mpriest Report post Posted March 17, 2013 I know it is the end of the season for good hides but i figured for a summer project I would make my self a fleshing board and get a fleshing knife. My question for you all is what is the best way to store a hide for an extended period of time after it is all fleshed out? Should I just salt it and keep it in a cool, dry place? I don't have the best luck with hunting coyotes so there is a good chance there will be a long period of time before I get enough hides to make it worth making a drive somewhere to sell them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twowindy Report post Posted March 17, 2013 I roll them up starting from the nose with the hair side out.Put them in a large plastic ziplock bag and freeze.They will keep for at least one year like this.Dont salt them .They will get stiff as a board and you wont be able to stretch them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Becker Report post Posted March 17, 2013 If your planning on selling them don't stretch um until season. They won't last. Do as twowindy suggested. Pull the hides off roll them up starting with the head nice and tight. Put them in the freezer till your ready to sell them. Then stretch and dry them. For the fur trade you don't salt them FYI. Or at least all the guys I know don't. Stretch them skin side out let them get tacky and then flip them fur side out And dry them. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Non-Typical Solutions Report post Posted March 17, 2013 If your planning on selling them don't stretch um until season. They won't last. Do as twowindy suggested. Pull the hides off roll them up starting with the head nice and tight. Put them in the freezer till your ready to sell them. Then stretch and dry them. For the fur trade you don't salt them FYI. Or at least all the guys I know don't. Stretch them skin side out let them get tacky and then flip them fur side out And dry them. I messed up one of my pelts.....let it get too dry before i tried to reverse it back......waited one day too long and probably should have soaked it in water or something, I tore a big hole right at the neck......dumb mistake on my part. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jamaro Report post Posted March 18, 2013 When you roll it up make sure it is Flesh to Flesh.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mpriest Report post Posted March 18, 2013 Thanks for the help. I assume rolling them up and freezing should be done after fleshing them. Also to stretch them and dry them should I do this on a sheet if plywood or build a frame? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector777 Report post Posted March 18, 2013 Don't use a piece of plywood. I'm not even sure how you would do it with a piece of plywood? They make fur stretchers specifically for what you are wanting to do. Like everyone else said don't salt them. You don't have to flesh them before you freeze them but up to you. Just roll them up tight and put them in some zip lock bags. Try and make sure none of the skin/flesh is showing or it could freezer burn. Next year when you take them out just let them thaw by themselves or if you are in a hurry you can run some cool water over them to hurry up the process. Look into getting some wooden stretchers before you are ready to stretch your furs. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
THE RIFLEMAN Report post Posted March 18, 2013 You need to get a book or watch a video on fur processing. It's good that you want to do a job correctly and that you want to do somthing with the critters other than a hero picture and pitch em behind a bush to draw flies.....You will never get enough information from just asking questions on a forum to do a good job! The book's or videos will answere questions about fur processing that you would never think of asking.....Rolling them up like twowindy says is a good start! When ever I go out I carry a small bag of 20Mule Team Borax and sprinkle it on the flesh/hide side before rolling it up... I keep my freshly harvested fur in a cooler after rolling them up and vacume packing themj in a freezer bag. Then when I get home all I have to do is put them in the freezer for long term storage.... Here is a video on skinning Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twowindy Report post Posted March 19, 2013 Ditto on the borax.I use it when fleshing hides and I dry wash my furs after I take them off the stretcher.Try to make it to the trappers convention this summer.They have all kinds of seminars on putting up fur.I've learned a lot there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mpriest Report post Posted March 23, 2013 Thanks for all your help. I have realized that I need to do research this topic. or now I attempt to skin them the way the the post mentioned by "THE RIFLEMAN" suggests and keep them in the freezer. The only question I have left is what do summer hides go for? With no luck lately I feel like the winter hides will be going quick with this warmer weather. Is it even worth saving them? I feel like I should do some justice turning them deer killin' goat killin machines into something useful. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bonecollector Report post Posted March 23, 2013 If anybody wants a coyote send me a pm. Its in my freezer and my wife wants it out!! Lol. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
twowindy Report post Posted March 23, 2013 Summer hides are not worth saving.You cant give them away.I don't like to shoot them till the fur is good.Just my opinion 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
