My guess is after 8 years and he hasn't done anything with your Bear Hide he either waited too long and it went bad or he sold it to someone else....would it even be any good after 8 years?

You've done the right thing by not taking any more animals back to him to mount or have tanned,it is a shame to loose a Friendship over a Bear but if he was a honest friend he should have told you what really happened to your Bear!If you put any money down on the Bear I would ask for a refund and tell him where to "Stuff Your Bear".....if you know what I mean!