What do I do with a bear?

[DoubleJ]

So, reading the law, if I legally obtain the bear in question, I can sell the hide and the gall bladder, and keep the skull and bleach it? 
 
If I get one, it's probably not going to be "Prime" as I hunt around the Shelton area, lower elevation, and probably not that big.  So, if a taxi won't take it because it's not prime or large, where do I off load the hide?

[840dc]

Hey Michelle When doing the shoulder mount can you cut down the back like when doing a deer or are you tubeing it out.

[Michelle_Nelson]

So, reading the law, if I legally obtain the bear in question, I can sell the hide and the gall bladder, and keep the skull and bleach it? 

No you can't sell the gall bladder.  You can sell the Hide, Hide with claws, hide with claws and skull.  You can't sell the skull by tiself, or the claws by them self.  In order to sell them they must be attached to the hide.
 

If I get one, it's probably not going to be "Prime" as I hunt around the Shelton area, lower elevation, and probably not that big.  So, if a taxi won't take it because it's not prime or large, where do I off load the hide?

Cut the head off and leave it in the woods.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Hey Michelle When doing the shoulder mount can you cut down the back like when doing a deer or are you tubeing it out.

Tube it out.   

[840dc]

One more question, Do you rug a lot of bears shot in august. Just wondering cause I had a taxi tell me they usually don't rug till late sept at the earliest. If you have how did they turn out? Thanks in advance.

[TheHunt]

Great question  840dc

[DoubleJ]

So, reading the law, if I legally obtain the bear in question, I can sell the hide and the gall bladder, and keep the skull and bleach it? 

No you can't sell the gall bladder.  You can sell the Hide, Hide with claws, hide with claws and skull.  You can't sell the skull by tiself, or the claws by them self.  In order to sell them they must be attached to the hide.
 

If I get one, it's probably not going to be "Prime" as I hunt around the Shelton area, lower elevation, and probably not that big.  So, if a taxi won't take it because it's not prime or large, where do I off load the hide?

Cut the head off and leave it in the woods.

Gotcha.  Shame I can't sell the gall blader though.  So much money left in the woods.

[chef bama]

render the fat, use it for your boots, your hair, your skin, cooking, bread & pastries, soapmaking, muzzle loader grease ...

[Michelle_Nelson]

One more question, Do you rug a lot of bears shot in august. Just wondering cause I had a taxi tell me they usually don't rug till late sept at the earliest. If you have how did they turn out? Thanks in advance.

I usually don't start geting a whole lot of Bears in until around September for Rugs.  If someone wants there August Bear rugged I'll do it.  Though I try to talk them out of it if the hide is real bad.  I try to get them to do a Shoulder mount or do a Soft Tan.  Most August Bears have real flat hair.  There is no loft to it because they don't have any under wool yet.  On shoulder mounts I have ways of making the hair look fuller.  Rugs there is not a whole lot you can do. 
 
Every once in a while I will get a Bear in, in August that has decent hair for a Rug.  Usually those come from up along the cascade trail, high mountain, wilderness areas. 
 
The best hides I get in are during Spring Bear Season. 
 
Another thing I have noticed (I havn't done any reasurch on this) is younger Bears up to about 2 years old tend to have thicker hair earlier.  The only thing I can think of is it is to help the little guys regulate there body temperature.

[alecvg]

In the group of hunters I am in, 90% of the time we cut off the head (for skull) And the paws (for claws) and take the meat.  Put the hide over a stump or log because its funny when other hunters get all excited about seeing it 

[mulehunter]

In the group of hunters.  Put the hide over a stump or log because its funny when other hunters get all excited about seeing it 

Mulehunter.   

[billythekidrock]

In the group of hunters I am in, 90% of the time we cut off the head (for skull) And the paws (for claws) and take the meat.  Put the hide over a stump or log because its funny when other hunters get all excited about seeing it 

 

[billythekidrock]

There is a video called "shake that bear" that can give you some ideas.  LOL!

ooohhh gawwwd!
 
Shake that bear! Shake that BEAR!

[shanevg]

In the group of hunters I am in, 90% of the time we cut off the head (for skull) And the paws (for claws) and take the meat.  Put the hide over a stump or log because its funny when other hunters get all excited about seeing it 

Hey!  That's my trick!

[saylean]

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,28363.msg328656.html#msg328656

These are the back claws from a bear that charged me...the other half is a shoulder mount on the wall.

This year, if I get one, I am gonna just tan the hide, make a throw out of it, keep the claws, clean the skull. Dont forget to get some pep sticks/summer sausage with the bear meat!

Good luck all!