I have a customer who wants me to mount a 170 lb black bear for him. It was just taken in Maine last week, was skinned (with skull still in) and is frozen now. I am wondering how to thaw it so I can flesh and turn and split. In other words, what temperature should I thaw it at? And how long should it take to thaw? Any help on these questions would be appreciated. Thanks folks!
Mike Spencer
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Thow it in the fridge and let it thaw out there. It's safer there then leting it thaw in the open air. You will have to keep a check on it and as soon as you can start moving the skin, start skinning. The head may still be frozen ans that's fine. The quicker the better. It can take a day or two to thaw it where you can skin it.
Also keep an eye on it so there is no slippage elsewhere. I say this for if there wasn't proper care it can and be a bad hide. I've seen this more than once. I even watched a grown man cry when he brought his first lifesize bear in. They skined it and put it in a real small cooler. He brought it and before I could do a thing to it it was slipping everywhere. The guide did a bad job of taking care of it.