Bear Hunting

I just returned from a week chasing bears at our bear camp. This year in our group there were three new bear hunters who were relatively inexperienced. They each shot a bear over 5 feet in length and wanted to take the hide to a taxidermist for rugs and half mounts. None of the hunters knew how to prepare the hide for taxidermy and how to preserve it. I thought I would give you a few tips about hide preperation.

First, there are three essential pieces of equipment. A carpet knife and spare blades, bag of course salt, and a thermo-cell to keep the bugs off! Also, It is better to skin the bear right after it was shot as the hide will be much easier to remove.

1) Take your bear and lay it on his back with legs spread out. Make a cut from the bottom of the pad on the front paw down to the elbow and accross to the center of the chest. Repeat with the other front leg so the cuts meet in the center of the chest.

2) Make a cut from the base of the chin to the base of the tail, directly down the middle of the body

3) Make a cut from the base of the hind foot down the back of the leg to the base of the tail. Repeat with the other hind leg jointing the two cuts at the tail

4) Skin the hide starting at the hind end and working to the head

5) When you get to an ankle, skin the hide off the paw to the 2nd knuckle where it attaches to the claw.

NOTE: If it is for a rug you can remove the large pad or split it down the middle to make it easier. If it's for a shoulder mount or life size mount make a cut alongside the large pad leaving a small amount of hair still attached to the pad

6) When you reach the head skin it off until you can feel the ear cartilage then cut through the ear canal on both sides of the head

7) Stick your finger inside the eye lid from the outside and carefully skin it off the skull being careful not to cut yourself or make a hole.

8) Skin off the remainder of the hide from the skull

NOTE: If you are able to get to a freezer or taxidermist within 1-2 days, roll the hide up and put it in a garbage bag and keep cool.

If not..
9) Split the lips open from the inside, skinning them down so they are completely inverted

10) Completely invert both ears

11) Spread the hide out on the ground leaving the head inverted (hair side in)

12) Apply a liberal amount of salt to the hide ensuring you fill all of the toes and every crease. Add a large amount of salt to the head and fold it back onto the hide

13) Roll the hide up, put it in a garbage bag or tote and keep in a cool place or freezer until you can get it to a taxidermist

NOTE: If you are not comfortable skinning the paws and head leave them attached to the hide and have the taxidermist remove them.

For more information and great videos, photographs and more visit www.houndpoundn.com.