How to Prepare Bear for Taxidermy

You've shot a bear and you want to keep him so you can be reminded of that incredible experience. The best way is to taxiderm the bear. After harvesting the meat, you can be left with a lifelike bear that can last for generations. Read this eHow to learn more.

Instructions

1. Lay the bear on its back.

2. Raise the bear's forelegs and make an incision from forepaw to forepaw (the incision will look like an upside-down arc).

3. Make an incision from the middle of the above incision down the center of the bear to the end of the bear's tail. Keep the skin up while making this incision so that you do not pierce the entrails.

4. Make a third incision from hind paw to hind paw. This incision will pass through that of the center-line incision.

5. Pull the skin off the carcass, and gently cut the paws free.

6. Expose the juncture where the head meets the neck, and cut the neck at least three inches down from this juncture.

7. Cut all around the neck to the spinal column. Be careful not to cut the skin.

8. Grasp the head and twist the neck until the head comes free.

9. Rinse any blood on the skin by washing it with water or in the snow.

10. Field dress the bear. Tie a rope around one leg and pull it, exposing the belly and crotch.

11. Go to the rump. Cut around the anus, and free the colon from the point where it is connected to the anus and pelvis. When the colon is free, tie a sting around it, just in front of the anus. This keeps feces from falling into the body cavity. Clean your hands if you get feces on them.

12. Reach up into the chest cavity and cut around the diaphragm. Go up further and grasp the windpipe. Cut the windpipe free, and pull it backwards. With your other hand, free any internal organs by cutting tissue that connects it to the backbone. Allow the entrails to spill out onto the ground. You might have to pull on the lower intestines to free them.

13. Turn the carcass on the side, and let the blood drain.

14. Make certain all the entrails are removed. Do not use any water at the site to clean the body cavity as it may contain harmful bacteria. Use paper towels instead to clean the meat.

15. Roll the hide up and bring it to the taxidermist to be mounted. Taxidermists can be found in the phone book or online.

Tips & Warnings

• If you cannot get to a taxidermist right away, call for instructions on how to freeze the hide so as to preserve it until it can be mounted.

• Clearly identify the bear skin as yours when you deliver it to the taxidermist.

Resources

• World Class Outdoors has an article on preparing a skin for taxidermy.
• Allred's Taxidermy Supply is a good resource for taxidermy.