Leaving a bear overnight

[Banana_Horn]

Hi everyone,

I shot a pretty nice bear last week, but unfortunately I shot it late in the evening and had to recover it the next morning. The shot was good but it disappeared into the jungle and we didn’t feel right chasing it in the near dark in there. We recovered it the next morning after a very short search, we expect the bear dies within minutes of the shot.

I’ve been hearing some conflicting reports on leaving bears overnight, the meat was a little warm in the hams and shoulders, but it didn’t smell bad. I am looking to see if anyone has done anything similar and had everything turn out okay, or if anyone has had any issues with spoilage

Thanks.

 

[Werty]

If it doesn't smell, you should be good. Cook it and if it has a bad taste, don't eat.
I shot an elk years ago and it got bone soured, but you could push through it.

Was the hair slipping?

 

[Laelkhunter]

If you decide to try it, make sure you cook it very well. You could get trichinosis from bear that is undercooked, so if the meat is in question, cook it until well done for sure. If it doesn't pass the smell test, trash it.

 

[Banana_Horn]

If it doesn't smell, you should be good. Cook it and if it has a bad taste, don't eat.
I shot an elk years ago and it got bone soured, but you could push through it.

Was the hair slipping?

Got it, thanks. The hair was not slipping at all when I got it to the taxidermist 2 days later.

I was able to have all the meat cooling in game bags within 12 hours, and in a freezer chilling in 18 hours, which is kind of amazing considering how far out we were hunting

 

[HuntWyld]

I’ve been apart of bear kills in late November with snow on the ground that had spoilage of the rear hams around the ball joint just from sitting from after dark until early the next morning. People should never leave an animal overnight if it can be avoided, tracking a wounded bear in thick stuff is not ideal I’ve been there and I get it but I see influencers do it regularly over any little excuse and it drives me crazy. If the meat has spoilage it’ll have a slimy brownish green consistency and color but you also cannot “cook” the spoilage out of meat like the comment above suggests. Once meat is rancid it’ll make you sick regardless how long you cook it. It’s the biproduct of the growing bacteria that makes you sick so even if you kill the bacteria from heat what they left behind will still get you.

 

[Lowell]

Hi everyone,

I shot a pretty nice bear last week, but unfortunately I shot it late in the evening and had to recover it the next morning. The shot was good but it disappeared into the jungle and we didn’t feel right chasing it in the near dark in there. We recovered it the next morning after a very short search, we expect the bear dies within minutes of the shot.

I’ve been hearing some conflicting reports on leaving bears overnight, the meat was a little warm in the hams and shoulders, but it didn’t smell bad. I am looking to see if anyone has done anything similar and had everything turn out okay, or if anyone has had any issues with spoilage

Thanks.

High risk of hair slipping. How do you know when you will find it the next day. Always take 3 good flashlights.

 

[MTguy0341]

Like others said smell check. If it’s too far gone it will also have a greenish tint to it.

 

[wowzers]

Nose tells you everything.

 

[Sawbonehunter]

Depends on outside temp but most likely it is fine


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[mostlybirch]

As above but why shoot it if its so late you can't track it?

 

[Banana_Horn]

As above but why shoot it if its so late you can't track it?

Not really a tracking job needed. I shot it and we could hear it huffing and barking in the brush about 10 yards into the brush. We could hear the bear making some movement in there, and neither me or my partner felt comfortable going in there, and made the decision to wait the night.

We were in southeast Alaska, and while it was decently light out on the beach where I shot, the rainforest canopy increases the darkness alot. We decided it was not worth the risk.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

If there was no smell, weird color or slimy film, you’re good. Meat that’s gone bad will be fairly obvious.

 

[wyosam]

With high likelihood it died within minutes, just give it 30 minutes and go get it. If not ready to collect a well hit bear, go home sooner. I can see if it’s a rodeo, but you should also make sure it’s not going to be a rodeo if you’re not ready for a long night.


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[Yoteassasin]

Could be ok .. I’m a get it off the bone asap guy

 

[Banana_Horn]

With high likelihood it died within minutes, just give it 30 minutes and go get it. If not ready to collect a well hit bear, go home sooner. I can see if it’s a rodeo, but you should also make sure it’s not going to be a rodeo if you’re not ready for a long night.


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Yeah I hear ya, at the time we weren’t sure whether the bear would be dead quickly or slowly though. We had a good feeling but I’m not about to do something that compromises safety for me and my hunting partner.

Hunting decisions are full of could’ve should’ve would’ve. In this instance, we made the decision we made, I’m just asking if the meat has been okay when others have done similar. I feel good about the decision I made.

Sounds like I’m all good though, the meat wasn’t green, didn’t smell or have any indication of going bad, and the hair didn’t slip.

 

[rclouse79]

I am always hesitant to shoot a bear at the end of shooting light by myself. I have shot near the end of shooting light, but I am usually with a buddy and we both have sidearms and bright headlamps. Makes it easier to swallow going into the bush.

 

[2ski]

What does hair slipping mean? From a guy who's never hunted bear before?

 

[Lowell]

What does hair slipping mean? From a guy who's never hunted bear before?

Can not make a mount, or rug

 

[Poser]

I put a rolled up hide and head overnight in my deep freezer (-20 to -25) before in Sept. Took it out the next morning to go check it in and it wasn't even frozen. Cold and a little stiff? yes. That was a pretty good eye opener into how well bear hides insulate.

 

[mostlybirch]

I put a rolled up hide and head overnight in my deep freezer (-20 to -25) before in Sept. Took it out the next morning to go check it in and it wasn't even frozen. Cold and a little stiff? yes. That was a pretty good eye opener into how well bear hides insulate.

Much like moose hide, imperative to open it up ASAP. Even in late September Alaska temperatures its still like an oven inside hours later. Or a tauntaun.