From OutKick · Austin Perry · · 1m 10s
Eva Shockey hunts bears for conservation, not the taste
The outdoor enthusiast explains why she hunts bears and why she won't eat them.
In brief
The outdoor enthusiast explains why she hunts bears and why she won't eat them. Bear hunting serves conservation purposes by controlling overpopulation, but the meat isn't palatable enough for most hunters to keep. Originally reported by OutKick.
Eva Shockey hunts bears on air
The Outdoor Channel star joined Tomi Lahren's show to discuss her lifelong passion for bear hunting and why it matters for conservation.
Overpopulation drives bear hunts
Biologists determine how many bears an area can sustain, then set hunting quotas to prevent overpopulation that damages crops and neighborhoods.
“you need to have this many bears that can sustain the wildlife... and so this is how many you can hunt off of there”
Bear meat tastes too gamey
Shockey eats bear when she hunts it, but finds the flavor too strong compared to elk. She describes it as flavorful in a way that's not her favorite.
“It's flavorful in a way that's not my favorite.”
She donates the meat instead
Since Shockey doesn't enjoy bear meat, she donates it to locals in her area rather than waste it. Bear is sometimes used in sausages.
“If I had a choice and I have elk in my freezer and bear I would absolutely choose elk”
Bear hunting serves a real purpose
Unlike some hunting debates, bear hunting is widely accepted as necessary for wildlife management and preventing human-wildlife conflicts.
The takeaway
Bear hunting serves conservation purposes by controlling overpopulation, but the meat isn't palatable enough for most hunters to keep.
