I'm just a beginner and have a few deer heads to start on. I'm familiar with the salting procedure, but just had two quick questions. As I received the heads, I simply skinned the capes off the head to allow more room in my freezer. Now, I'm going to thaw them back out, and at this time I'm going to slit lips/eye lids/turn ears, do a basic flesh, and then salt and dry before taking them to the tannery.
Am I going to have any problems with slippage (maybe during thawing,etc.) because I chose just to get them in the feezer and pursue later when I had more time?
Also, being winter and in the single digits right now (should be warming into the twenties later in the week), will my capes still dry during the salting process normally? I'm doing the messy work in my garage.
Any info would be appreciated. Keep up the good work... RICH
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IF the capes were in good shape when you started you should be ok. Just thaw and do your prep work then salt. The salt will still work in the cold, but it WILL freeze solid when it absorbs all the moisture from the cape. I would try to salt them where it is at least above freezing. Salt them for 24 hours, remove the salt and salt them again for another 24 hours. You do not have to use as much salt the second time as the first salting will remove almost all of the moisture from them. when you remove them from the first salting you will notice that they are starting to stiffen up, because the salt removed the moisture. Good luck and have fun. Don't rush things and pay attention to detail and you will be happy.
you should also know that it will take forever for them to dry out in temps that low. you might want to salt them in the garage the first time or two until there is no dripping left. but them take them in where it is warmer to hang and finish drying. they will dry out in a few days that way instead of weeks where it is cold.
Thanks for the advice. I think I'll salt the first day in the garage, and set something up in the basement for the second salting and the rest of the drying process. -Rich
I am also a beginner and need to ask, what kind of salt do you use for deer hides? thanks