Self tanning a bear hide --- any advice?

[uplandhunter870]

so i have my bear hide in the freezer its not a brute maybe 5 foot long if you run a loose tape on it. when i skinned it i did it so i could have it rugged but with my current financials and the fact that i will be moving out of state in january having it rugged is no longer an option but i would like to tan the hide.

this is the first time i would be tanning a hide and am interested in how to do it myself; method, materials needed, all that good stuff. would greatly appreciate any and all advice

thanks
Steve

[Michelle_Nelson]

This is just my opinion from experiance and talking to numerous other taxidermists and tanneries.  I know of numerous taxidermists that do all there tanning in house but send all there Bears to a tannery.

Bear hides are not like tanning a deer or elk hide.  There is a lot more grease and fat inside of a bears skin.  You need chemical degreasers to get it out.  That you would either have a hard time finding local if at all.  Without going thorugh a Taxidermy supply or Tannery supply place.  If you do not remove all the grease out of the skin it could cause it to rot. 

This being your first time attempting to tan something IMHO you are better off taking the Bear hide to the taxidermist and having them send it off and tanned at a tannery. 

Your best to have it sent off and have it Dry or Soft tanned.

[BiggMayn]

What is the going rate for tanning a bear hide?

[Michelle_Nelson]

I charge $50 per Linier Foot.  Tip of nose to base of tail.

[Kuduman]

 
I agree with Michelle, Tanning deer and elk (which I have done for about 10 years) is hard enough even with the necessary equipment. I would never try a bear simply because by the time I buy enough degreaser I could have it tanned at a tannery. If you value the hide take it t o a taxidermist or turn. flesh and salt and send it to a tannery yourself.
Note:
 some tanneries require you to submit a copy of a taxidermy licence so check to see if the tannery you want to use accepts hides from noncommercial account holders.

Good Luck

Jeff A.K.A. Kuduman