Gutless methos on Bears

[VAspeedgoat]

I am assuming this is pretty much the same as a deer but wss curious to hear from guys with experience. I am planning on doing some deer/bear combo hunts around home in areas with high bear populations that are a good ways from the truck. I willl have both boys with me at 11 and 8. I am not planning on doing anything with the hide but will likely bleach the skull. I'm too cheap to pay a taxidermist. Also, I have never gotten a bear or been around them so no detail is too small. This may be for nothing as I still need to follow up with DGIF to see if the bear needz to be in whole condition for weighing to verify minumum weight restrictions. Thanks .

 

[Deleted member 28227]

Not sure what the bear laws are in VA but in MT you need to check all edible portions plus hide. That being said I have successfully used the gutless method on two bears, although slightly modified. Basically I throw the bear on its back cut up the middle, then one one cut from paw to the center cut on each limb, and then pull the quarters off. I then roll the body cavity slightly so you can get the back straps off, stick my hand in behind the short ribs to grab the tenderloins, and then pull off as much neck, rib, and scrap meat as possible. The whole process can be done pretty quickly.
Also a cheap option for the hide is to either do it yourself or send it salted and stretched or green to a company like Foxx furs which will tan it so you can use is as a blanket, throw, ect. I think they charge $25 a foot plus like $100 if it's green. Good luck!

 

[whiskeydog]

Not sure what the bear laws are in VA but in MT you need to check all edible portions plus hide.

In MT you do not check the "edible portions"...you only check the hide and skull. You are required to bring out the quarters, backstrap, and loins, but they do not need to be taken for inspection.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

I've just always gone straight from the field to the office... And they always asked me to pull the meat out of the truck so I just assumed.

 

[Blueniner9]

I've just always gone straight from the field to the office... And they always asked me to pull the meat out of the truck so I just assumed.

This. Both bears that I checked, the Warden specifically asked not only to see the hide, but also all of the meat. I know it's not specifically in the regs, but in practice, that has been my experience as well. Really no big deal to me, I'm eating it all anyway, and both times the Wardens were super cool, even the last time when the hide was frozen (I shot the bear on a Friday and couldn't check it until Monday) and we had a tough time getting the hide sealed.

 

[El Jason]

The only bear I've killed I did the gutless method and it worked very well. I caped out the entire side, took off the quarters, rolled it over, finished caping, took quarters, caped up the head and removed it. You end up with a full bear hide w/ head attached, and all of your meat.

Make sure you ascertain if the head has to be attached to the hide.