Hi, A few days ago I had an accident with a red fox I hit it with my car as it dashed across the road :( , I LIVE in Australia, so dont worry about Rabies behaviour there (or of it beeing a protected species as they are feral here) :P I wore protective gear.
Ive never skinned before, but after looking at a rough diagram, I managed it. I still have the cartlidge in the ears, and the feet are still full (I cut the first joint off each toe to free them from the body) I salted it and froze it as I did not know what to do next. I know to clean off any fat ect, but what dose Splitting mean? Dose anyone know any refs, or good instructions on how to do this? Thanks!
(Here is the skin) http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/FrostDragoness/skinned1.jpg
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y221/FrostDragoness/skinned2.jpg
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Look on the inside of the mouth around the lips, there will be an inner skin that goes all the way around top and bottom. With a very sharp knife or scalple this needs to be split down to the very bottom edge of the lips, then the flesh that is under needs removed. This same process needs done to each eye. The inner skin that you free up will be used to tuck into the mannikan to hold lips and eye lids in place. The ears are a little more difficult and more easily damaged. If you intend to mount it yourself you should get a video on mounting fox or coyote. check out this link; http://www.hidetanning.net/
Thanks for your fast response! I should be hopfully thawing out the skin in a week or so once the tanning and oil soloutions I have ordered arrive, I shall post how this spliiting step goes if I manage it properly!
~Kristy
Kristy its probly not froze in places now. You shouldnt salt and freeze, Just freeze or salt. Should be cleaned and split before salting and let dry.
I guess thats what I get from taking the first advise that I get (I rang a taxidermist for quick help and he told me to give it lots of salt roll it and freeze it, he seemed reluctant to tell me anymore :P.) Hopefully ittle last a week or so so I can save it, though it was looking slightly green. I plan to shave as much as I can to remove most of the top layer and membrain. A weak skin, but I dont expect *too* much from my first go :)
this looks like a nice animal. If you are going to get to it fairly quickly it should be ok. Next time just freeze it. The advantage you currently have is that it will thaw quickly so you can get right to it. The salt will also dry it out some which should help with fleshing but probably hinder splitting. Good luck.
Ill definately remember to just freeze next time :) , and yes its lovely, it wasnt damaged by impact at all (apart for some blood on the face) the fox's live measurments was a bit over 100 cm long, and I think it is a little thicker in fur than usual, for Australia is getting ready for winter. One thing that might be good, is I didnt salt the face very well, and the tail I didnt work on at all, so that might be to my advantage after all! ^_^