Submitted by Mike on 9/9/99. ( ) 156.46.245.225
Hi to everyone on the Forum. I have a question on turning the ears on a black bear. This is my first bear and have made a mess out of it. I skinned them almost to the top but could not turn them all the way. I have numerous holes in them and have lost track exactly as to where I should be splitting them because of the holes. Does anyone have any advise on how I could "fix" this problem? Thanks,Mike
Return to Beginners Category Menu
This response submitted by Frank on 9/10/99. ( basswtrout@aol.com ) 205.188.208.69
Always split the ears from the back of the ear. Make sure that you can see the seperation from the cartlidge to the skin. When spliting them take your sharp scapel and glide it on the cartlidge not the skin. This way if you cut it you cut the cartlige not the ears. Sometimes when it gest hard I take a syringe filled with water stick the neddle between the carlidge and the skin and inject water into the ear. This really helps seperating the two.
When you reach the tip just learn to go slower till you see the end of the ear cartlidge
This response submitted by Mike on 9/10/99. ( ) 156.46.245.230
Thank you for your'e help Frank. Is there anything I can do after the damage has been done? I think I will soak the ears and try again, however the holes are bad enough I almost feel I should cut from the hair side, open them up and sew them up later. What do you think? Thanks again, Mike.
This response submitted by Frank on 9/11/99. ( basswtrout@aol.com ) 152.163.189.129
No I used to but you can be careful and crazy glue them together when you put you earliner on. Or when you install the liner becareful but use an expoxy glue 15 min. set time or less and press the cuts together. If you sew then it may make more of a mess then you already have.
This response submitted by JL on 9/11/99. ( wmlures@xtdl.com ) 140.186.49.57
Mike repairing holes in an inverted ear is pretty simple and you will have to repair holes from time to time that were already there naturally. After tanning, clean the skin with acetone to get surface oil off, then cut a piece of fin backing material called silkspan (or similar material) that will cover the hole. Line up the edges and cover them with gap-filling instant glue. Now put the silkspan patch over the area and allow it to soak up the glue. A shot of Kick-it activator to quickly set it and you're done.Glue your ear liner in and you shouldn't be able to see the repair. Good luck...this works for me.
Return to Beginners Category Menu