Re: Bear Advice for the newbie
What Gone_Fishn_ said. You can probably split the breastbone on a bear with a Havalon, but the pelvis seems more skookum than a deer or moose. The zap strap idea sounds good.
Spring bear may be different, but I got a bear last fall and it was way fatter than any moose or deer I've seen. I found the process greasier as a result, but the fat is great stuff to keep and render.
I heard a trick that I'm going to try: get a sharp knife to start skinning, then either dull that knife a bit or get a duller knife to get the hide off. Apparently it allows for going closer to the skin without damaging it. Haven't tried it so I can't recommend it, but like I say, I'm going to try it.
I can tell you that running out of bear fat from the fall bear made me want another and eating the last ham made my wife want another.
Last fall was my first bear. I'm a convert. Gatehouse suggested I butcher it myself but I ended up going to a game cutter. Unless I'm faced with a Monday morning deadline I'm going to butcher the next one myself and do way less sausage and more hams and other cuts.
Like you, I was out earlier this month and ended up too high camping by a frozen lake. The bears were lower, where the green was (duh!)
BTW, grab the heart for sure. I found it strongly flavored, but great. I will repeat.
Rob Chipman
"The idea of wilderness needs no defense, it only needs defenders" - Ed Abbey
"Grown men do not need leaders" - also Ed Abbey