How long can a hide or cape be keep when salted twice and allowed to dry rock hard? The room that I keep them in is not heated but is in the dry so the temperature varies quite a bit from 20 to 100 degrees. Also a follow up on the last question if you use a short Y incision on a deer cape and salt it heavy on both sides and lay it on a rack to dry will it keep enough salt on the bottom of the cape? I can salt heavy on the top but when you lay it on the rack a lots of the salt falls off. Can you flip the cape on the opposite salting so what was the bottom will be on the top and can put more salt on it or will there be enough salt on it by rubbing the salt in good.
Return to Beginners Taxidermy Category Menu
I may go overboard, but after rubbing the salt in really good, I lay the hide on a flat surface hide up and then pile the salt on thick (1/2 to 1 inch thick). I have noticed the drawing action of the salt is better if the salt is on thick and does not create such a sloppy wet mess. Of course, all fat and membranes must be removed for the salt to work to its potential. Also, you can reuse your salt better if you use more to start. Allow salt to dry and then sift with small mesh hardware cloth. Good luck.