Hunting-Washington.com

I put together some info and diagrams to show ya'll where to make cuts to skin out bears for rugs and life size mounts.

I guess we will start with bear rug first. The diagram is pretty self explanatory on how and where to make your cuts! Make sure you don't cut the bear all the way to the chin on the Third Cut. It all depends on how big the bear is but you can see about where to start and stop the Third Cut. On the Second Cut make your cut directly through the anus. On male bears you will want to cut out the genitals.

 

OK.....now lets begin with the cuts for life size mounts....... The first cut is what we call the dorsal incision . The cut is made along the bears back starting at the base of the neck to bout 3 inches from the tail. This is the way I skin out 90% of my life size animals. Small mammals and large mammals. In most cases it just makes the skin easier to mount. DO NOT skin your bear with the dorsal incision if you are still undecided if you want a life size mount or a rug.

 

There are 2 other ways to skin out a bear if you are undecided if you want a life size mount or rug. Those are the ventral incision (case Incision) and belly incision. With both of these skinning methods you can either do a life size mount or a bear rug. Skin out the bear using either of these two methods if you are still undecided what you want to do with your bear.  DO NOT remove the genitals on these two skinning methods you will have to skin out the sheath and the nuts. If you cut the genitals out your bear will be lacking this detail on a life size mount. The taxidermist can always remove them later if a rug is what you decide on.


If you use the belly incision make the cut like you would on the bear rug picture. Don't cut the bear all the way to the chin or to the anus. Stop about 4 to 6 inches from the anus on the belly incision.

 

On the ventral incision Do Not make your cut directly through the anus. Make it about 4 to 6 below the anus; between the legs.

 

 

FINAL NOTES:  When you make your incisions and begin the skinning process you will have to sever the wrist and ankle joints on the bear carcass to free up the skin. On some bears you might have to sever the knee and elbow joints. It all depends on the size of the bear.... When you get it skinned down to the head. Cut the head off the body.

Remember, once you have the bear skinned out you can always remove the paws and or lower leg depending on where you end up severing the apendages (legs). You don't have to remove the paws from the skin if you are going to freeze the hide.... You also don't have to remove the skull if you are going to freeze the hide. If it is a really big bear I suggest removing the skull. It might take 2 or 3 days for a big bear's skull to freeze all the way.

Removing the skull it is not hard just be very careful not to cut the skin. Always cut against the skull when you skin out a head. That way you will be less likely to cut the skin when you get to the ears and eyes. You want to be realy careful when you get to the eye's as well. I suggest putting your finger in the eye and holding the skin between your fingers and pulling it out away from the skull and keeping your knife next to the skull when cutting through the eye skin. Once you get both eyes skinned flip the head up and open the mouth. Now run your knife along the gum line against the jaw.....Leave as much inner lip skin as you can because that is what the taxidermist uses to tuck into the mannequin. One inch should be plenty of lip skin. Once you free up the lip skin take your knife and cut the nose off the skull leave as much cartilage as you want on the nose.; it will be removed by the taxidermist later. Now you can finish skinning out the rest of the skull.

Now you can freeze your bear. You can leave the paws in the hide because it will not take them as long to freeze as the skull would, especially on a BIG bear. OK when you freeze the bear hide DO NOT roll the hide.....FOLD IT! ! ! Also remember you will need to get the bear skinned out and in the freezer as soon as possible. If the hide is left out too long it is prone to slip (hair falling out in patches). The warmer it is the quicker you need to work. Now if it is freezing out than you will have a good 2 or 3 hours maybe more to work.

Well, I have written another book, lol.. Feel free to print this off and take it with you on your bear hunt. If you are going with a guide than they will take care of the skinning and stuff for you....or they should...but if you are going out on your own or with friends than this should help you out. I suggest bringing a good Skinning knife with you as well as an Xacto Knife with no less than 5 extra blades... You can get them at any craft store. The Xacto Knife will aid you in removing the skull! I hope this helps!

Michelle