Leaving behind a bear hide

[Wazukie]

I've never kept a one 

[Hunt4ever]

I usually pack the damn thing out then shove it in a freezer for 5 years or so until Momma gives me the sharp stick.

Had the same problem until she found the frozen "good luck" pecker pole! She went out and bought us our own freezer that day! haha

[woodman]

I've never kept a one 

Probably saved yourself a lot of money.

[xXLojackXx]

I left the hide of my cinnamon bear in the woods last year. Unless its a damn near perfect hide I'm not going to pay the $1200 for a rug. I'd rather just bleach the skull in that case.

[trophyhunt]

I've never left one, to each his own. After a full and shoulder mount I just do hair on tan now, it's not that expensive and some day ill have a cabin to hang them all in. 

[grundy53]

If I'm not going to use it l, I'm not going to waste my energy packing it out. I don't see them as any different then a deer or elk hide.

sent from my typewriter

[CoryTDF]

I left the hide on two bears last year. Hell, I left the meat and the air in their lungs as well. I think bear meat is freaking nasty!!! It makes good sausage but i have enough of that already. No point shooting something I don't want to eat. I have one rug made from the one bear I have killed. Don't think I'll shoot another one unless I find somebody who really wants the meat. I do buy a tag every year but I have let many bear walk. I'm not into killing them and letting them rot.

[NRA4LIFE]

Since I already have a rug (1 is enough according to the CEO), it would largely depend on how far I had to lug the darned thing.  It wouldn't be worth the $$ from a taxidermist to haul one out 2+ miles or straight up a canyon.  I would be OK with leaving one.

[Gringo31]

I think the "what am I going to do with it" question is real.  The cost is high.

That being said, I'd pack it out as long as it wasn't WAY back in there.  I didn't weigh it but the hide and head on the brown bear I shot was not a fun pack. 

[CoryTDF]

I think the "what am I going to do with it" question is real.  The cost is high.

That being said, I'd pack it out as long as it wasn't WAY back in there.  I didn't weigh it but the hide and head on the brown bear I shot was not a fun pack.

That little guy in your avitar? it's just a cub!

[alecvg]

I kept my first and tanned it... doubt I would ever keep another unless it was a late season cinnamon, or a blonde.  They are expensive and take up a lot of space!

[beaslayer6]

I tan all mine.. love looking at them.. plus they make good planks in the winter...

[Machias]

I'm kind of suprised so many leave the hides.  It's like leaving a $100 bill laying in the woods.  Most of you guys wouldn't leave $100 just laying in the woods, would you?

[huntnnw]

But not all taxis will buy them, and if I shot a bear a long ways in and can only get the meat out..the hide sure as hell isnt worth $$ to money unless it was an exceptional or unique.

Tanned hides are not good forever, to look at yes. To mount them they need to be done fairly soon

[Machias]

Not trying to give anyone a hard time, it's just the trapper in me, I CANNOT waste a hide.  I'd lose sleep over it.    It's pretty easy to call around before the season and see who will buy your hides.  Not much extra effort for some extra money.