I've rendered bear lard off 3 of the last 4 we have killed. I use the following:
Propane stove.
Stainless 3 or 4 gallon pot
Cheesecloth
large funnel
quart canning jars, lids and rims
ladle and a wooden spoon
Beer
Put about a quart of water in bottom of the pot. Dice up the bear fat in about 1" cubes and fill pot up about halfway or a little less. Put stove on low heat and let it simmer. Stir it often while it starts to melt.
You'll get a feel for it, but once you get quite a bit of melted lard in the pot, start ladling it out. Put the funnel in the quart jar, double stack cheesecloth in the funnel and ladle it into the funnel. You should get a clear amber fluid in the jar. In a small pot have the lids simmering. Immediately put a lid on the quart jar and screw the rim on.
The next day it should set up and look snow white. The biggest issue I have had is getting the temp too high and scorching the lard. That makes it unuseable for cooking.
Done right, these jars last for years and provide great ingredients for baking as well as leather treatment. Hoping to render more this September. Good luck.
