Knuckled Out Bear Claws

[passengerseven]

So my wife was going through the food freezer and pulled out a green garbage and asked "what's this?". Why, those would be bear feet of course, why do you ask, i said? It seemed like a perfectly reasonable place to store unprocessed bear feet to me. Apparently I was mistaken.

After 5 hours of defrosting I was out on the patio attending to the knuckling process of last falls bear. We were not interested in the hide so only the feet and head were kept. The skull, already skinned out, will eventually be boiled and bleached. He was a healthy 400 lb boar.

Below are the results of a couple hours with a sharp knife. Will let them dry and then buff them up and then they get distributed to neighbour kids to take to school for unique show-and-tell. Cheers,

P7

 

[tjsudbury]

I've heard that some cultures make the paws into a very good soup.

 

[MD]

I've heard that some cultures make the paws into a very good soup.

We do in my house.

 

[PatchRat]

I don't know about the paws, but the cheek meat on the head is delicious!

 

[156821]

Apparently you were mistaken.... haha, I have also made the same mistake. I boiled a wolf skull on the stove one time, that went over like a lead balloon.

 

[Dogleg]

That's what side burners on barbeques are for.

 

[BrotherRockeye]

lotsa things bear parts can become.

 

[passengerseven]

Really great job on the claws. What did you do for the nice, even finish? Thanks
P7

lotsa things bear parts can become.

 

[Tenguns]

What did you do with the hide? Not allowed to let it go to waste here in Alberta.

 

[passengerseven]

There is a "hats for hides" program offered by the MNR here in Ontario for those hunters who choose not to keep the hide themselves.

What did you do with the hide? Not allowed to let it go to waste here in Alberta.

 

[tootall]

My best friend is Chinese.
I saved the paws for him once, and was hoping to try bear paw soup, as it is supposed to be a big deal.

I never did get to try it. Apparently they didnt want to waste it on a Lo Fan...

 

[Tenguns]

There is a "hats for hides" program offered by the MNR here in Ontario for those hunters who choose not to keep the hide themselves.

So you get a free hat or something?

 

[passengerseven]

Yes. The MNR gives you a hunter orange cap in exchange for the hide.

So you get a free hat or something?

 

[darbdarb]

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some canine teeth add to the effect

 

[Norwestalta]

I'm not much of a bear hunter so I have to ask. What is the next step to do with the claws?
I do also like that neck lace.

 

[darbdarb]

usually just salt them and let everything dry out

 

[1duckslayer]

I'm not much of a bear hunter so I have to ask. What is the next step to do with the claws?
I do also like that neck lace.

I'm sure it would be just like turkey spurs and beards, clean them up and cover with borax (rub it in) for a couple weeks, apply more if it looks wet.



I've have a couple turkey spur necklaces. My main one for display in the house has wood beads and deer antler tips for spacers, I have a few black bear claws I want to add to it as well as some bear teeth (still in the skull). My question is what is the best way to get the teeth out of the skull without doing damage??? I've had the claws and skull around for a number of years and thought of adding them to the necklace a few years ago but have yet to do it. This thread is motivating me to do so! I'll have to post some pics when completed.

 

[darbdarb]

we boil our skulls, and the teeth are usually fairly loose, sometimes we have to glue em back in. have not run in to tight ones. how did you process it?

 

[1duckslayer]

Dumped the skull and paws in the bush with other scraps from the bear,went back a year later and the skull was in tact and claws were scattered around a few feet. Wasn't expecting to find anything.

I'll have to try boiling the skull, I broke one of the teeth flush trying to pull it out with a pair of pliers and a cloth.

 

[BrotherRockeye]

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some canine teeth add to the effect

Nice piece, but too colorful and cluttered for my taste. I prefer simple...like me