RE: How to convince wife of safety of bear hunting....
Don't drag it. Go to a taxidermist and learn the cuts you need to make on the bear for what type of mount you want. If you are getting a rug made, learn where to make the cuts up the arms, and you can usually take the hide and head out in one pack. Leave the ankles and the head attached to the hide if you aren't familiar with turning toes, ears, lips, nose, and eyes, as these details will show on your mount when finished. If you decide to drag, bring a sled or something to put the bear on, you don't want to rub any hair off, as that will show on the mount as well. It took three of us to carry my first bear 200 yards from the woods to the boat, but we had to stop frequently because of its weight, and they are awkward to carry.
You might consider bringing a pack frame or two along with you. You can skin the bear out in the field and put the head and hide in one pack, and the quarters and back straps in the other pack, that way you can get in and out of there, and not have to leave anything out in the field.