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Where is a good tannery to send my bear hide from lower 48?

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16 July 2010, 19:51
dgr416
Where is a good tannery to send my bear hide from lower 48?
I am looking for a good tannery to send a black bear I got .I heard most good ones were in Montana.I need the skull done too.
16 July 2010, 20:16
Mary Hilliard-Krueger
I work with over a hundred bear skins a year, from tanneries all over the United States,(from my taxidermist clients) for the past 22+ years. My top preference and the tannery I refer all my taxidermy and hunting clients with bear skins to, is YOST Fur Dressing in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. We send all our furbearers from Chris' taxidermy shop to them also.
YOST's tanning results in a clean, soft, supple, well groomed hair side finished product. They neutralize and oil the leather very well and the end result gives me the best stretch which dries well, not stiff or a bit hard as many other tans dry. I am refering to rugmaking quality preference.
There are several other tanneries which follow closely behind in preference (non of which are in Montana), but YOST always has provided a consistant quality tan, whereas I cannot say that for the others.
I believe tanneries will not accept work directly from a hunter/non-taxidermist. You will need to go through your taxidermist and have him/her flesh and salt your hide prior to shipping it to a tannery. Your taxidermist will do your skull work for you also. Where are you located? Feel free to PM me with any furthur questions.

Kind regards,
Mary


Taxidermist/Rugmaker
16 July 2010, 20:18
<The Artistry of Wildlife>
Most Tanneries only deal with Licensed Taxidermists or should.
I won't deal with a tannery that deals with individuals.
Take it to a qualified Taxidermist and have them make sure it prepped right and take care of it for you and then clean your skull also.
They have to make a living.
If you are a taxidemist then you have many options.
16 July 2010, 23:32
Norton
Just got 3 pelts back from my taxi who sends them to Cali....they're soft and supple.....he says it took him years to find a place this good, hence the reason to be shipped over 3000 miles each way. If you're interested I'll get the name.