Need help with Squirrels

[RoyalOaksTaxidermy]

I got two squirrels in the mail. THey arrived this saturday, while I was away hunting.  Problem is they arrived totally thawed and warm to the touch. The post office delivered them to the door and Grandma immediately placed them  into the freezer.  When I got home from vacation  I took them out of the freezer to look at them and one has its head and muzzle covered in blood. the other has some blood on its side.
  My question is.... If I brush stop rot on as it is defrosting will this prevent the hair from slipping? And since the blood soaked into the fur can I get it out? Or is the fur now stained?
  These were to be my first two projects. Are they a waste? Can I still use them?
Also how do you all normally get frozen critters? Both shipments I have received have been in boxes and totally warm to the touch.
  I dont want to bash anyone (yes I emailed the sellers)
I just want to know how to deal with them now that they are here. IM still hopeful I can use them
 
 
   

[Nina]

They should be fine and you should be able to use them, as long as they aren't slipping. Go ahead and try the Stop-rot, it's good stuff....as for the blood, the fur isn't stained, just wash it off with some Dawn soap.

When I bought a squirrel last year it was during the fall and the weather was cold. The seller told me he shipped it completely frozen and I recieved the squirrel in two days and it was thawed but not slipping at all. When it's cold outside, it is okay to buy raw skins and have them shipped, just make sure you get quicker shipping. During the summer I wouldn't buy anything raw....just salted or tanned, because I don't want to take the risk of losing a good skin when it's really hot outside.

[fesekula]

Nina is correct on the above but also I only buy furs from neighboring states during the winter unless you are buying salted pelts. Always ask what state they are selling from and check your laws. A  picture is allways nice to help weed out the crooks on this forum.

[catheadred]

i dont get specimens through the mail. i did it once. got the deer in the mail. it was salted and completely frozen. after i took the skin out of the pickle and started to mount the hair slipped. the customer later told me he had killed the deer in august of the south carolina deer season .it was hot outside and the deer stayed in the back of the truck 2 hours before it was frozen. hope your luck is better.knoblocs has a recomendation for soaking it in a salt mixture as you thaw it out.check it out.

[RoyalOaksTaxidermy]

Thank You all for your help
  Ill go take one from the freezer and let it defrost in the fridge over night. Its probably too hot to let it defrost on the counter... We are at 97 here  UGH. Ill put the stop Rot on it after it has thawed enough to get it on all the parts.
  Ill get some Dawn and use that to wash the blood off, Im glad it wont stain.. Was worried my first mount would look like it had lipstick all over it LOL...
   Just so you all will know it was sent express. It still took took from Thursday til Sat to arrive. . Probably due to the holiday weekend.

  Two more questions... if you dont mind me picking your brains.. I read that you only apply a light coating not soak it, but since this is a whole body I am guessing I need to get it down to the skin correct? So should I use a little more than if it was just a skinned hide?  And how long does it need to set before I can begin skinning it.
  Thanks so much
  Rae

[Nina]

Paint the Stop Rot on the areas you feel need the most attention, it will float up the blood from the fur and help it come out easier when you wash it. As for thawing, leave the squirrel out for 24 hours and then skin it.

[insane1]

x2

[mr.T aka mr. friendly]

I am sure that after six years, Royal Oaks has got this one figured out.

[joeym]

I am sure that after six years, Royal Oaks has got this one figured out.

LOL!!!  I though maybe Rae had finally mounted them, and we would see the results of a 6 year Stop-Rot/Freezing treatment!

[gade04]

I almost commented on this, but Mr. T. beat me to it.  Why would this even float up to the top if there is no new related question or ideas?

[Matt]

Dammit! I need to pay more attention to the dates on these posts!(LOL)