question about field dressing a PA BEAR

[whelen36]

hi , i was talking to a few of my co-workers who hunt and the subject of field dressing a bear came up , they have differing methods of what not and what to leave in the bear , and beings that they have to be taken to the check  and I've never been lucky enough to get a bear before I'm asking what the proper method is .

P.S. - one of them even said that at the check stations they ask you questions almost interrogation style and that it takes a long while , like over an hour to go through this process , so I'm also asking what the check station processes are like and how long they take

thanks in advance ,
whelen36
stephen d.

[DDelle338]

  What would you leave inside?

As far as the field dressing goes, take out the innards. Do it like you would do a deer. If you want to keep the heart or liver, put it in a plastic bag.
If you are not going to make it to the check station before rigormortis sets in (4-6hrs), you should put a stick or something in the bear’s mouth to keep it open. They will pull a tooth, and this will just make it easier for them.
  As for the interrogation, I didn’t feel that way at all. It did take awhile because of the number of hunters all there at the same time. The questions were the basic license info, weapon, caliber etc. etc. You will also have to show them the location of the kill on a map. I think it took me about 30 minutes total.
   If you come in there with a bear as stiff as a board and tell them you just shot it this afternoon, they are probably going to treat you like the poacher you are. You know what I mean?