I am defrosting a large grey mole to skin and flesh tonight. He is in great condition and was frozen not long after death. His fur is very short and silky (almostlike velvet). Does their hair slip easily and is there anything I should do to try to prevent it from happening? Thanks!
Lesley
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Sounds like you have everything under control. I don't think you will
have any problems with the hair slipping. I like to do the skining while
the animal is still thawing. I think in my opinion they are easier to
skin that way before they are completely thawed out. Then just mount
it up tonight, Shouldn't take you long doing a mole.
Bob.
skin him, flesh him and salt him. Fold him up and resalt him tomorrow.
Let him dry out and then rehydrate and tan him. Treat him as you would a deercape. He should be alright. But remember you are dealing with a dead animal here and you just never can be a 100% sure that you won't have any hairslippage.
Remember what you are working with. This is not a deer, a dear has hair not fur. This is a rodent, a fur bearer if you will. Slippage is rare with a fur bearing animal, unless the skin has started to decompose. You shouldnt have any problems at all. In most cases the problem with a deer is keeping the hair on, but in the case of a fur bearer its tough to get it off if you want to make leather.
I've tanned coyotes, muskrats, minks, badgers, skunks, beavers...few others I can't remember. Fur bearing critters DO slip if not handled properly! I know, I found this out the hard way when I first started tanning! ANY fur on ANY critter will slip if not processed right. But it sounds as though you're going about it just fine, follow what Superpig said and you'll be great! Keep up the good work!
Oh yes.. furbearers DO slip! I have squirrels slip all the time. And fox and coon and I could go on..
Amy