Skinning the legs on a black bear?

[V45 sabre]

Just wondering what technique people use to cut through the leg bones. I have used my regular meat saw and am really careful around the fur. Or is it easier to just cut through the cartilage and disjoint them at the wrist.
thanks

[ResidentSpokesman]

The joints seperate nicely with a small sharp knofe

[wildwoods]

Disjoint 100% regardless of animal. So easy and less mess

[mulecrazy]

super easy to separate at the wrists/ankle. on the back leg make your cut through the tendon and then the foot bends over easily revealing the joint.

[V45 sabre]

Thanks for the advice much appreciated.

[Bulldog Edm]

Cool good info. Do you guys salt the hides or just freeze them?

[wildwoods]

Originally Posted by Bulldog Edm

Cool good info. Do you guys salt the hides or just freeze them?

Freeze and drop off at my taxidermists. No salt

[Bulldog Edm]

How much does a taxidermist charge? On average?

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Bulldog Edm

How much does a taxidermist charge? On average?

Usually $1000-1500 minimum for a rug (small bear). Used to be $100/ft those days are long gone, closer to $250+/ft now.

LC

[Tactical Lever]

Originally Posted by Bulldog Edm

Cool good info. Do you guys salt the hides or just freeze them?

You can do one or the other. Never both!

Probably better off freezing if you are dropping it off head attached.

I believe most taxidermists like getting it frozen better?

[SageValleyOutdoors]

I just dropped a bear off, and the taxidermist I use says his single biggest complaint is when guys don't skin out the head - then they wrap the legs/body around the intact head and freeze it.
He said "especially if they only freeze it overnight, the thick fur insulates the head, which doesn't freeze - the skin freezes around it instead."
He also added "even if the head freezes, the legs thaw out much faster compared to the icy block of a head wrapped up inside"

I had skinned the head before dropping it off (very easy. Much easier than a deer - no antlers or eye glands to deal with), but he asked that if I ever dropped one off with an intact head, that I DONT wrap the body around it for freezing - especially if it's a huge old bear.

[mulecrazy]

From what I have read on several taxidermists sites they prefer that the hides are not salted, especially if the lips and ears are not turned. Apparently this can cause irreparable damage. Only time salting would be necessary is if you are on a back packing hunt, or some sort of hunt you do not have access to a freezer within a day or two. Skinning out the head of a bear is actually remarkably easy. I skinned out my first bear a week ago. I was alone and I had a few hours to kill before my hunting partner would be there to pick me up. I skinned the bear on the ground and it was quite simple. When I got up to the head I just made sure their was a little tension pulling on the hide and slowly worked my way around the face. take your time and know where you are. Take extra care around the ears/eyes/and lips. Don't be afraid to take a little extra flesh there, let the taxidermist take care of that. From the time the bear hit the ground to the time I had the bear skinned and back staps/hind quarters in bags it was less than 2 hours.