Wow! Thats a biggin'

[Reb]

https://wfxl.com/news/offbeat/north-carolina-man-breaks-30-year-record-for-largest-black-bear-ever-harvested-in-western-north-carolina-haywood-county-hunting-food-source-eat-meat-carnivores-smoky-mountains-open-season-695-pounds-caleb-henry-jeff-teague-wildlife-resources-commission#:~:text=A%20hunting%20party%20in%20Haywood,of%20North%20Carolina's%20open%20season.&text=The%20previous%20record%20was%20688,early%201990s%20in%20Madison%20County

HAYWOOD COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — It took 30 years, but this past bear hunting season, a new name was placed next to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission record for the largest bear harvested in the western region of North Carolina.

The previous record was 688 pounds, killed by a bow hunter in the early 1990s in Madison County.

"I ran down the trail and I saw the bear, and I could tell it was a big bear, but honestly, you couldn't tell that it was 700 pounds," Teague said. "So, I got on the radio and yelled at Lucas (Teague) and Caleb (Henry), 'Hey, the bear's coming to you.' It went up the mountain to them, and then Luke and Caleb was able to cut it off, and Caleb was able to get the kill shot on it."

Even though the bear was killed by a hunting party consisting of hunting dogs and Teague's family members, it's Caleb Henry’s name that's in the record books because he made the shot that took the bear down.

Whenever it come off and up through there and I seen how big it was ... I'd never been in the woods with something that big," Henry said. "I would've never dreamed that it would've weighed that much. When they told me it was going to be the record, I didn't know what to think."
Hunting isn't just a sport for Henry, Teague and their families, but it also serves as a legitimate food source.

We eat about every bit of the meat we can off of it," Henry said.
"Last year, I think we had 28 quarts of bear meat," Teague added. "We don't buy a whole lot of meat here; we rely on bear and deer, and we don't buy much meat out of the store."

Teague said his family, like many in the mountains, have relied on hunting and survived on the food it has provided for generations.

Whoever's hunting in the party, we'll divvy it up," Teague said of the bear meat.
He said the terrain in the Smoky Mountains is often unsuitable for farming, so people rely on what they have. In this case, that means bears.

We are blessed with bears," Teague said.
Hunting also serves a purpose in keeping the black bear population from getting too high, Teague said.

"We're controlling the population, so to speak. We're not getting rid of the population, but we're helping control it, and that's just the way nature's supposed to be," Teague said.
"We enjoy doing it; it's part of our heritage," he continued, "and, good Lord willing, we're going to continue to do it."

[..]

Where I live.

Don't leave food in an outside car!!!!!

[Rams]

Long ago, my Uncle harvested a bear in Alaska, got it with an arrow.   Been too long to remember the whole story but, I do remember sitting at the table when bear "roast" was served.   I can't say I am a fan but, to each their own.

Rams

[RNFWP]

"I'd never been in the woods with something that big"

Cool article Reb, thanks for posting it...

[RNFWP]

Where I live.

Don't leave food in an outside car!!!!!

You've got some interesting neighbors. What's a quart of bear meat go for these days?

[Jess from VA]

Biggest thing I ever saw in the outdoors was a giant Black Angus bull... standing in the middle of a back road a group of us rode up on.  He towered over us, and I said "do NOT blow your horn or rev your exhaust at that thing, it might make him mad, and I'm the lead bike."

The farmer in our riding group said later... "that thing was probably a show bull and family pet."

Somewhere north of 800lbs (without the teeth, claws, and hopefully bad attitude).


Another time, I was riding alone in VA horse and cow country, and stopped along a back road with a big stone/boulder fence.  There was a heard of black angus there, and a big bull took offense to my big black interstate and trotted over and made it clear he wanted me to leave.  Even with that big stone fence, I left.

[..]

Where I live.

Don't leave food in an outside car!!!!!

You've got some interesting neighbors. What's a quart of bear meat go for these days?

Dunno. I've been told it's very greasy with a strong flavor. No - not like chicken.

[Rams]

Where I live.

Don't leave food in an outside car!!!!!

You've got some interesting neighbors. What's a quart of bear meat go for these days?

Dunno. I've been told it's very greasy with a strong flavor. No - not like chicken.

It's been a long time but, as I remember it did have a greasy taste to it.   

Rams

[Jess from VA]

it did have a greasy taste to it

Just like the wild ducks and geese I ate... stinks too (and lead shot in it).  Yuk.

I'd have to be pretty hungry to eat any of that again.

Yes there are proper methods to prepare and cook all wild game, but no thanks.

[Valkorado]

it did have a greasy taste to it

Just like the wild ducks and geese I ate... stinks too (and lead shot in it).  Yuk.

I'd have to be pretty hungry to eat any of that again.

Yes there are proper methods to prepare and cook all wild game, but no thanks.

Been there done that.  My dad was a pheasant hunter.  Yuck!  A big no on bony, fishy trout as well, unless under apocalyptic circumstances.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Dang ! I never realized there was such aversion to eating wild animals. Black bears are great. Shot my first one when I was 16. Made mostly hamburger out of it. (It was nowhere near as big as the one Reb linked) Not much better than a fresh rainbow. There was no greater feeling than scoring 500 lbs. of moose before heading in to winter. A family of 6 can go a long ways on that. Eating Blacktail backstraps & potatoes at a Kodiak hunting camp rivals any fancy restaurant I’ve ever been to. I’m too old to hunt like I want anymore, but I look forward to my next halibut trip. 

[Jersey mike]

Dang ! I never realized there was such aversion to eating wild animals. Black bears are great. Shot my first one when I was 16. Made mostly hamburger out of it. (It was nowhere near as big as the one Reb linked) Not much better than a fresh rainbow. There was no greater feeling than scoring 500 lbs. of moose before heading in to winter. A family of 6 can go a long ways on that. Eating Blacktail backstraps & potatoes at a Kodiak hunting camp rivals any fancy restaurant I’ve ever been to. I’m too old to hunt like I want anymore, but I look forward to my next halibut trip. 

If you’re raised on it or eat game meats regularly your taste buds get use to the differences between wild meats and farm raised, also it would depend on how it’s prepared and cooked.

[JimmyG]

Dang ! I never realized there was such aversion to eating wild animals. Black bears are great. Shot my first one when I was 16. Made mostly hamburger out of it. (It was nowhere near as big as the one Reb linked) Not much better than a fresh rainbow. There was no greater feeling than scoring 500 lbs. of moose before heading in to winter. A family of 6 can go a long ways on that. Eating Blacktail backstraps & potatoes at a Kodiak hunting camp rivals any fancy restaurant I’ve ever been to. I’m too old to hunt like I want anymore, but I look forward to my next halibut trip. 

Agree,  I haven't had bear in a couple years now, but man if ya know what you are doing, it is great, deer, Elk, antelope, bring it. I too cannot hunt like I used to and I miss the wild meat.

[0leman]

Over the years, and there has been a lot of them, I have eaten a lot of critters.   I have had black bear, moose, deer, antelope, and rattle snake just to name a few.  Moose was at the top of the list.  Yeah, knowing how to prepare them is the key.  Thought the black bear was a bit strong, not really greasy.  Wife grew up eating wild meat, me I ate a lot of beef/pork that we raised growing up.  So it was a bit of a change for me.   When the kids left home and my wages went up, hunting for food wasn't a necessity anymore, so we switched the beef/pork/chicken/fish bought from the store.  Lot easier. 

I hunted pretty hard for 20 of the 22 years I spent in WY, killed 19 elk, 20 deer (wife got 5 deer additional deer), and 30 or so antelope. 

[LadyDraco]

Here's our Bull "Curly" He  5 yrs old.

He was only 4 yrs. in the photo below

[..]

Here's our Bull "Curly" He  5 yrs old.

He was only 4 yrs. in the photo below

 

[Jess from VA]

Here's our Bull "Curly" He  5 yrs old.

He was only 4 yrs. in the photo below

Where do you find a saddle for something like that Tracy?   

[cookiedough]

had bear once, not my cup of tea.  Never had antelope, how does that taste?