I have an opportunity to do a half mount black bear w/ mouth open, which I'd love to do for the experience, I'm concerned of the grease and fat. And the open mouth as I have not ettempted one yet
I'm "in training" done a dozen or so deer, dozen or more fish and just bought my first dakota iv flesher ( haven't even used yet). Of course I learn from each mount I do. What do you'all recommend ...should I skin, salt, pickle and shave just like deer or what? Will my flesher do the job? I intend to buy a quality video but would appreciate you fella's input before I commit to doing this. I'd like to use liqua tan or krowtan
Will these work?
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Kevin, First I'd say you should be honest with the customer as your experience of a dozen deer does not guarantee what the bear will look like once you are done. It is a very different job from deer head taxidermy. If the hunter is up for letting you learn on his bear then it might be a good place to start but if this is a rare "get" for the hunter he probably should hire a more experenced taxidermist. I would recomend sending the skin to a commercial tanner. The grease in bears is nothing like a deer and it is hard to get the smell out of the skin with an in shop tan. For sure it should be a "real tan" rather than a paint on tan---just my oppinion--and I would get it wet tanned. Measuring the skin for the proper form should be done after tanning and restreching. Lots of information on this and other bear taxidermy tips in the archives. Get good reference photos before you begin and good luck with it, enjoy-Aaron H.
If you feel confident in your abilities, by all means go for it. If it were me (also a newbie), listen to Aaron's advise, send it out to a tannery. Also check into McKenzie's cast lip system. Alot easier to work with if it will fit. And check into some more experienced advise. I joined my state Taxidermy Association and get a lot of great people to get answers from. If you join, it will more than pay for itself.