September 9, 2013, 01:53 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 4, 2012
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 2,217
|
Bear skin rug
Im jumping the gun a bit. But what is the going rate to have a bear hide turned into a bear skin rug? Anyone know where I can send a salted hide to have it done? How do you prep a hide before taking it to a taxidermist or a tannery? Do you take them to a tannery or a taxidermist? Again bear season is a little ways off and of coarse I have to actually see a bear.
__________________
Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown |
September 9, 2013, 03:19 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2006
Posts: 4,342
|
Depends on the size of the bear, whether or not you want the skull cleaned, sealed and mounted with it and backing put on the rug or just have it soft tanned without the skull. Cheapest is to have just a plain soft tan $300-$500 depending on size and to have the skull bug cleaned and mounted $150-$200. A rug with the skull bug cleaned, sealed and backed$1000-$1200.
|
September 9, 2013, 05:03 PM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 15, 2008
Location: Georgia
Posts: 10,808
|
They don't use the actual skull, but plastic forms. It has been 15 years since having mine done. Cost was $500 then, but I'd not be surprised at $1,000 or more now. I had the rug done with black felt backing and the head mounted with the mouth open. I cleaned and bleached the skull myself and it is a separate piece.
Don't go cheap. Bear skins can smell funky in a few years if not done right. My taxidermist sent the hide off to some place in Canada if I remember correctly to be professionally tanned then he mounted the head and finished it. |
September 10, 2013, 09:40 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 4, 2012
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 2,217
|
Do I just pack it in salt and send it to a tannery or taxidermist?
I dont know of any tanneries. Internet search?
__________________
Concentrated power is not rendered harmless by the good intentions of those who create it. Milton Freidman "If you find yourself in a fair fight,,, Your tactics suck"- Unknown |
September 10, 2013, 10:11 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 28, 2006
Posts: 4,342
|
Call a local Taxidermist. He will give you specifics on how to properly skin and prepare the hide. In many cases, if you have a local taxidermist, they prefer to skin the animal themselves. You just field dress it and then take it to them to skin. This is why it's good to contact them BEFORE you need them. If you use an outfitter, they generally know the proper way to skin and prepare the hide for transport. Proper skinning is as important as the tanning process. The taxidermist will also give you the prices you should expect to pay should you connect. Most times freezing the hide is preferred over salting, but one must be careful not to roll the hide or to fold it improperly.
|
September 10, 2013, 12:14 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: April 12, 2000
Location: Wilkes-Barre, Pa
Posts: 1,029
|
My taxi charged $150/foot 4 years ago. A very modest size black bear can cost $800+. Big bear=big bucks.
edit typo
__________________
A gun is like a parachute... when you need one you usually need it pretty bad... Last edited by Tom Matiska; September 12, 2013 at 07:43 PM. |
September 12, 2013, 12:47 AM | #7 |
Junior member
Join Date: July 26, 2013
Posts: 18
|
If you have a place where you can put the skull to let the flies lay their eggs on it the maggots will eat the flesh off and leave the skull spotlessly clean thus saving you a hundred bucks or so.
|
|
|