Bear mounting options

[Zbearclaw]

Originally posted by GMMAT:
 

Please no snarl, but besides that you can do the skull regardless of how the hide is done.
 

A friend of mine runs a bear guide service in Canada.  This (above) is one of his pet peeves.  He's said (re: 'snarl' mounts) that it seems funny on something that's really just an overgrown 'COON!....lol [/b]

they are related to hogs, I have always considered them a "dog faced hog", but big coon fits well!!!!

[Doug Treat]

Here's a shoulder mount.  It was about 1/3 the cost of a half mount which was slightly less than a full-body mount.
 

[acadian archer]

nice shoulder mount!! I have one only it's a black bear and I'll post as soon as I get the camera working. To each his own but I prefer a closed mouth on the bear as, for me, it looks more natural.

[GMMAT]

That's a BEAUTIFUL shoulder mount!

[Gun]

Here is the best cut and shaped rug I've seen. He was born to be a rug. Short legs, big body, perfect coat. The only mistake I did was open mouth. Its not as gaping as some, but collects dust and hanging on the wall isn't really that visible.

The cinnamon lifesize in the corner was just a bit smaller and I wanted to show off the white crest on his chest. I wouldn't do a lifesize again though. Way too expensive. You can get a lot of deer heads mounted for the price of a lifesize now. I did get a bit of a deal on him. I get tired of looking at it. Does take up less space than an on-all-fours mount. Its going to be for sale soon.

 

[chinook907]

Like JimB said, unless its a buster, consider just getting the hide tanned for a few hundred bucks.  They look nice thrown over a recliner or couch, and are warm.

[Jerry Wald]

I rugged my big guy and he is hanging on my inlaws wall, open mouthed looks real nice.

Another one I took a friend wanted it for his mother for mothers day (what could I say)....he just had it tanned and his mom didn't like hunting at all.

He told me when he gave it to her he didn't know what to expect....that hide goes everywhere in the house with her where she will sit for more than an hour. She just puts it on the back of the chair and wraps herself in it.

SHE LOVES IT.....amazing

A friend of mine shot a real small bear for his first one and got a toilet seat cover done        

I also had a friend that got a nice bear and then had it snarling...didn't like that much and  it had many scars on it....must have been from the cambells soup cans in the dump    .....

well that's where his tree stand was...c'mon that's some funny sh!t.

Jer BEar

[brill16hockey]

HAHA, thanks for all the input, I just want to see how much I should save up incase I do get lucky enough to kill a bear.  But then again, if I'm broke I guess I'll go with the toilet seat cover!

[mnbwhtr]

I'm with Biggie on this one, I've mounted probably 30 1/2 mt bears and unless it's over 180# it won't do it justice. I have my wife's first bear the weighed just over 100# mounted lifesize on display and a 255# bear I shot mounted 1/2 and tell people to look at them before they go with the 1/2 mounts. You can back comb the hair time and time again and a 150# bear 1/2 mount will look like your black lab for size. I still do them for people but let them know what to expect. My 2 cents

[Jerry Wald]

If you aren't sure just salt it and freeze it..then whenyou have the money do something then...just be aware while you are skinning is all.

jer Bear

[JimB]

Just a note of caution,if you don't know how to completely flesh,and this means split the lips,nose,eyelids,turn the ears completely,skin the toes completely,never put any salt on a hide.

The only way salt can do it's job is if those areas are split and turned.The other caution is,if you salt a hide and put it in the freezer,the salt will prevent freezing but it will draw juices out of the hide.It will soak in it's own juices,unfrozen and spoil.It has happened to a lot of people.

The exception to this is,if the hide were properly fleshed,split,turned etc,then salted and completely dried,it could then be put in the freezer without problems.Once salted properly and dried however,they don't need frozen.The hide will last a long time in this state as long as you keep bugs,mice and your pet lab from eating it.

[Looper]

I'd start by approaching them from behind, unless you're a real looker.

Oh wait... nevermind...

[legends1]

I had my first bear done in a 3/4 body mount.I think your better off to do rugs.the bear i had done in a 3/4 body mount weight was over 300lbs.due to the fact that a bear caries largest part of his body in his hind quarters i think the 3/4 body mount makes a trophy bear look smaller.I think the head mount rug gives a better discription of its true size.Im just not as happy with my best trophy bear.I have smaller baers mounted in head mount rugs that look larger than my 3/4 body mount.