Bear Half Mounts | Black Bear Half Mounts Wisconsin

Black Bear Half Mounts – Custom Poses, Expert Craftsmanship

A black bear half mount is one of the most popular and striking ways to display your bear trophy. Whether wall-mounted or on a custom pedestal with a habitat base, a half mount captures the power, personality, and presence of your bear in a way that commands attention in any room.

At Stehling’s Taxidermy, we specialize in custom black bear half mounts built to showcase each bear’s unique size, color phase, and character. With over 45 years of experience and thousands of bears completed, our second-generation taxidermists Aaron and Austin Stehling deliver museum-quality results on every mount. Explore all of our bear taxidermy options including full life-size mounts, rugs, and skull mounts.

Half Mount Pose Options

Every bear is different, and your mount should reflect the story of your hunt. We offer a wide range of half mount poses to suit your vision:

Walking Out – One Leg Up: A dynamic, natural-looking pose that adds motion and life to your display.
Walking Out – Both Legs Down: A grounded, powerful stance perfect for pedestal displays.
Upright Pose: Standing tall, this pose shows off the full chest and head of the bear.
Charging / Aggressive Pose: An intense, action-packed look that captures the raw power of a black bear.
Custom Poses: Have something unique in mind? We build custom-sculpted forms to bring your exact vision to life.

Mouth Expression Options

The expression on your bear’s face sets the entire tone of the mount. Choose from:

Closed Mouth: A calm, natural look.
Panting: Lower jaw slightly relaxed — a relaxed, warm-weather expression.
Open Mouth: Alert and engaged, showing teeth.
Open Mouth Charging / Aggressive: Full intensity — perfect for an aggressive or charging pose.
Custom Expressions: We can match any reference photo or create a specific look you’re after.

Bear Half Mount Pricing

Bear half mounts at Stehling’s Taxidermy start at $2,500, depending on the size of the bear and the complexity of the pose and habitat base. Custom pedestal bases, rocks, logs, and habitat elements are available at additional cost.

For a full breakdown of all bear mount options — including full life-size mounts ($5,000+), rugs ($350/ft), and skull mounts ($275) — visit our pricing page or our main bear taxidermy page.

We also offer flexible financing and payment plans so you can get your bear mounted without delay.

Our Process – From Your Bear to a Masterpiece

Every bear half mount at Stehling’s is completed entirely in-house by our team. Here’s what to expect:

Consultation: We discuss your preferred pose, mouth expression, and display style.
Custom Form Work: We sculpt and modify the form to match YOUR bear’s exact body shape and proportions — no generic one-size-fits-all forms.
Mounting & Finishing: The tanned hide is fitted, eyes are set, and every detail — from ear position to lip line — is refined to be anatomically correct and lifelike.
Habitat Base (Optional): We build custom pedestal bases with rocks, branches, and foliage to create a natural scene.

Learn more about the art and process behind our black bear half mounts.

Field Care Tips – Protect Your Trophy

Proper field care is critical for a quality bear mount. Bears have thick hides that hold heat, so you need to act fast:

Skin your bear as soon as possible — heat causes hair slippage quickly.
Keep the hide cool, out of direct sunlight, and avoid letting it sit in water.
Leave plenty of hide — it’s better to have too much than too little.
When in doubt, call us before your hunt and we’ll walk you through the skinning cuts for a half mount.

Read our complete field care and pre-hunt planning guide, or check out our bear hunting tips article for more advice on getting from the field to the trophy wall.

Bear Half Mount Pose Guide

Ready to Get Started?

Whether you’ve already harvested your bear or you’re planning ahead for next season, we’d love to talk about your mount. Contact us today for a free consultation and quote.

Call or Text: 920-723-1224