, pass it on to people who had consumed it without cooking it thoroughly enough to kill it.
Yes I did hear that actually. The point I was trying to make is that people should not need to be afraid to eat bear meat. There are similar risks in pork and chicken but people don't feel they need to cook the crap out of those meats, bear should be handled the same.
2 words that are gonna change everybodies life for ever
BEAR BACON
i am so trying that next year :)