I have a deer cape I shot this year that I thought about getting mounted. But when I skined it I put salt on it like I have always heard to do and put it in the freezer. I heard now that it is not a good idea to do that. Is it ok or not thanks
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I don't understand why people assume they hear salt and they use what ever salt they want. 2nd I don't understand why they think they need to freeze a salted hide? I believe you will have a nightmare on your hands when you unthaw it. That is if it really forze in the 1st place. Then again a nice pool of bacteria could have been frozen on the hide. The most important theing to do is TAKE IT TO A PROFESSIONAL TAXIDERMIST! If you take it to a taxidermy shop and explain you don't have the money to get it mounted yet, most will cape it out for a small fee. If you don't want to do that then just put the whole thing in the freezer and make sure it is wrapped up good. Hope this helps but you may have ruined your deer hide. You'll find out once you thaw it, try to flesh it, and get it tanned. It might be OK too if you get lucky. Good Luck! Dan
I have had three different capes brought to me in the past that were salted and froze, one even salted with rock salt from a guieded hunt for bear that the so called pros prepared for the hunter to bring his bear home.When I thawed it it was green and rotten, it never really froze because of the rock salt the customer seemed to be upset with me. As I tryed to explain that salt is what we use to melt ice he seemed to get it.This customer contacted the place where he had hunted to inform them they had made a mistake and his trophy was rotten and could not be saved. He was lucky enough to given a free hunt for the following year as reinversement for the loss. I dont know if that was a good thing or not, I think the money may have been better and choose another outfit to hunt with.
You will need another cape most likely, none of the three capes survived the salt and freezer combo.
i had a costomer bring me a bear and a coyote that had both been in the freezer for five years, salted. i never thought they would make it but they came out perfect! you got nothing to loose, try it, mabey you will get lucky like i did.
lee
Is that when you freeze something!(LOL) Jeff F.
I had a coon salted and frozen for 7 years tanned up great,(why 7yrs,it's a long story and wasn't my fault) of course everything was split to. Salt helps kill the bacteria and freezing puts bacteria dormant, and yes I know the hide won't freeze thorough but it's covered by having salt. I think what's important if you freeze something salted is to have all the features split to accept salt.
HA HA HA! Yep Rookie! I guess I got caught up in the post. Man easy enough to do I guess! LMAO! Needed that! Dan
Salt only works for melting ice down to 12 degrees farenheit. Since most freezers are colder than 12 it will freeze. I just put a saturated solution into a -16F freezer, let's see how long it takes...
for the saturated solution to freeze completely. This was about 1tsp salt in a clear vial with just enough water to cover the salt granules.
i once had a coyote salted with table salt and froze for a year and it didnt turn out. then i tried 40 mule team borax (available at most walmarts) and it works great. it freezes with the hide but kills bacteria at the same time. i got the idea because borax is what taxidermists use to mount deer feet and birds. it works good also when mounting squirrels. try 40 mule team borax next time if the cape is ruined.
for the plain water to freeze..