Bear hides-help please

[reddeerhunter]

I plan of getting a few bears this year, daughters first and 1-2 kids seconds, but also want to take 1-2 myself and get them tanned and just have them as hanging on hooks(soft tan??).


Any body have solid intel on the cost of an average 6 foot nose to tail bear getting soft tanned( if thats the correct lingo???).


Also, where? Does the paws have to be pulled out too? I have done lots of heads but never paws.

Please help, the more reasons I can get to keep hunting bears the better.

[-JR-]

paws are just as easy as heads ,just keep on skinning .

[Big Grey Wolf]

Top raw black bear hide just went for $1100 US in last week FHA auction.

[saskwhitey]

If you do all the prep work, around 4-500 to get tanned(at least with my guy)

[Drewski Canuck]

Maybe watch a Youtube Video on skinning out the paws. You want to keep the claws on the hide, which is a bit tricky.

If it is important how the paws finish, you could just skin the paw out, and but the bone and leave the paw with pads attached for the Taxidermist to deal with for best results.

Derrick at Wilderness Creations actually has tanning tanks on site at his acreage which is a big advantage for quality control. He has done a great job for me, and has gone above and beyond for friends of mine on other bears.

Drewski

[ak77]

a couple of years back i paid around 700-800 for 5-6' bear, basic tan, no head though.
edmonton area. dunno if it was a good deal, i just called first taxidermist i could find

[kingrat]

If your good with a knife watch a couple videos and do the feet and claws. If not cut the foot off at the wrist joint and leave it, not sure about cost sorry.

[philintheblank]

If you can stretch and flesh your own hide, Send it to International Fur in Manitoba.

I sent a couple bears there a few years ago and it was a flat charge of $250 plus enviro fees and taxes. I would assume the prices have gone up a bit since then.

You have to pay shipping and get an export permit which adds a bit of cost, but they are the best tannery I have used.

[TrapperMike]

Be nice if all were $1100 instead of just one. Average only $142.

[Grizzly Adams1]

an average 6 foot nose to tail bear

More like 5 ft. I'm going to say your'e looking at paying at least a grand, for a rug with attached head, based on my last one.

[reddeerhunter]

I know the average bear is 5 feet but the ones we shoot will most likely be 6feet. An avg p&y bear.

Anyways. I tried tanning a couple myself and it was a lot of work and my problem is I dont have a lot of time to work the hides.


I guess where can I send a bear that has skull and paws removed?? Not looking for taxidermy rug. Just soft fur tanned to hang on a nail.


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[reddeerhunter]

Originally Posted by Drewski Canuck

Maybe watch a Youtube Video on skinning out the paws. You want to keep the claws on the hide, which is a bit tricky.

If it is important how the paws finish, you could just skin the paw out, and but the bone and leave the paw with pads attached for the Taxidermist to deal with for best results.

Derrick at Wilderness Creations actually has tanning tanks on site at his acreage which is a big advantage for quality control. He has done a great job for me, and has gone above and beyond for friends of mine on other bears.

Drewski

Thanks. Looking into this.


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[TrapperMike]

$50/ft seams to be a fair price

[Battle Rat]

Originally Posted by TrapperMike

Be nice if all were $1100 instead of just one. Average only $142.

I'd like to see that $1100 one.
Must have been an exceptional colour, not just size.

[Pathfinder76]

Get the bear first. :-)

[TrapperMike]

Talked to a trapper who traps bears and was at the sale and he told me that the top lot bear was nothing special and there was lots of bears that looked better.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by TrapperMike

Talked to a trapper who traps bears and was at the sale and he told me that the top lot bear was nothing special and there was lots of bears that looked better.

Any idea why raw bear hides are going so high? There was a time no long ago, when you could hardly give away a raw hide and even fully done rugs didn't attract a lot of interest. What is driving the demand, if you know.

[Big Grey Wolf]

Must be for new head gear for our new Kings guards when on parade in England.

[reddeerhunter]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

Get the bear first. :-)

Knowing what to do with the hide is the only factor in taking bears. 17yrs in same place, no issue with numbers. Thx for tip tho.


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[Pathfinder76]

What did you do with all of the other hides?

[MDR]

Originally Posted by philintheblank

If you can stretch and flesh your own hide, Send it to International Fur in Manitoba.

I sent a couple bears there a few years ago and it was a flat charge of $250 plus enviro fees and taxes. I would assume the prices have gone up a bit since then.

You have to pay shipping and get an export permit which adds a bit of cost, but they are the best tannery I have used.

I have a price list from 2022 still kicking around. International was $300 to tan a black bear hide that was stretched and dried, prices likely went up a bit since then.

[reddeerhunter]

Originally Posted by Pathfinder76

What did you do with all of the other hides?

Mounts(shoulder/rugs either or for kids) and hook hangers for kids' 2nd 3rd unless very special bears kinda deal.


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[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by reddeerhunter

Mounts(shoulder/rugs either or for kids) and hook hangers for kids' 2nd 3rd unless very special bears kinda deal.


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Nice!

[Wildcat93]

Originally Posted by -JR-

paws are just as easy as heads ,just keep on skinning .

Last season was my first time removing the paws and I found it not too hard not like when skinning the head wherein you need to skin the lips and eyelids very good. I did partially flesh my bear’s 5 ft hide( nose to tail) and I paid more or less $450 ( sorry I can’t remember the exact amt.) to get tanned by Rod Graham at High Country Wildlife. Thanks again Rod.

[AB2506]

I took the bear I shot in 2022 to a Chinese gentleman in Lethbridge. He skinned the head and paws and tanned the hide for $300.

He is often at gunshows etc. I will see if I can find his contact info.

I will be hanging mine on a hook.

[Wildcat93]

Originally Posted by AB2506

I took the bear I shot in 2022 to a Chinese gentleman in Lethbridge. He skinned the head and paws and tanned the hide for $300.

He is often at gunshows etc. I will see if I can find his contact info.

I will be hanging mine on a hook.

Wow that’s cheap I know a guy who charge $60 per paw to skin it and $180 to clean the skull

[reddeerhunter]

Originally Posted by AB2506

I took the bear I shot in 2022 to a Chinese gentleman in Lethbridge. He skinned the head and paws and tanned the hide for $300.

He is often at gunshows etc. I will see if I can find his contact info.

I will be hanging mine on a hook.

That is ideal. Let me know.
Thx.


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[TrapperMike]

Bear hides aren’t very high, only $142 average at sale. Very large gap between the $1100 bear and the number 2 bear.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by AB2506

I took the bear I shot in 2022 to a Chinese gentleman in Lethbridge. He skinned the head and paws and tanned the hide for $300.

He is often at gunshows etc. I will see if I can find his contact info.

I will be hanging mine on a hook.

That is interesting. I’d love his contact information.