I recommend getting ALL the fat and meat off........if you are out in the bush, take the time. I agree with the other fellas, turn the ears all the way. Had a bear come in this spring that the ears were turned except for the last inch. The weather was comfortable, not cool but not hot.........the hair slipped on the last inch of the ear and what a smell when I was turning the rest of the ear. The bear was in the bush, skinned and salted for two days. It does not take long for the bacteria to start growing which will cause the hair slippage. Turn the lips and the nose as much as you can so when you salt it, you won't loose the hair around the lips or the nose. Use fine salt, not course salt. Course salt will not adequately cover the hide and you will have problems. Use as much salt as possible and work the salt into all areas of the hide or cape as possible. The cheese cloth idea is great....it is breathable and the salt will naturally pull moisture out of the cape and will allow it to wick out. It's a bit messy but really effective. Definately don't use a plastic bag (especially in heat) and don't put the cape in water.......you will definately loose hair on the hide in both accounts.I encourage my customers to come into my shop to learn how to skin out heads, even if they are not going on a trip where they don't have access to a freezer or a taxidermist. Which ever taxidermist you choose, should be willing to show you some tips......if not.......you may want to find another one. A good taxidermist should want the work that is coming out of his shop to be top notch and in reality, he should want to hang it on his own wall as much as you should want to hang it on yours..........if that's the case, he has done a good job. Hope this helps, let me know if you need clarification on any of it.Marco
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