Very good. Smoked bear ribs are a favorite. Cans and stores well. If frozen, we prefer to eat it within 6-9 months

Smoked bear ribs are a delicacy.
Years ago when I lived up in the canyon I took bear regularly for meat and hides.
Often when skinning and butchering in the yard,the oler women would come over and help,and would ask for the ribs.I only took the legs,neck meat and backstraps,so no problem giving the ribs to the neighbors.
One day old George,a neighbor brought over a big bowl of fresh smoked bear ribs for me.First time I tried them-Man what a great treat they are.

Both Michigan bears I shot were real tasty. Wife and kid approved too!

Way I understand it, the open dumps back in the day and hunters not cooling them down lead to all the bad raps about it tasting bad.

Fall bears are the best eating, as long as they're not feeding on garbage. I like to make mostly sausage and render the lard for baking, it also makes wonderful soap, now is when they are fattest. MonsterToms has the best tasting bears in North America in his area, peaches and all sorts of fruit. I had some given to me a few years ago and it's wonderful. Garbage dump bears taste like what they eat.

I've eaten bear 3 different times. Twice at a game feed and once where a guy who was supposed to make the best bear around, according to some people. I thought it was the worst wild game for eating there is and I've eaten beaver, muskrat, coon, which I thought were pretty decent.

I concur on fish eating bears.