North Carolina black bear - are they good eating? How are the hides?

[Desk Jockey]

I have never bear hunted before and am thinking about this as a hunt for 2018.

I have heard many people say that fish and shell fish eating black bears taste fishy and the best are blueberry fed bears in the high mountains.

I gather the NC black bears are feeding out of low land swamps and hitting a lot of corn and soybean fields. Anyone taken one and know if they taste any good?

Also, are the hides generally in good shape in the fall season? Some of the other areas I have been looking out say you have a better shot at a quality hide in spring when they come out of hibernation.

Thanks - DJ

 

[Superkodiak38]

A friend in Virginia has killed a few fall bears and they taste good, concentrate on saddles between acorn flats on ridges or trails into corn fields. Hides are good, generally hides in the spring get rubbed.

 

[rlmmarine]

The taste very good I go every year and monsters are taken. We use dogs over potato fieilds. PM me if you have any questionsView attachment 57552View attachment 57553View attachment 57554

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Eastern NC bears are more like you described. Western NC bears are more mountain fed. Both taste good, both can have good coats, but the eastern bears will be bigger.

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