A guy just gave me a shoulder mount bear to do. The thing is it's really rubbed on the neck.Will the hair fall out with a commercial tan?, Also can i alter the manikinn to help cover the area, like tipping the head down? I would tell him to just shoot another bear but it's the last day of the season, and its his first bear.And guess what. the bear is my first paying customer.Thanks for your help tom h.
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Hi Tom,
the first thing to do is make your customer aware of your concerns and point out the potential problems. that way, your ass is covered and you won't get blamed if things don't turn out like they should.
If this is your first customer, don't try to alter the mannikin, save that kind of stuff for later.
If the spot is a rubbed spot, not a slipped spot, then the tanning shouldn't have an adverse effect on it.(if it's slipping, the hair will easily fall out when touched. if it's a rubbed spot,then the hair has been rubbed or scraped off due to handling, or the animal scratching against something).
after tanning, examine the skin, if you have an area that is completely bald, then consider cutting it out and sewing in a patch from the back hide of the bear. if the hair is thin, then one of the many skin dyes or paints will help mask it. this is a common procedure on bears. I've also recommended the "bald head spray" that used to be sold on TV, it works wonders on thin spots.
Good Luck
Dave