Bear hide prep?

[Cowboy Al]

I'm hunting bear for the first time this spring and if I get one I want to treat the hide right. Whats the best way to go about it for rug prep? I figuire once skinned I would salt it immediately and then get it into my freezer. Is that the best approach? I'm also concerned about getting the paws to look right, so I was considering cutting them with a saw at the wrist and letting the taxidermist do the skinning out. Am I on the right track?

[Bill Yox]

Cowboy Al, its either or. Either salt, which means skin everything and turn it first, OR freeze it all. If you skin but leave some areas and salt it, it wont protect it in the freezer, as some areas wont freeze. I dont know your set up, but Id try skinning it off the carcass, save the head and paws for the professional, and get it to a cooler and on to the taxidermist.

If you choose to skin it, skin everything completely, turn ears, nose and lips inside out, completely shave off ALL meat and fat, and then salt. Salt will not penetrate to the hide if theres fat inbetween. Good luck to you!

[Pro-Line]

If you're not experienced at skinning out head/feet, I wouldn't. I've done it both ways, and to me, it's worth the $50 (What my taxi charges) to let him do it. In ideal conditions, it's not too hard to skin out the head/feet, but a lot of the time we do not have ideal conditions to work with.

I just skinned mine and cleaned off the majority of the fat. Leave the head intact, cut the paws at the wrists and fold it up so that no hide is touching skin. Worked for me...My mounts turned out beautifully.

[Bill Yox]

Proline, I think we are saying the same thing. I just wanted to caution folks not to salt some areas, and hope that in the freezer that the raw unsalted areas would freeze. Its the areas inbetween that dont, like around the neck, wrists, etc. Ive seen enough of them slip this way, unfortunately.

Your very best bet? Before you head out, make two important calls. Find out from your outfitter what kind of arrangements he typically makes. If he says he doesnt run into that situation very often, Id also question his success rate, hahaha! Okay, I was kidding on that last part. Your next call should be to the taxidermist you plan to use. Ask him what he suggests, given the circimstances youll have.

Hope you have a successful hunt, and the same good luck proline had with his bear!