Well here's what I did. Every situation is different and there is an ocean of gray area between a bear laying on the meat eating it and no bear sign.
I killed an elk and stashed meat overnight, not hung but within storage guidelines per the NF I was in. Next morning it had been strewn all about, some partially consumed, and one of three meat bags missing entirely. It could not have been a small bear, regardless of species. The area is within occupied griz range but is not what I'd consider a hot spot.
I took pictures, took the biggest remaining bag of meat, and hiked out. I called the warden, explained the situation, and asked him what I should do. His guidance was if the remaining meat was not apparently cached by the bear and/or pissed on ("claimed") that I needed to go back for it. I had been hunting alone, but brought a friend back for the rest of the meat and camp/antlers, which were elsewhere on that mountain. We packed it out and everything was fine. Two years later I found the remains of the third bag of meat, probably 200 yds from where it had been.
If he did not ask me to go back for the meat strewn about I absolutely would not have, even though I respect that warden and understand the rationale. Returning to meat, or worse yet a kill site, is the most dangerous aspect of hunting in grizzly county IMO, and by quite a bit. When exactly it's been "claimed" by a griz is not so black and white, and it's a line I don't have interest in walking more than necessary.
