Hey all, I'll try to make this short. I have a tag for bear this year, and am hoping I get one. I was already directed to a site on how to skin it properly for keeping the whole skin with the head, here are some other things I was wondering about I hoped you all could help me with.
I have two estimates for making a rug for me here locally, one 1200 the other 650. The one for 650 is a shop that has been around for 20 years at least and I have heard nothing bad about them. Is that a reasonable price?
Now, what I really want is a bearskin coat. What are your opinions on that? Would it be too hot to ever wear anywhere? I see women wearing fur coats so figure it must not be prohibitively hot. Anybody know a company or person that does that sort of thing? and if that is what I decide to do, what is a good place to send the hide for tanning? The same shop that will make a rug for 650 wants 450 to tan, that seems a bit high in comparison to some of the prices I am seeing when searching.
And lastly, if I have never done this before, is it really necessary for me to turn the ears and lips etc. or is there a way for me to skin out the bear, take out the skull, then do whatever is necessary to get it ready to send off WITHOUT doing the ears, lips etc? This would be the first animal that I have ever skinned and I am liable to mess it up if I try all that stuff.
Thanks everybody!
Red
Return to Lifesize Mammal Taxidermy Category Menu
First off, many guys out there including me are at $150 per foot for a rug. So, for a 6 footer youre at $900 anyway. Theres many reasons why some are less money, but...I guess you have to look at the work and decide. In my opinion bears need to be tanned. Rugs need a soft flexible tan. I prefer a commercial tan for this, as I dont want any problems with grease later. I also prefer that all borders, edges and linings be sewn on and not just hot glued. Im fussy on what the head looks like too. Again, thats just me, you need to adress your OWN quality level.
As for the high tanning price, the gentleman probably figures he has all that work into it for a possible rug and then you decide when it returns from the tannery that you just want it tanned, well, hes getting paid either way. I cant speak for him, though.
As for you doing the splitting...if youre going to take it to a taxidermist, let them do the turning. Youre paying for it. Just get the hide frozen so that the skull and paws are fresh for him to skin and the hide doesnt go bad.
As for the bear coat, youre on your own there. I can tell you that coats are made with pleats from many hides, not just one...or two.
You normally get what you pay for. 20 years of experience can mean a lot or not mean crap! I know people with more than 40 years that cannot do good quality work. Some with just a few years are doing great work.
Take close up (Live bears)photos from magazines and look at the work compared to the photo's.
I dont get but eight to ten bear rugs per year, don't want many. But I get paid for doing the rugs.
I get $195.00 per linear foot with a $800.00 min. tip of the nose to base of the tail.
Thanks guys. Now if I were going to send it to somebody, after I skinned it and freezed it (without splitting lips, messing with ears or pads) how would I get it to the person still frozen? I decided that if I get one I am going to spend the money to get it made into a rug. First bear, might as well. There has to be somebody that takes credit cards right?! :-)
Seriously, thanks for all the help. I have been reading a lot of the posts here. I have no taxidermy now and have no experience with any so I am starting from the beginning with all this.
Red
You could send the frozen hide second day air in an old cooler, I get them often this way. Or you could hire a local taxidermist.