After I get the hide off the Bear.....

[Austrian Hunter]

What do I need to watch out for once I got the hide off the Bear.     Do I need to put the hide in cooler until I get it to an Taxidermy place?     What needs to be done after is off the animal?     How long do I have     Any education is appreciated!

Thanks,
Austrian

[bucklucky]

Get it on ice ASAP and to a Taxi ASAP.

[bucklucky]

Especially in this hot weather you want to cool it down as soon as you can. Dont roll it up in a cooler, if you do that the head and hide wont cool to the center and will spoil. Make sure to lay it in a cooler with ice on the bottom, put another layer of ice down and fold the hide over that . Keep doing that as needed . Make sure to pack a bunch of ice around the head and plug the esophogus with a rag so the mucus doesnt leak onto the hide. That can cause it to sour and slip also.

[Austrian Hunter]

bucklucky,
That's exactly what I wanted to know.  Thanks, 

[littlebuf]

how bout laying it in a chest freezer until im able to get it to the taxi

[jackelope]

is direct contact between the ice/water and hair/skin a concern?

[Austrian Hunter]

is direct contact between the ice/water and hair/skin a concern?

That would have been my next question, thanks!

[bucklucky]

Id rather see it cooled down but if you can keep the water off sure. I dont think the water will hurt it though. I havent found any info saying it truely hurts the hide. Rain water yes.

As long as it hasnt been out long then yes throw it in a freezer, just keep in mind it has to thaw and that can take days so if there is a chance it may go bad, it will definately go bad while thawing it out. That is if the head is left in. Now if it is caped out it isnt so bad to thaw.

[furbearer365]

If you know for a fact that you are going bear hunting, go into the woods knowing whether or not you are going to have it mounted and who is going to do it, that way you save all of that time and can get it to them right away.  I do taxidermy and nothing makes me more frustrated than when someone kills a good bear, or any animal for that matter, and sits on it for a couple of days before they act.  My buddy killed one a couple of years ago and let me know he was going and had my cell number on him all the time so when he got one, he called right away and got it to me before even bringing it home, that was an 85 degree day and there was no issue at all.  GOOD LUCK ON YOUR HUNT

[Michelle_Nelson]

This has been a sticky for quite a while. 

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,9441.0.html

[SHANE(WA)]

I have submerged many bear hides in creeks to cool them and save them from the heat, all of those bears have been rugged to someone and turned out just fine

[Austrian Hunter]

Thank you, these are all good tips to know and consider before heading in the woods, now all I need is actually killing one