Bear Hides...

[HUNT]

Are the hides for a spring bear or a fall bear better for making a rug?  I have the opportunity to go hunt over dogs with my cousin this weekend in Idaho.  Just wondering if it would be better to shoot a spring bear or hold out for a fall bear.  Thanks guys!!

[SuperDave]

Spring hides tend to be alot thicker and in better shape than the fall!

[JackOfAllTrades]

Colder climate spring Bears usually have thicker and longer hair hides. Thus you'll find that the lower altitude Bears might not have such a full hide of fur. Also, with our mild winter, Bears have been out feeding for much of our winter. Some of the lowland bruins might actually have roughed up hides already.  That said; your odds of getting a Bear with thick hide is great in early spring, but just as your house cat sheds in the spring, as it warms up outside, later in the spring, Bear hides can get pretty scruffy.

Obviously, a summer hide would normally be the thinnest, but wait until early/mid fall, and you're apt to see some thickening fur/hides. If there's territory overlap as yearlings are cast out, you're most apt to come into Bears that have been fighting in the spring. Often hide damage associated with that.

So.. For best hide, early spring has great potential, or late fall is your best bet.

-Steve

[GoldTip]

 

[HUNT]

Sounds like early spring bear it is....  Probably be hunting around the 4000-4500 feet mark....  Should be early enough for a great hide at that level.  I've never shot a bear before so should be a fun trip.  Thanks

[Michelle_Nelson]

Yes early spring bear hides are some of the best. 

[bow4elk]

Yes early spring bear hides are some of the best. 

unless they're from POW island - they are addicted to rubbing up there! 

[Michelle_Nelson]

That may be true.  Not sure I have done a Springer from POW.

[bucklucky]

The 2 best bears I ever did were Fall bears. Thicker than thick, and then thick on top of that  I would say go put some bears up some trees and look them over real well. If you tree one you like and has a nice full coat , (which those bears over there should right now) put the kill shot in one! Thats the nice thing about running dogs, you can look them over real good before you kill them at close range.

[HUNT]

Heading back over this weekend for round two of the bear hunt.  Treed one bear last time but it was too small.  The dogs ran another one most of the day but never got it up a tree.  With the warmer weather this weekend - what do I need to do to take care of the hide til I make it back home?  Put it on ice in a cooler? 

thanks

[BLKBEARKLR]

Heading back over this weekend for round two of the bear hunt.  Treed one bear last time but it was too small.  The dogs ran another one most of the day but never got it up a tree.  With the warmer weather this weekend - what do I need to do to take care of the hide til I make it back home?  Put it on ice in a cooler? 

thanks

Get it cut the way you want for either a rug or a lifesize, get it cooled down, do not put it in any type of plastic. If you are going to use ice and a cooler then make sure it is on top of the ice so you do not have water all over it pooling up and getting warm. The best thing depending on where you are at is to get it skinned out and put in a freezer, just make sure that when it is going in the freezer you tend to get in there and move it around some. A lot of people put it in the freezer and think it is good when it takes the inside rolls 2-3 days to freeze. Good luck and have fun and like said look it over well for rubs.

Joe

[winston2789]

[/quote]

Get it cut the way you want for either a rug or a lifesize, get it cooled down, do not put it in any type of plastic.


[/quote]

Have seen this mentioned a few time on the plastic bags. We have always put our hides in plastic bags and then in the freezer and have never had a problem. 

[bonecrusher]

plastic holds the heat in since it is not a breathable material. a canvas or a game bag is a much better choice. as far as hides go im pretty happy with my spring hide, nice and thick

[BLKBEARKLR]

Get it cut the way you want for either a rug or a lifesize, get it cooled down, do not put it in any type of plastic.

[/quote]

Have seen this mentioned a few time on the plastic bags. We have always put our hides in plastic bags and then in the freezer and have never had a problem. 
[/quote]

Glad to hear you have not had a problem. plastic does not allow air to circulate. Plus if you have any blood leakage from the cape or any thing of that nature there is no way for it to drain and it just sits there until it freezes, which in turn causes slippage. I have seen to many animals come into the shop that are questionable because of being in plastic bags. Or better yet the plastic tote, a whole cape put in there and then frozen the deer could not be saved from all the slippage spots.

[HUNT]

Only treed 2 bears this weekend, neither big enough to shoot.  So I will probably wait until fall at this point.  Thanks for the tips on taking care of the hide.