I mounted a Bear 9 months ago and it still has a smell to it, Is there anything that can be done to get rid of it. I used picking crystals,luftan F and bruce Rittels degreasing agent. I was going to put baking soda on it, would that work or is there soming else that I can use. Thanks Rich
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I had my first few deer that I mounted smell, I was new to the business, and I think that from fleshing by hand (now I have a machine) that I may have left some small meat/flesh parts on the cape. I also use crystles and Lutan F, one smelled so bad that I bought a bottle of de-oderizer from a taxidermy supply, drenched the mount with it, and now it smells like a cheap date. Perfumy/babypowdery/chaulky oder that bothers my nose. I had the mount over my recliner, and had to move it to the other side of the room. I think I would try the bakeing soda. Maybe mix with water, put in a spray bottle and soak it down? Or work the soda dry into the hair, but I think that a mold is on the inside of the cape wanting out. Now that I have a fleshing machine, my mounts do not smell at all. Let me know how you come out, I plan to do a bear this year, got to shot it first. mr. t
Another idea just came to mind, that maybe a thick part of the cape my not have been pickled and tanned totaly? Just an idea.
I did not see in your process where you deodorized the hide. Bear stink! plane and simple. If you do not deodorize the hide they will have a musky bear smell. Now that it is mounted you have to get rid of it. You can only mask it. I had a student do the same thing last fall. here is what we did. It is not 100% but a great improvement. Go to Sam's club, and purchase some Odo-ban. take the bear outside. spray the bear liberally with Odo-ban. and work it in to the scalp, allow to set for 15 minutes, then rinse with water, but do not over do it. if you do not rinse, the hair will have a greasy feel to it. and towel dry. blow the bear off with compressed air to remove moisture. allow to dry in warm place. the bear will have a delicate eucalyptus smell. but it better than musky bear smell. it will not be sickening sweet smelling. Hope this helps.