The heads of bearskins

[M. Demetrius]

Rawhide bearskin won't do much good, though, for the purpose of actually wearing it, though that might be ok for a rug. Some way or another, the owner will either have to tan the leather or get that process done, somewhere.

In Texas, the American Black Bear, any hue, is a protected species. In Canada and Colorado, the same bear is not a protected species. So to wear a bearskin in Texas would require some pretty convincing documentation to prevent arrest and confiscation of the skin by a Zealous Enforcer.

I think if ever I became a signifer or other skin wearer, and was required to get a skin, I'd probably just buy a big coyote pelt and call it a wolf, knowing that's not genuinely documentable. Being arrested might very well be authentic, but not desirable, least not for me. It's not easy to tell small wolf from large coyote, unless you've really studied the hides. And that barking, barking, barking German Shepherd next door, well, he looks kind of wolfish...nuff said.