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We have been considering a hunt in New Brunswick. What would be the most cost effective way to get a nice rug if we manage to take a bear. I just had a friend who hunted Manitoba show me his rug invoice. His outfitter sent the hide to a local guy and they did the rug and are shipping it to the US. Including the skull and rug and all the fees its a little over 2,000. The rug was actually about 1100 and 200 for the skull. The rest was shipping and paperwork.
Are you driving to hunt or flying? Driving makes it pretty easy, freeze the hide and skull and bring it to your local taxidermist and save the shipping cost. I'm sure you can do the same flying. The price for the rug and skull is not out of line at all at the amounts you listed.
A less expensive way to display your bear that I really like is to just have it tanned and hang it. I believe that some people tube skin them to hang, but I am not good enough to do that. Here's a couple I have in a corner.
Do not leave it with your outfitter! Still can’t get back one we left in 2016 that my son shot
X2 with the "bring it home" crowd. Spend your money in the US.
Shiras42 How much did you pay to have the bear tanned?
Most of our hunters are taking the frozen hides and skulls with them. If the hunter is transporting the fresh, frozen or salted hide, a CITES permit is not required and your hunting license with serve as the export permit (Manitoba). The paperwork for shipping tanned hides or finished mounts is ridiculous.
Some of our hunters leave their bears with the taxidermist up here, then pick it up the following year. This gives the taxidermist time to have the CITES paperwork and mount complete. Of course, this only works if you're planning a return trip!
These are two options if you are driving. If flying, it is expensive either way. From the few hunters we have that fly, most leave their items here and have the tanned hide or finished mount shipped.
I'm going with Shiras42 method. I can't justify the $ and wall space for a rug so I'm having mine tanned (I tubed/case skinned it) for similar display.
I have about 20-25 just tanned. A 6 foot bear not cleaned up with skull in will run about 300-325 just tanned . I like to give them away. People that don’t hunt just love them . My Wife is over it ! Come on spring. Hunt
I also agree with bringing your bear home with you. Cost of paper work is ridiculous!! No need for a CITIES if you are bringing it back into the states. If destination is eventually a country other than the US then a CITIES is required ie: Australia.
Slipshot, Hunt is pretty close with his number. Think mine was a little more than that, but I don't think I will be going back to the same taxi...
what would the logistics of getting a frozen hide and skull home. I guess we would have to buy coolers up there, then pay the airlines as extra baggage? I don't fly much so I really don't know
Tanners charge about $28 a linear foot....nose to tail. Then you will pay about another $80- 100 to cape, flesh and salt. That is what I charge as a tanner but that is a wholesale number to taxidermist. A taxidermist will charge for the caping, fleshing, salting and shipping. Some just double the tanning costs.
If you are just having it tanned don`t use a taxidermist as you are just adding a middleman. Trouble is finding a tanner to do just your bear....you have to know someone in the biz :)
We send all our fleshed, salted and dried bear hides to Snowy Mountain Tannery in Florence Montana. Get them back quick and the price is very reasonable. Usually around 100$ for a 6 foot bear.
Give Kim Albertoni a call at 406-387-4468 or email at
[email protected]
She repaired, no she re-made Millie's first rug for a very reasonable price after it began coming apart. Ms. Albertoni typically turns hides to rugs within 6 months but it'll depend on the what's ahead of you. She uses the FIFO process for getting work done.
Caller79065 DO NOT leave your bear in Canada, your just asking for problems. It’s quite simple to bring the salted Hide home in a duffel bag, or frozen in a 48qt cooler with head. It will be under 50 pounds and and the cooler will be under the min size restrictions. You simply pay an extra baggage charge for your particular air line, $50 ish. Just buy a cooler when arrive. Buy a permanent marker as well and write your name and address on the top. Also buy some duct tape to tape it shut.
Piggybacking off what Franklin said, you could send your bear to USA Foxx. They will tan it for 25/linear ft. They'll do the fleshing as well if you want, for $100. I have no personal experience using them but they have been recommended to me by several folks. I won't post a link as they're not a sponsor, but a quick Google search will find their website.