I just picked up a nice beaver specimen (roadkill) this morning. It won't fit into my small freezer, so I put it in a plastic bag and buried it in some snow. Yes we still have snow in NH. I plan to skin it this afternoon so that I can put the skin into the freezer for a later mount. My question is, once the specimen is skinned, should I salt it then freeze? Should I put Dry preserve on it and freeze? Or should I just freeze right after skinning? I have mounted one squirrel using the dry preserve method but my guess is, for a quality mount I should tan the beaver. Is this right? Thank you in advance for any input you may be able to give me.
Paul
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DO NOT SALT IT if you're going to put it in the freezer. The salt will prevent it from freezing and spoil on you.
Thaw it out and flesh it...double salt it...then tan it.
When I'm getting ready to mount a beaver I usaully just try a little foreplay. In a snowbank is fine. Just have to work a little harder.
Although the salt may keep the hide from freezing altogether..Salt water freezes at -12 degrees Fahrenheit. Normal freezers temps are above this so, yes the hide may not be entirely frozen. It is doubtful; however, that any bacteria that would cause hair to slip would be active at normal freezing temps.
Skin the beav and freeze the skin...Then thaw it out on a rainy day when you have lots and lots of time to flesh...and even more time to skin that tail..(Unless you consider an artificial tail)...Get all of the fat off of it and then salt it...
You're going to need to toss in a good degreasing step or two no matter which route you go on the preservation...
Thank you for your input. This forum has been a big help to me and I'm sure it has helped many other people too. All of the taxidermists (Veteran or Beginners) that have helped other on this site deserve a big THANK YOU! The beaver has been skinned and now sits in the freezer awaiting the mounting process. I can't wait. Thanks again!
Paul