What to do with a bear hide?

[rabjr]

Just found out the boys in the Adirondacks kilt a couple bears. They saved all the fat for me and let me have the smallest bears hide (weighed about 100lbs). Was thinking of having it commercially tanned with hair on of course or if it cost to much, try to home tan it. First thought would be to make a possibles bag out of it? Any other uses for bear hides?

 

[onefeather]

make some mocs and have the hair inside for warmth :thumbsup:

 

[roundball]

It weighs 100 pounds??????????? Are you sure there's still not a hind quarter in there?
:rotf:

Guess I never thought about how much a deer hide or bear hide weighs but am surprised to hear that...if that's a "green" weight, I assume it'll get lighter some as it dries?

What is a bear's pelt condition this time of year...it's should be at it's peak, right?

 

[Swampman]

I'd use it for a blanket. I wouldn't cut it up.

 

[onefeather]

there you go thats a good use i was thinking of :thumbsup:

 

[rabjr]

Umm lol roundball, sorry I ment the bear only weighed that dressed, not the hide. As you can imagine...its a small bear. This is the reason I wanted the hide. Small easy to work with and probably just enough for one possibles bag lol.

 

[Birdman]

Swamp get it tanned and make a sholder robe(cape) out of it to wear in colder weather.Then ya got it to toss over yer blanket at night to help stay warm while sleeping. I have an old hide a friend gave me n thats what I did with it, works great!YMHS Birdman oh yea if the claws are still attached make them into a necklace, they are expensive to buy now adays

 

[Deadeye]

If you make a bag, make it small, with all that hair it will be about twice as big anyway. I have one, that I won ,that's beautiful, lined with green wool with 2 compartments but it's huge, when I wear it I'm almost hidden behind it, looks more like a bear than me.

 

[crockett]

Those smaller bears, if you make a rug out of them they look, well,,,,. In any event the Head could be mounted and still look okay and the rest can be used for a variety of stuff. Bones can be used for knife handles, powder measures,save the skull for a conversation piece, paws can be used for gun rack. The fur can be tanned and used in all sorts of buck skinning projects, hats, trim, etc. Any scraps of fur hair can be used in fly tying.

 

[rabjr]

Ok gonna have this tanned then decide what I want to do with it.

 

[Flint50]

How 'bout makin a vest? Years ago I had one, hair side out. Once even talked "Mrs Flint50" into wearing it. As I recall that's all she was wearing and..........ummm.....errrr.... :grin:

 

[Twisted_1in66]

How 'bout makin a vest? Years ago I had one, hair side out. Once even talked "Mrs Flint50" into wearing it. As I recall that's all she was wearing and..........ummm.....errrr.... :grin:

TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!!.....
:rotf: :rotf:

 

[Twisted_1in66]

**snip** Any scraps of fur hair can be used in fly tying.

It makes great winging material for steelhead flies!

-----------------------------------------------
Twisted_1in66 :thumbsup:

 

[Gary]

It's cursed and I'll be happy to get rid of it for you. Heck, I'll even pay the postage. :winking:

 

[musketman]

What to do with a bear hide?

Halloween costume for the dog... :thumbsup: :haha:

 

[rabjr]

Ha I just got it yesterday, in a small plastic bag....theres not much there but it's probably just about perfect for me to play around with. Very nice thick coat from what I did see. Shouldn't cost to much to get it tanned lol.

 

[musketman]

Is the face attached to the hide?

 

[rabjr]

No Musketman, the head and all four paws were cut off. I haven't had a chance yet to roll it out and look at it. I'm told theres still some fat on the hide that needs to be fleshed off. I'll get into this next week after our main muzzle loading season ends here.

 

[musketman]

No Musketman, the head and all four paws were cut off.

Now that's a shame, a bear hide shooting bag with the face as a flap would be great...

I assumed it was whole since I seen your other thread about cleaning bear claws, my mistake...

Depending on how much fat in left on the hide, you may be able to render some bear oil... :hmm:

 

[rabjr]

Oh yes, I have the fat from two bears given to me. I'll make some oil this winter. This hide was just being thrown away until heard about it. Thought it was a shame and it might be perfect for me to play around with.

And yes I have written permission with license #s here with the bear parts. For those who maybe wondering.