I took a pretty good black bear in Canada a couple of weeks ago and want to do it lifesize. I've worked with a zillion deer, bobcat, exotics, and other Texas critters over the years but this will be my first black bear lifesize. Right now it's fleshed and dry salted.
I'm interested in some input about tanning the hide. Carolina Furs say that they have a great wet tan but that the hair will need much more work because of the oil. I'm a fan of wet tan on deer capes but what about bear?
Would it be better to dry tan it and then rehydrate it rather than spending more time on the hair?
And who do you recommend for L/S black bear tanning and why?
All info is greatly appreciated!
Jerry S.
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tan my own, so i cant recommend a tannery but id say for a lifesize you deffinetly want a wet tan. Dry tans work best for rugs.
The dry tan is beautiful and cheaper to ship back to you. They soak up pretty quick and mount up better than anything else i've seen. We do a ton of em every year and they have a product that is second to none.
And they smell great too :)
in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconcin. They are an established tannery that has been around forever and do an incredible job on bears,whether it be for life size or rugs. Soft, supple, well neutralized and well oiled.The hair side is well groomed, shiney and incrediblely clean. The skins rehydrate quickly and you will get great stretch. They smell great,like leather, not pine sol or bug proofing!
Their wet tan has no oil residue with great stretch and hair quality. I have to do very little grooming.
dogcreek.net
I so second your opinion. That Pine-Sol smell has got to go. It is NASTY. The one time I let WG do work for me was one time too many. Can't believe I paid 2x retail for the 'priviledge' of this pelt being so stunk up. The pelt they did is in a bag, in a box, and I can't go near it without gagging. I've had it back for 2 months and it still stinks the whole room up, oh and the room is 15' x 22'!