I have a black bear to mount, all the critters I've done to this point I have had the carcass to get measurments from; with the bear I had only the head and hide. The measurments are: nose - eye 4.5" neck 19" belly 36" and nose - tail 60". I am worried because I fleshed it before measuring and I am afraid the hide streched; all the forms I've looked at with a 4.5 N-E and 60" N-T have a larger belly circumfrence. Can anyone tell me how accurate measurments taken this way are and should I deduct some for hide strech while fleshing?
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I hope you had it PROFESSIONALLY tanned. If so, discard your measurements and take new ones. Stretch the hide width wise, lengthwise, width wise and then let it lay for a few minutes. Measure the nose to tail base without stretching the hide. Then measure the width. You may have to settle for a 4.0 inch form for the hide to match the body. Never trust a dead bear or a tanned hide that's not been stretched properly.
tanned, but not professionally; it is wet tanned with Liqua Tan.