The warmest opener of the year
Wisconsin’s bear season opened September 9 and runs through October 13 in Zones C, E and F. In Zones A, B and D it splits — bait through September 15, dogs September 16 through October 6, then dogs only October 7 through 13.
Whatever zone you draw, you are hunting the biggest animal of your year in the warmest weather of your year. That is the whole problem in one sentence.
A bear carries a thick hide over a heavy fat layer, and both of them hold heat like a blanket. A September bear that sits two hours in the sun is already working against you. The first six hours after the shot matter more than the next six months of shop time, and no amount of skill at our bench fixes hair that slipped in the back of a truck.
Here is how to hand us a hide worth mounting.
The short version: photograph the bear before you touch it, do not drag it, call your taxidermist before you make the first cut, get the hide off and cooled within hours — cold but not soaking in meltwater — and freeze it solid if you are not delivering it the same day. Wisconsin also requires the bear to be registered by 5 p.m. the day after recovery.
Photograph it before you touch it
Before you move anything, take photos. Head from both sides and straight on. The feet. The claws. The ears. The nose from the front.
We build from reference. Every bear’s face is different, and once the hide comes off, the details we need to rebuild it live in your phone or nowhere. This costs you ninety seconds and it changes the mount.
Do not drag it
Dragging is the fastest way to ruin a bear. Hair rubs off against brush, rock and gravel, and hair rubbed off in the field may leave damage that is difficult — or sometimes impossible — to hide in the finished mount.
Pack it out. Get help, use a game cart, quarter it after skinning — whatever it takes. Just do not drag a bear you intend to hang on your wall.
Call before you cut
This is the step most hunters skip and most regret.
A shoulder mount, a half mount, a full life-size and a rug all need different cuts, and the wrong cut cannot be undone. If you open the brisket and throat the way you would for a European mount, you may have severely limited your mounting options or created a repair that could have been avoided.
If you cannot reach us and you are not sure, the safe move is to leave the cape long — take more hide than you think you need. We can always trim. We cannot add.
And if you have already made a cut you are second-guessing, do not give up on the hide. Call us anyway. We can often save more than hunters expect.
For a life-size mount or a rug, leave the feet and claws attached to the hide. Do not skin the paws in the field unless you have done it before.
Cool it fast, then keep it dry
Get the bear out of the sun immediately. Skin it as soon as you reasonably can — the hide is the insulation, and while it is on, the animal is cooking itself.
Keep the hide cold, but also keep it dry. A cooler with bagged ice or frozen jugs can work, but do not let the hide sit submerged in bloody ice water. Spread it out enough to let the heat escape before folding or bagging it. A rolled warm hide holds heat right in the middle, where you cannot see it going bad.
Once the hide is completely cooled, fold it flesh side in, place it in a heavy plastic bag, remove as much air as practical, and freeze it solid. Frozen solid is fine. Half frozen is not.
Do not forget registration
Wisconsin requires harvested bears to be registered by 5 p.m. the day after recovery, in the county of kill or an adjoining county. You can register online at gamereg.wi.gov, by phone at 844-426-3734, or in person at an authorized station.
You also owe the DNR two upper premolar teeth by October 15, mailed in the envelopes from your materials packet. One practical note that catches people: do not store or mail the teeth in plastic — they need to dry.
Always check the current Wisconsin DNR bear registration requirements for the complete rules.
If you are not sure what mount you want yet
You do not need to decide in the woods.
If you are torn between a rug, a shoulder mount, a half mount or a full life-size display, leave us as much hide as possible and call. Keeping your options open in the field is far better than making an irreversible cut because you felt like you had to choose on the spot.
Bring us the animal and the photos, and we will walk through what fits your bear and your room before anything is committed.
What we can build from it
Bears give you more options than almost any animal, and the right one depends on your space as much as your bear.
Shoulder mount — the classic, and the most forgiving of wall space.
Half mount — head, chest and front legs, usually on a pedestal or habitat base.
Full life-size — the whole animal, posed to your room, habitat quoted separately.
Bear rug — measured nose to base of tail, padded and felt backed, open or closed mouth.
European skull mount — beetle cleaned on site in our own colonies, degreased and whitened. We are accepting skull mounts again this fall.
Bears vary enormously in size, hide condition and pose complexity, so every quote is built after we see the animal. Current starting prices for all of these are on our pricing page.
Bring it in
Walk in during open hours at either studio — Jefferson or New Franken in the Green Bay area. No appointment needed. Current hours and directions for both are on our locations page.
Bears do not cooperate with business hours. If you kill one at last light, call or text (920) 650-7800 and we will meet you.
Hunting out of state? We take shipments from everywhere — see our shipping page for packing instructions and free shipping kits, and call us before you ship.
Bear field care FAQ
How soon do I need to get a bear to a taxidermist?
Same day if you can. A bear’s hide and fat layer hold heat, so a September bear starts working against you within hours. If you cannot deliver it the same day, skin it, cool the hide, and freeze it solid rather than letting it sit.
Can I freeze a bear hide before bringing it in?
Yes. Once the hide is completely cooled, fold it flesh side in, put it in a heavy plastic bag, remove as much air as practical and freeze it solid. Frozen solid is fine. Half frozen is not.
Does dragging a bear ruin the hide?
Dragging rubs hair off against brush, rock and gravel, and that damage can be difficult or sometimes impossible to hide in the finished mount. Pack the bear out or quarter it after skinning rather than dragging it.
Should I skin my own bear?
Only if you have done it before and you already know which mount you want. A shoulder mount, half mount, life-size and rug all require different cuts, and the wrong cut cannot be undone. Call Stehling’s at (920) 650-7800 before you make the first cut.
I already cut the throat. Is the mount ruined?
Not necessarily. A brisket or throat cut may limit your options or create extra repair work, but do not throw the hide away. Call us and we can often save more than hunters expect.
When do I have to register a bear in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin requires harvested bears to be registered by 5 p.m. the day after recovery, in the county of kill or an adjoining county. Two upper premolar teeth are also due to the DNR by October 15.
