Bearskin handling for a noob

[acnewman55]

Say I get a bear this weekend.

I get the meat hanging in a cooler somewhere.

I still have the skin, with the skull and paws still inside.  Assume that I want to have a rug made.

What do I do with the skin?  All I really know is that I need to keep it dry and cool to prevent hair loss...

Should I cut out the skull, paws?
Should I stick the whole thing in the freezer?  How should I package it?
Should I avoid a freezer and focus on getting it to a taxidermist? How should I package it for transport?

Thanks!

[washelkhntr]

This should help.

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

[acnewman55]

  thanks!

So freezing the hide isn't going to harm it at all?

[billythekidrock]

I would not freeze it with salt.

[tjthebest]

This should help.

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

Just make sure not to bring your bear to michelle

[Boss .300 winmag]

One thing to do is get a stick in its mouth that will keep it wide open, helps cool off the head to prevent hair slippage on it. Do this ASAP in hot weather, just make sure bear is dead first! 

Freezing the hide with paws, and head on are ok, no salt like has been said, now once the hide has been cooled awhile, roll it up on its self hair out, wrap in old blanket (because it will be ruined from smell) then wet down the blanket with water and put in black garbage bag then put in freezer. Can be stored at max six months this way if done right. Most taxis will take payments, so no real reason to store that way past been in able to get to them in a few weeks. If going straight to a taxi in a day or two just wrap it up on it self put in fridge in garbage bag, but make sure the head is not hot when doing this, keep the hide once skinned in the shade at all times.

[BOWHUNTER45]

I would not freeze it with salt.

That doesn't work well  anytime your dealing with warm weather the main priority would be to get the hide off ASAP ..Just like these guys have said ... I like using the cheese cloth type game bags and just a plan pack frame ..Cheese cloth works great and lets the meat breath and also lets the blood drain while your packing or hanging it ...always separate the meat when hanging or putting it in a frig to cool off ..leaving it in game bags all balled up will lead to spoiling . when dealing with the hide I always get it home ASAP skin the head and paws and roll it up and place in a plastic bag and put in the freezer..when I put it in the freezer in a plastic bag I do not tie the bag shut . I leave it open for a couple hours until it is cooled off then I go back and remove the air from the bag and then tie it shut and let it freeze ...your good to go until you take it to your taxi ...if your not experienced at skinning head and paws that's fine ..freeze it as is and let taxi handle it ...

[elk247]

Your trophy will only be as nice as YOU make it. Straight lines on you caping cuts, keeping the hide dry and cool, not dragging your animal and creating bald spots, turning the lips ears eyes and nose, folding not rolling  if your going to freeze. Salting to prevent hair slippage. These details will tell the story of your bear. You want people to say "damn nice bear" , what that really means is you did a good job caring for the animal in the field and your taxi could do his job easily without a bunch of difficult fixes.  For a noob, leave the paws and head in , fold the cape and freeze on top of a plastic bag for two days. Then you can transfer it into the bag or take it to the taxi. Let them turn the nose, ears, eyes and lips. Let them cut the paws out and do the fleshing.

[n_mathews13]

I agree with boss.300. Id leave the skull alone if not use to skinning since EVERYONE is going to look at the head