Tanning bear skin

Submitted by Matt on 5/18/05 at 11:11 PM. ( ) 216.93.117.167

I have been tanning small game lately. I got a guy that is going to give me a lifesize black bear for free and i thought about doing a shoulder mount on it and turn the rest into a rug or just the whole thing into a rug. Is bear skin really thick, must it be shaved on a flesher? Or is bear a must to shave. I have heard they are really thick skinned and thin skinned. Which is true. How hard are they to break the skin? thanks

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Bears are thin skinned

This response submitted by George on 5/18/05 at 11:48 PM. ( georoof@aol.com ) 64.12.116.133

Usually, however, the back of the neck and facial areas will still need some shaving. Your biggest problem is going to come from the grease which is why most of us who've been doing this more than a couple weeks strongly suggest sending bears out to commercial tanneries. BUT, if you want to try it on your free bear, that's a better way to learn lessons than on a customers. Good luck.


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