Ive got a guy who wants me to flesh and strech a fall wisconsin bear. Ive never done one can I get a few pointers to not screw it up I know that the hair is easily pulled threw the hide. Frost scraping is not an option Boco.

I’m not sure of the details, but I know of a couple taxidermists that use a pressure washer to flesh a hide.

Flesh it exactly the same way you would flesh a raccoon or a coyote. It prob won’t be case skinned though, but still the same. It will be very greasy too like a raccoon. They’re easy to flesh.

Use lots of sawdust.

Doing a bear on a beam is a fair job.What does he want to do with the hide?Rug? if so you will need to do a good job on the head and feet.I like to use a two handed bone flesher to flesh early pelts on the beam that way you wont damage the hair roots.Keep a can of raid handy if you are stretching it in warm weather,and check it a couple times a day and touch up any spots that are not drying.

If he is sending it to a tanner,you can salt the hide after fleshing and skinning out the ears lips nose and feet,that will save you some work.
A lot of time can be saved at the beam if the skinner has some skill.

You need to turn the ears inside out,split the lips,eyelids,nostrils and skin each toe,down to the claw.If don't know how to do that,don't touch it.

I use two draw knives,one sharp and one,dull.Once I get past the shoulders,I can usually finish with the dull knife.

I've always fleshed bear hides over my knee with just a skinning knife. Do what Taximan said about the ears, eyes, nose and lips, and take the toes off at the last joint. Bear hides grease burn easy if in the sunlight for even a short time. Do your fleshing in a shady place. If you are skinning one on a sunny day keep the hide folded hair side out as much as you can to keep the sun off of it. After fleshing is done you can salt it, or if you are close to the taxidermy shop deliver it fresh or frozen. If you are going to mail it to a tannery, contact them and see how they want it prepared for shipping.

Do you wash the hide first or at all. I have one to do and I was thinking of adding ice to my water for washing. My basement is staying 60 degrees that is where I will be fleshing. If I wash the hide with Dawn dish soap then rinse am i going to get hair slipping waiting for it to dry from the washing? I would like it if someone would be willing to give a step by step on their entire process. This is a small bear hide no head or paws going to use to drape over a chair or couch. Thanks for any help you can give.

The skull and paws are still in it have no idea who skinned it, it wasnt me so it could be rough and its been in the frezzer since last fall. Told him id look into in and couldnt do anything til fall or early winter. Didnt get much info just a txt asking if I could do it and what the cost would be. I may refer him to a taxidermist cause shipping a hide like that is a real pain id imagin

If his plan is to have a rug or wall hanger as a finished product? Then I would recommend he take it directly to his taxidermist.

I generally would not feel comfortable taking money to do something I was not experienced or proficient doing. I would certainly have wanted to do a few of my own before accepting one for a client despite having done many many other critters.

If it was me I'd pass on it and have him give it to a taxidermist, depending on what he wants to do with it.

No.Do not wash it.It will come back shiny clean without risking losing the hide.Fleshing a hide without head or feet is very much like the fleshing that trappers do.Taxidermy fleshing is more technical and takes some skill and knowledge.It's one of those things that it really helps to watch someone do,before tackling it yourself.

If you don't know who skinned it then you probably don't know how long it was hauled around in the back of a truck before it was tossed in the freezer with the head and feet still in it.
If I was going to take that on I would make it very clear up front that I would not be responsible if the hide went hair slip. I've seen people bring bear hides in to Fish and Game to be tagged that still had the head and feet in and that had a layer an inch thick in places of rotting fat and meat still on the hide. When you don't know all the particulars be sure you don't end up being blamed for someone else's shortcomings.

Had a guy want me to flesh and hoop tan a beaver for him, said it was a big one. Wow! Biggest beaver I ever handled. No joke this thing was like a young grizzly. He said it weighed over 70 and I plum believe him. Take your time and don’t rush through it.