My first bear rug

Agross

WKR
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Messages
1,907
Location
Michigan
Great looking rug. I typically don’t care for the open mouth rugs because they aren’t as natural looking to me but yours turned out great. He did a tremendous job.
For those wondering why taxis do open mouth, it’s the customers decision.
As far as open mouth being cheaper , I’ve never heard of that. Maybe the form I guess but All the places I’ve talked to or dealt with, it’s more for the open mouth.
I’m waiting for my first rug. Guessing it will be late summer before I see it. Was a small bear but a colored bear so pretty excited. Again great looking rug and bear.
 
Joined
Mar 7, 2024
Messages
76
Location
Colorado
Awesome looking rug, getting me excited for mine to come back later this spring. It's crazy how long the tanneries can take. According to the taxi that's the longest part, his work is relatively quick.

If you don't mind sharing, how much do that set you back monetarily?
Fwiw, on the front range in CO i was quoted anywhere from $250-$400/linear foot. I ended up paying $250/foot for mine, closed mouth.
 
Joined
Sep 28, 2018
Messages
2,309
Location
VA
Awesome looking rug, getting me excited for mine to come back later this spring. It's crazy how long the tanneries can take. According to the taxi that's the longest part, his work is relatively quick.


Fwiw, on the front range in CO i was quoted anywhere from $250-$400/linear foot. I ended up paying $250/foot for mine, closed mouth.


Dang.. Might be cheaper to buy my wife the sewing machine. I have a guy here on the east coast that does a good job on garment quality tanning
 
Joined
Mar 7, 2024
Messages
76
Location
Colorado
Dang.. Might be cheaper to buy my wife the sewing machine. I have a guy here on the east coast that does a good job.
Yeah it was ~$75-100/foot for just tanning. One nice thing I didn't expect, there is a checkin after the tanned hide comes back. So if anything goes wrong at the tannery or it doesn't come back looking right I have the option to bail on the extra rug cost if it's not worth it. Hoping that will be around May (early Sept bear)

@Andrewdk was the 1yr+ the quoted time from your taxidermist? That seems like a long time, I'd be chomping at the bit...
 
OP
Andrewdk

Andrewdk

FNG
Joined
Jun 16, 2022
Messages
62
Yeah it was ~$75-100/foot for just tanning. One nice thing I didn't expect, there is a checkin after the tanned hide comes back. So if anything goes wrong at the tannery or it doesn't come back looking right I have the option to bail on the extra rug cost if it's not worth it. Hoping that will be around May (early Sept bear)

@Andrewdk was the 1yr+ the quoted time from your taxidermist? That seems like a long time, I'd be chomping at the bit...

That’s about his standard time frame. He’s a one man operation working from home.
 
OP
Andrewdk

Andrewdk

FNG
Joined
Jun 16, 2022
Messages
62
Dang! That was a fun story. I gotta get up to SE Alaska...
You do any hunting targeting them now or just if you happen to come across one?


They’re easier to target in the spring when they’re feeding along the coast. I didn’t get to go this past spring, I’ll be after another one this year.
 

Mtns2hunt

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 11, 2023
Messages
196
Nice rug! Glad I killed mine about 10 years ago. Only cost a bit over 600. 1300.00 is a big increase.

I will think very hard before I shoot another and if I do will tan it myself. It's not really that hard and I have done two.
 

Butcher44

FNG
Joined
Mar 30, 2024
Messages
3
I really like the rug! Most have felt sticking out around the perimeter, never cared for that. My taxi quoted me $200 per ft also. But he doea his tanning in house.
 
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