|
|
Home >
Caring For Your Skins
|
 The most important part of tanning or taxidermy
relates directly to how the animal was treated before the
taxidermist or tanner receives it. The following list is a
recommended procedure for taking care of your skins. Remember,
how well your skin turns out depends mostly on pre-care. If your
skin is going to be used for taxidermy purposes it probably is
best to have a taxidermist skin it. Treat the skin better than
you would treat the meat. |
**We DO NOT Accept Green or Frozen Hides**
|
 |
- Dispatch the animal as neatly as possible. Don't shoot it
if possible, but if necessary use a small caliber gun. Do not
shoot in the head area.
- Clean the animal at the site to remove dirt, blood, etc.
- Transport with the legs up and the stomach tucked into the
chest cavity.
- Keep out of the sun.
- Do not allow the animal to freeze.
- Comb out all burrs, mud and blood, and make sure the fur
is dry before skinning. Use a fan if necessary, but never use
heat.
- Skin as soon as possible, do not leave until the next day.
- Skin carefully, a small hole in a thin skinned animal will
be a larger hole after the tanning process.
|
Tips and Tricks
|
| |
- Case skinning is always preferred except for large game
(deer, bear).
- If the fur is to be stretched and dried the tail bone must
be pulled and the tail must be slit using a tail slitting
guide.
- Ears should be cut where they join the skull, not farther
up.
- If you wish the ears turned or the claws skun out it is
your responsibility or a taxidermists.
- If you are going to stretch and dry the fur, flesh as
usual for selling.
- Removal of fat and meat is important. The membrane that is
left will be removed at the tanners.
- If you are going to freeze the skin leave un-fleshed, turn
hair out, and roll up tightly so no leather is showing. Place
in a zip lock freezer bag and squeeze out all the air. Label
it with the date the animal was killed and the area in which
you found the animal.
- Freeze in a freezer, storing outside is not good enough.
- Take skin to tanner as soon as possible. Skins left in the
freezer too long will freezer burn.
- Deliver furs frozen, do not thaw.
- If you choose to dry your skins, dry at room temperature
for one week and then store outside in a garage or shed. Get
it to the tanner as soon as possible. The longer a skin dries
the harder it will be to tan.
- For tanning purposes it is best to dry with the fur turned
in.
- If you have the slightest doubt about how to handle your
fur, call the taxidermist or tanner that you will be sending
the fur to and ask for instructions.
|
| Remember to bring or send your
hunting and trapping licenses when bringing in fur as some of
these animals must be registered with the Idaho Fish & Game. |
|
|
|
|
