Bear rug care from another state, how to

[Michelle_Nelson]

My buddy killed a nice colored bear in central Wa a few years ago, temp in the 90's We folded it up thru it in the back of the truck and headed for home, by the next afternoon the hair slipped. I was sick cause it was my idea to fold it up.

Yes folding the hide was not a good idea.  Especially if you didn't give it a chance to cool.

How can I put this so people won't think I am just trying to cover my A$$ along with other taxidermists.  Slippage is UNPREDICTABLE.  I can give you all the advice in the world on how to prevent slippage.  Will it help?  You bet it will!  More often than not your going to be alright.  Every hide is different!  Sometimes $hit happens.

[Michelle_Nelson]

The only way to properly salt a bear hide :
You must remove the head , turn the lips eye lids , nose and ears. You have to skin out the feet to the claws and remove all the fat in the pads . Skin out the tail. And then you have to remove ALL of the meat and ALL of the fat and then use 50 pounds of salt or more depending on how big and rub the salt in really good. Then on the second day dump the salt off and re-salt . Then let it dry. That is the only way to properly salt a bear. You CAN NOT put a salted hide in the freezer.It will never freeze and will slip.
Your best option is to freeze the hide if you cant salt it properly.
What I usualy tell my customers going on long hunting trips is to find a local Taxidermist pay him to properly skin , cape and turn everything and have them salt it for you, Pay them what ever they charge , get a receipt and show it to me and I will take it off the bill . I would say it should be ion the ballpark of $100.00 to $150.00 to have that done.

Great minds think alike! 

[bucklucky]

Gee, It must be a TAXIDERMIST thing!

[Michelle_Nelson]

Ya never know! 

[boneaddict]

Some of these boys are on a float trip and three days out in the sticks.  I believe many carry salt in their rafts.  I'm thinking they need to do a good job of fleshing in the field, and better learn to turn lips etc if they are headed in.  They will be committed to salting, thus rule out the freezing process.  UNLESS you happen to be hunting from boat, or road.

[bucklucky]

They better learn how to be a taxidermists grunt real quick like!

[Michelle_Nelson]

I agree with both Boneaddict and Buclucky.  That kinda knoledge can help you out qite a bit!

[boneaddict]

I would also suggest being able to do it blindolfed or by feel because once there is blood, I would want to keep both eyes watching my back up there.  Thats all you need, sitting there concentrating on that project and here a twig snap 4 feet behind you. 

[WDFW-SUX]

In Alaska we take our hides down to the salt water and sink them in nets for a little bit. the salt in the water does a fantastic job preventing slippage.  This is true salt water not brackish waster in tidal areas.  They will last 3-5 days after the salt water then we flesh and freeze for the plane ride home.

The outside temps are usually in the low 40's Im not sure if that would work in warmer weather

I had a taxidemist freak out when I told him when I killed the bear and could not beleave how well the condition of the hide was for the amout of time 

[Michelle_Nelson]

All salt does is draw moisture and body fluids out of a hide.  It prepares the hide for the pickle bath.  The salt in no way preserves a hide.  It is basicly temporary preservation.  It slows bacteria growth considerably by drawing out moisture and body fluids that the bacteria are drawn to. 

So by putting the hide in salt water you realy have only cooled the hide and washed out a good portion of the blood.  Other than that the hide is now completely wet.  The hide still has a good 24 hours of thawing to do in the taxis shop which is probably heated.  So a wet hide in 70+ degree room is a bacteria feeding ground.

[WAcoyotehunter]

http://www.pristineventures.com/products_publications.html#videos

This guy does lots of float hunting in AK and has a few videos on wilderness taixdermy.  He shows how to turn ears and lips...all the basic stuff to preserve the hide for the taxidermist.  I've seen the videos and they're pretty comprehensive.