Bear Taxidermy: Shoulder vs Rug

[FLhunter7]

Florida is thinking of another black bear hunt in 2019 or near after. What kind of bear taxidermy do you guys prefer shoulder mount or rug. They seem to cost about the same amount around here so thats not really a factor. I feel like its whatever looks the best to hunter but wanted to see if there was anything else (like if a rug much harder to clean/ take care of) that would be important to know about.

 

[CAustin]

You didn’t mention full body mount......if you can swing that....WOW. Otherwise shoulder!

 

[FLhunter7]

Yeah I know a full body mount would be amazing but not really affordable for me.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Nothing wrong with a well tanned and mounted rug.
If you put the bear on the floor cleaning it can be some work.
Just not into carnivore shoulder mount myself.

 

[JakeH]

I’ve seen and like both but there’s just something about a bear rug that ties a trophy room together.

 

[cpr0312]

Rug if full size not feasible!

 

[lwaters]

The half mount with the front legs looks pretty good

 

[PARA45]

I'd say go with the rug, and have the skull on a table near by.

 

[1dirthawker]

flhunter

since cost is not an object, it is truly, what you like the looks of most. i have a grizzly rug on my wall, it takes up less space than a full mount or a 1/2 mount. it looks great, mainly because the taxidermist put a lot of batting behind the hide/rug which makes it look more full, an outstanding rug.

rug is pretty easy to clean on the wall, vacuum it once a month.

but.... ya gotta shoot it first!

 

[Red Leg]

Rug or full mount. I too don’t care for bits and pieces of a predator on the wall. I put bear rugs on the floor - a zebra was created for a sitting or game room - a bear for the area in front of a fireplace.

 

[Mekaniks]

I have a black and a brown both rugs. I display them both over a half wall at the top of some stairs. I like bear rugs more than shoulder style bear mounts. I would do full mounts if Ihad the money and the room.

 

[Britt Beck]

Full mount if in the budget. If not a rug is also a great piece. Also there are a ton of different ways to do the skull. Any of the choices above will be great to though. Because no matter which choice, when you see it, those memories will run through your veins.

 

[johnnyblues]

My vote goes for a full mount. I have a grizzly and brown bear full mounted.

 

[Denvir Tire]

A rug is both traditional and useful, rugs can be on the floor, hang on the wall, draped over a beam or the back of a couch, bedspread, etc...
The only thing you can do with a mount is hang it

 

[Savage Hunter]

I don’t like the shoulder mount.

When I finally do a bear hunt it will be a rug.

 

[johnnyblues]

All a matter of taste and budget.

 

[JimP]

For some reason I just don't like the shoulder mount on a bear, even the ones with the front legs kind of just hanging there. Perhaps a 3/4 mount with some habitat decor around it. But usually a 3/4 mount cost the same as a full mount but can be hung on a wall.

On a rug, unless you have space or a place for it usually just get thrown over something with it looking out of place.

 

[adgunner]

I have got both a rug and a shoulder mount, they both look great and for me it was more about where they were going to fit in the trophy room than anything else.

 

[Divernhunter]

I have a really great, large, thick hair black bear rug that I mounted on a wall. "I" think it is better than a shoulder mount. If it were a smaller bear and/or did not have as nice of a hide(like big rub spots and such)

I would have considered a shoulder mount. The photo does not do the bear justice. The skull is on the shelf to the right by the warthog/baboon/monkey sculls. You cannot see that well in this photo. This was a B&C bear

 

[meigsbucks]

Since a full mount isn't in the cards, I'd go with a rug (I'd choose mouth closed). Hang on a wall, over the back of a couch, on top the gun safe...
Or... Just the skull with a nice 8x10 photo and save the $$$ for the down payment on your next hunt.