I'm new to bear hunting too, so this thread is of considerable interest to me. Two things I'm CERTAIN have to go along is, of course, a good sharp knife and a sharpener plus a high quality game bag. That depends on how far you are from your road end for the game bag I reck'n. Then I'm think'n one of the fold up game carriers would be just the cat's meow. I don't think I want to drag a gutted animal of ANY kind a mile or two back to my pickup. That's my take on it, sure would like to hear from others who've been there, seen it, done it, and bought the T shirt.