I got a coyote from a friend. He had it in his garage for 2 days before he gave it to me. When i skinned him it had a green color right around the belly area. It doesn't smell the greatest either. The hair doens't seem to be slipping at all. It was in the 30's and 40's. Its in the freezer now. Do you think its ok? thanks Newbie to Taxidermy
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salt it heavilly or use stop rot - you should have handled it that way right away - now it have to rethaw and that will give you more pproblems - i would rethaw and salt heavilly
Thinks that make us worry and fret,,,,,,,,,,, are thinks that haven't happened yet. Some advice here, because this is a first for you, you will learn as you go, and you will be slow. Slip will show up on beginners because they handle the hides so slow. Taking two days to flesh in a warm room, in and out of the freezer, and so on. It is better to flesh and prep for pickle or tan in a cool area. In addition, do not worry about loosing the first hide or cape. Just go forward and learn all you can and stop worrying about the outcome. IF it turns out fair, you did well. This coyote sounds like it will be a great first learning project. Get a video and a Breakthrough Manuel and finish the job, slip or no slip, no matter what it looks like at the end. The goal is learning, the good mounts will come latter. Have fun.
THINGS not thinks, what was I thinging of?
you will prolly be okay, ....coyotes and foxes are often shot poorly like in their bellies and then thrown in the back of the truck on their bellies and even if it dies quickly from a heart or lung shot the heat in the guts coupled with thin belly skin will usually green the belly area FAST! It prolly did it the first day, it didn't even need two days when the hot guts are left in like that, but on to my real point.... i said all this so you would know in the future and know that the rest of the hide SHOULD be alright, so do a pose hiding the spoiled area, like bedded down or something. And Mr. T. said exactly what I said many times in the past... get something mounted, if it is ruined then you will learn more cause you're already past worrying if you can mount it up perfect or not, get agressive and turn out a mount. Practice the sewing and tucking and grooming! It ain't gonna look perfect but you did it by yourself and that says alot. Remember drying and grooming does alot for any animal and on foxes and coyote you need to turn the ears as fast as you need to get the guts cooled down.
Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. This is an awesome forum with lots of info. I will be visiting often.