Garment tanning a bear?
Contributors to this thread:Bears
From: Corax_latrans
02-Sep-23
I’m seriously considering a bear tag. No interest in a rug, but I would REALLY like to turn one into a coat. Maybe an anorak with a hood? Seems like the best way to skin for that would be to case it, but no idea if there are tanneries that would be able to process one that way….
Is anyone out there familiar with an outfit which could take on that kind of a project?
From: Nick Muche
02-Sep-23
I’ve case skinned and tanned about a dozen bears. No issues at all.
From: Corax_latrans
02-Sep-23
Is that a DIY project for you, or did you send them out? I don’t think I could swing that on my own. Just not enough space to work here….
From: Smtn10PT
03-Sep-23
Ive fleshed and salted dozens of bears, case or open skinned wont matter to the tannery. If you dont have the tools to flesh one find a trapper and see if you can pay them to do it for you. Once fleshed, ears turned and lips split salt it down good and let it dry. Call some tanneries and make sure they are on the same page as you for the type of tanning you want.
From: Timex?
03-Sep-23
The deer on the right was done about 10 year's ago can't remember exactly $ 150/175.00 the piebald was done 2022 & was $ 350.00
Both done through same taxidermist/ tanery.
Both soft tanned
The deer on the right was done about 10 year's ago can't remember exactly $ 150/175.00 the piebald was done 2022 & was $ 350.00
Both done through same taxidermist/ tanery.
Both soft tanned
From: Screwball
03-Sep-23
Try Moyles or Z and L Tannery. As trappers we use these two a lot and are quite happy. Both do great work
From: TENPOINT
03-Sep-23
Call USA Fox and Furs in Duluth Mn. for Tanning
From: Screwball
03-Sep-23
I have a big one in the freezer and am considering the same project so following along. I will tell you Trapperman.com has bunch of this type of stuff on it.
From: Corax_latrans
03-Sep-23
Thanks, guys — this will definitely need to be a full-service kind of a deal… I’m pretty fair with skinning and getting deer hides in good shape to send out, but I’ve never attempted lips or ears…. And only a few furs, vs deer & Elk. And of course nothing this size…. No idea what I’d be getting myself into with a bear.
From: butcherboy
03-Sep-23
Do a YouTube search on fleshing hides with a power washer. It was a huge game changer for me in my taxidermy shop. Do you want the head on? If not then no need to turn lips, and ears. Just cut the head off. It may take more than one bear hide to make a proper coat. Unless you shoot a grizz.
From: Nyati
03-Sep-23
To get best look for a coat u may need a couple bears . I’ve got 3 soft tanned bears I’ve been thinking of making a coat from
From: Nick Muche
03-Sep-23
"Is that a DIY project for you, or did you send them out?"
They were sent out to be tanned commercially with no issues.
From: Groundhunter
03-Sep-23
Timex, that's a few bucks for your hair on deer skin The going price in Wis as of today is 108.00 I send alot of fur out to Idaho, fair prices
From: Groundhunter
03-Sep-23
That would be Moyles.
From: jmiller
03-Sep-23
I've never seen a full bear coat but I made a bomber hat for a guy out of the rear half of a bear skin. He had the front half mounted and didn't want to throw the rest away. I'd imagine they would make beautiful mittens too.
From: Screwball
03-Sep-23
New one in Central MN to consider. Yotes to Coats: https://yotestocoatstannery.com/
From: Nomad
04-Sep-23
Whatever you do DO NOT CALL USA Fox and Furs in Duluth Mn. for Tanning unless you never want to see your fur again!!!!!!!
Worst reputation in the business! I belong to a few trapping sites & hands down Moyles gets top grades & USA Fox & Furs gets the worst. More people lose furs through USA consistently & the wait times on the furs that do get returned are horrendous. Moyles seems to give quality & fast turn around.
That being said I send my coyotes to Wild Things Furs in Wisconsin with good results.
From: jmiller
04-Sep-23
Sleepy Creek Tannery in Iowa does good work, they do all my beaver pelts.
From: Groundhunter
04-Sep-23
Nomad, are you talking about wild things, in Rockton Wis?
From: Groundhunter
04-Sep-23
I also just had 3 deer hides tanned with hair on, for grandson. Wolf River Tanning, Schiocton Wis Their reviews were only fair, but I was very satisfied with the work. About 100.00 per hide
From: Nomad
04-Sep-23
Groundhunter......yes.
From: Corax_latrans
04-Sep-23
I guess the good news is that if you case it, you can always try it on before you have anyone start to cutting….
I guess that’d be a reason to pass on a color-phase bear ;)
I’m just figuring that if a guy could get a pelt in good condition… and since a bear needn’t be much over #250 in order to be twice as big as I am….. I could get lucky…
From: Groundhunter
04-Sep-23
Nomad, I have a deer camp in that valley. Lots of fun at the bar in Rocton, come hunting season, place to see good bucks. Good food too
