I've never cured the paws of a bear before, but I have removed the claws which can be done with pliers and a knife, just be careful to protect the claw itself from the pliers so as not to crush it or damage them. I throw them in a coffee can and cover them with salt and shake the can once a day. Give them enough time to completely dry out and them drill a small hole through which you can lace them together on a leather strap.

Now for the skull, I have found no easy way to do it. Boiling, letting the ants eat it the flesh off .. they are all messy jobs. My buddys and I have settled on the boiling and then pulling with pliers .. and a twisted clothes hanger for getting the internal stuff out. Take your time and boil some more if it is not coming off easily enough. When it is clean.. or as clean as you feel you can get it, let it dry and work some more on it when everything is dry. From that dry state I add bleach to water in a 5 gallon bucket and leave it over night. The skull comes out white and it won't smell ever again. I suggest a little super glue on the inside of the jaw to secure the teeth as they will get lose through the process.

Of course the option of sending it off to be cleaned by beetles will seem a whole lot more worth it about 50 minutes into the cleaning process!

Good luck, and when you are done you'll have something to look at and remember your hunt from.