H & H Fur Dressing

Taxidermist in Reed City, Michigan

(231) 832-70025704 220th Ave, Reed City, MI 49677View on Yelp

About H & H Fur Dressing

H & H Fur Dressing is based in Reed City, Michigan, a small city in Osceola County that sits at the crossroads of US-10 and US-131, making it a convenient stop for hunters and trappers across a wide stretch of northern Michigan. The name points to a specialty that most taxidermists don't focus on: fur dressing, which is the professional preparation and tanning of animal hides into soft, usable pelts. This kind of work serves trappers, hide crafters, and hunters who want a full rug or blanket from their harvest. Reach the studio at (231) 832-7002 to ask about their current services.

Services

Taxidermy

Services & Process

Fur dressing is the process of tanning and softening raw animal hides into finished pelts suitable for rugs, blankets, garments, or wall display. This requires a different skill set and chemistry knowledge than standard taxidermy work. Beyond fur preparation, the studio likely handles rug mounts for bear, coyote, and other game, which combine tanning with a felt or leather backing and an open-mouth form if desired. Skull cleaning and whitening, along with standard deer mounts, are common additions for a studio serving the active hunting population of central Michigan's forested counties.

Service Area

H & H Fur Dressing serves Reed City and the surrounding communities throughout Osceola County, including Evart, Leroy, and Marion. The studio's location at the US-10 and US-131 interchange makes it accessible for customers coming from Mecosta, Lake, and Missaukee counties as well. Trappers and hunters from across the northern Lower Peninsula find the central location worth the drive.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is fur dressing and how is it different from regular taxidermy?
Fur dressing, also called tanning, is the process of chemically treating a raw animal hide to preserve it as a soft, flexible pelt. Regular taxidermy uses tanned or preserved hides stretched over a sculpted form to recreate the animal's appearance. Fur dressing produces a finished hide that can be used as a rug, wall hanging, blanket, or material for crafting.
What animals can have their fur dressed or tanned?
Almost any furred animal can be tanned, including deer, bear, coyote, beaver, fox, raccoon, and smaller furbearers like mink or muskrat. The condition of the hide when it arrives matters a great deal, as poorly fleshed or frozen hides can develop problems during tanning. Bringing the hide in as fresh and clean as possible gives you the best finished result.
How do I prepare a bear hide for a rug mount after a Michigan hunt?
Skin the bear as soon as possible and remove as much fat and flesh from the hide as you can without cutting through the skin. Keep the skull if you want an open-mouth rug, and get the hide to the studio or into a freezer quickly. Bear hides are thick and can sour fast in warm weather, so speed matters more than with thinner deer hides.
Can I bring in beaver or other trapped furbearers for tanning?
Yes, trappers regularly bring in furbearers for professional tanning since proper preparation dramatically increases the pelt's value and usability. Beaver are commonly tanned for their dense, waterproof fur, which is popular for decorative use. Stretch and dry your pelts on a board before bringing them in to prevent spoilage if you can't get there immediately.
How long does a deer hide take to be tanned into a soft pelt?
A soft-tanned deer hide typically takes several weeks to a couple of months depending on the tanning method used and the studio's current workload. Chrome or oil tanning processes produce different textures and have different timelines. Asking at drop-off for a realistic pickup estimate will help you plan, especially if you're hoping to have it done for a specific occasion.
Is Reed City a good location for hunters driving from northern Michigan?
Reed City sits right where US-10 meets US-131, making it a natural stopover for hunters traveling between the northern hunting grounds and the southern part of the state. Osceola County itself has strong populations of deer and black bear, so the studio deals with local specimens regularly. Hunters coming from Cadillac, Big Rapids, or points north and south will find the location easy to reach.

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