Is it really necessary to Pickle deer cape for mounting? I am finding many taxidermist does not do this - anymore.
What benefits does Pickling add?
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All skins have proteins. You have your structural proteins (skeleton of the cape if you will) and non-structural proteins (fatty tissue etc which would not enable holding shape or structure of cape). The pickle helps "dissolve" the non-structural of which are soluable in salt water and acid pickles. Basically you don't NEED or want the NON-structural. By removing them, the tannins will adhere to the Structural proteins much more successfully.
Imagine your hands with lotion on them. Now take a drop of food color and drip it on the top of your hand. It sits there, or runs off. Next imagine dried out hands...put a drop of food coloring on the top of your hand and it'll soak into the surrounding creavices and pores. By removing the non-structural proteins, your cape or hide will similarily "soak" up the tanning agent.
Hope this made sense. You are right, many don't pickle their hides. But knowing this about proteins....I do.
none of the taxidermist in my area pickle deer hides. we use paul witts SURE CURE its easy and fairly cheap. contact KINGS TAXIDERMY SUPPLY in CORINTH MS. or e-mail me for more info at jenjaycross@aol.com