Bear Gall?

[CastIronCook2]

OK, so here's the deal: I know that the law states that only the person who legally kills the bear may partake of all the parts of the bear. The successful bear hunter may neither sell nor give away any part of the bear he harvests. OK, I got that.

But I also know that in the Orient the gall bladder of the bear is highly prized for its medicinal qualities. So, if Hubbest wants to use this prized commodity for his own health, how should he go about processing it? It is presently hanging in the wood shed. What then, we would like to know? Again, not to sell and not to barter, but to use for our own purposes. How do we treat it properly? Can anyone advise?

[kawalekm]

I'd suggest taking a trip to San Francisco and visiting a Chinese medicine shop. If you just walk around in Chinatown I'm sure you could find someone to direct you to the right spot within 5 minutes. A Chinese herbalist (is that what you would call them?) should be able to tell you what to do with your gall bladder.

[CastIronCook2]

Thanks, Kawalekm. There might be one closer than San Francisco. I'll look around.

[tomato204]

Not all state laws are the same on bear parts. Just remember that some other things long-revered in Chinese medicine have been shown to be useless without the hocus-pocus. Rhino horn for instance is identical to keratin in your fingernails, yet sells for big bucks, it's traditional!

[cabinfever]

I suggest you roast the meat, tan the hide, make a necklace of the teeth and claws but bury the gall bladder with the rest of the offal.
Was that the Federal laws on bear use you're talking about or do different states have different laws? We get a lot of bear hunters who, quite frankly, irk me because all they want is the hide. A hunter must make use of the meat but he can give it away. I usually take a couple spring bears IF (usually a big IF) they've taken care of the meat right but I sign a form saying I'm using the meat for them to turn in with their tags.

[Mitch]

I would leave the gall blatter right on top of the gut pile just as the guide lines say, unless of course you need to meet a new Federal Judge and spend a little quality time down in Atlanta Federal Prison :)

They be serious about this endangered species stuff. A woman was arrested out in California not long ago for a guitar pick! Made from tortis shell of course. That guitar pick earned her a $2500 fine and 18 months in Federal Jail!!! Quite an expensive pick :)

Mitch