How long to defrost a bear hide.

[tgomez]

I took my bear out of freezer yesterday at 9am and it is still half to 3/4 frozen. How long before I can skin out pads/head. I don't want hide to slip, so I want to do as quick as possible. I plan on salting immediately as soon as I flesh the big pieces of fat off. Any help surely appreciated. Thank you!

[X-Force]

Im no expert but you want to open the hide up as much as possible while its thawing. The problem with freezing bears with there heads and paws on and in a ball (not laid out) is that the outside of the ball can be rotting by the time the middle starts to thaw.

I would start skinning and fleshing everything that is pliable, spread it out and continue peeling the ball (hide) out 

[tgomez]

Here's a picture of todays work got hide mostly thawed and 3/4 of hide fleshed. I just have to finish skinning pads and head when they defrost fully. I salted the hide where I have fleshed already. When I finish head and pads tommorow, I will give the hide a good stretch, then pack pads with salt. I will then re- salt the entire  hide again. Here's my work for now after 5 hours of fleshing and 20 min of salting the hide. Hopefully Im doing this correctly, it will be my first rug atempt.

[Romulus1297]

So far you are doing fine.   Don't boil the skull that will only shrink it. Find some beetles .  Keep posting updates on your progress.

[tgomez]

Just got done skinnng out the head and pads. I fleshed off as much meat/fat ass I could, filled pads with salt and rubbed in another 5 pound of salt. Will come back tommorow evening and shake out hide and re-salt the entire hide with 15 more pounds. I will then leave for 48 hours and start hang drying it. Lots of work, and a new found respect for taxidermist. But Im saving a boatload of cash doing it myself, and I'm enjoying the challenge!

[cedarriver]

Sounds to me like u have done everything correctly. When u say done fleshing you have all the meat and fat off hide right?

[tgomez]

Yes, all the meat and fat is skinned off. My father is going to turn the ears and lips for me when he returns from elk hunting tommorow. I dont know how to turn ears at all. I put a total off 19 pouns of salt into and on the hide. I literally just trimmed all the meat of the skull. Here's a picture, till next time.

[tgomez]

European skull completed! Have to try to get rug done as soon as I get a little $. What do my fellow huntets think open or closed mouth for the rug?

[AdnaHunter]

Open

[n_mathews13]

I know on a half mount on the wall I'd say part open is the best
For a rug that's tough, I have one open. My next rug I thought about doing a partial open mouth

[tgomez]

Was just wondering because everyone seems to love open. I also think it looks great, but have never seen a black bear with his/her mouth that open or in that fierce of a position. I just was thinking that closed would look more natural.

[n_mathews13]

"never seen a black bear with his/her mouth that open or in that fierce of a position. I just was thinking that closed would look more natural. "


You are right

[tgomez]

I know on a half mount on the wall I'd say part open is the best
For a rug that's tough, I have one open. My next rug I thought about doing a partial open mouth

This is a great idea! 50/50 just like I love my drinks! I may have to steal your idea my friend.

[Eric M]

How did the finished product look?

[billythekidrock]

Was just wondering because everyone seems to love open. I also think it looks great, but have never seen a black bear with his/her mouth that open or in that fierce of a position. I just was thinking that closed would look more natural.

Closed would be my opinion. We have three mounts and I prefer the closed.