Fur and Feathers

[jgmcclain]

I have come into a full raccoon pelt, and tail. The only problem was that when I came into it was it was still attached to the raccoon. I cleared it with the PA-GC. And have followed their recommendations on cleaning.

I read online that an recomeded method is to freese it for a month, take it out and let it come back up to room temp, then freese it down again. This "Should" kill any bugs in the pelt/fur.

Now after that I was going to go old school on it, streatch scrape and salt. But there are some things about this procedure I dont like.

1) no matter how well you clean it there is always some salt left on the hide/fur

2) The formentioned salt will draw moister over time depending on the enviroment.

So i was wondering if anyone had a better home based procedure?

I am trying to stay away from the taxadermy office for a pelt of dubbing.

 

[jayL]

I'd make a badass hat out of it, personally.

 

[MKern]

microwave???

 

[live2fish]

http://www.cahe.nmsu.edu/pubs/_l/l-103.pdf

Tells how to tan the hide with or without the hair.

 

[jgmcclain]

live2fish,

Outstanding pdf, thank you very much

Jake

 

[harry]

My son used a Borax & salt mixture. You might be able to just use Borax.

 

[sandfly]

borax is fine, salt will dry and shrink a hide to much..we use borax on all georges hides from trapping...makes them soft and pliable...