I bet I've tried to eat bear a dozen times and, to me, it's just nasty....The closest way it was somewhat palatable was when a guy brought in a haunch that he had smoked......He took it apart, removed all the fat and replaced it with bacon, tied it up and smoked it. I actually ate a whole piece of that, no seconds though.Bear is too greasy.
I prefer Antelope or Elk.
LOL....I killed a near 600# black bear that had been killing a farmer's pigs at night, he had got a kill permit for it so I did the deed for him as his eyes were bad. Since it was winter dad and I caped it out for him. I just wanted the skull and pecker bone. He wanted the hide for a rug.
Another guy was there and said he would take the meat for his coon dogs. He did.....A few weeks later I saw him at the morning eatery and asked if his dogs had ate all the bear meat yet and he laughed and said when he gave them some they just growled at it and then sorta pushed it into the corner of their pin.
I've seen a dead bear (a 400#er arrowed on another lease but went over on ours and died) just basically "melt" into the ground....Only the maggots and other assorted carrion insects would eat on it. I retrieved the skull/claws/pecker bone the next Spring.
Before you ask about the pecker bone I had a Native American friend that made stuff from them. He would also take the bear fat and render it.....He would not eat the meat either.
4 Step DIY Bear Baculum