Spring bear hunt: are the animals eaten, or just kept as trophies?

The announcement that Ontario'sspring bear hunt is returning has ignited some old discussions about the divisive issue, including this one: Do people actually eat bear meat or just take the pelts as trophies?

JohnKaplanisof Thunder Bay has been pursuing bears for two decades, and says the meat is excellent eating.

• Ontario plans to bring back spring bear hunt
• Outfitter thrilled with return of spring bear hunt
• Spring bear hunt should include ban on baiting,group says
• Neil Macdonald recalls bear hunt amid Cecil the lion furor

"For me it's one of my favourite table fares," he said. "Because the meat is quite tender and makes for a variety of really tasty meals. There are a variety of good reasons for keeping the meat and utilizing it."

Kaplanis says like many things about bear hunting, the quality of bear meat is largely misunderstood.

He says under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act a hunter who has harvested a black bear must by law retain the meat and use it for food.