Find another taxidermist. It may not be that they are shorting you but they may not be properly cleaning the hide and getting the "fluff" that makes bears look big. The last one I mounted took a whole bottle of Pert to clean it and the fluff is great. You are gonna pay for quality and if you don't mind that, send it to someone who can give you what you want, even if it's across the country. Maybe in your area guys don't know what a bear looks like. I know that sounds stupid but there is a look to a bear that some guys can't or don't get.