I am going to mount my own small black bear as my first mount, it is a full size one.
I have been told that I do not need to Tan it only pickle(oxalic acid)and then mount it wet.
What is your opinion, suggestion.
Thanks for your advise.
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This is wrong. The pickle only preps the hide by killing bacteria that will cause the hair to slip. After you pickle the hide you need to tan it with what ever kind of tan you choose. This will help keep the bugs out and preserves the hide. You really do not need to take shortcuts. the peice will last much longer if you take the time to tan it. Good Luck
If it is a small bear, and you have prepped the skin very well, and did a preliminary degrease, the Oxalic acid is more than just a pickle. If you soak a day in the Oxalic acid solution and then rinse and wash in dawn, and soak overnight in a borax bath, and use a quality DP, you can get away with it. The hide better be shaved thin, and 100% grease free before you do it, but it can be done, and done very well.....buy a lot of "T" pins......you are probably gonna need um..