I have a large Mt.lion,Kinda low on money need to get him out of the freezer will borax do the job,or is there anything I can get to do it under $20?I know that sounds cheap but I'm on a fixed income.
thanks
Bill
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I would never use a dry preservative on a large animal like a mountain lion. Either put him in the freezer raw or salt dry him until you have the money to have him tanned. Salt is cheap, lions? I doubt you want to take the chance.
juli
guess I read over the part about getting him out of the freezer. I would salt dry and send to a professional tannery. Most tanneries don't charge until after the hide is tanned - perhaps by then you would have the funds to pay for it? My own opinion, I guess. Tanning in the shop always seems to take more time than it's worth.
Try prayer. It's even cheaper than borax.
If you just want to get him out of the freezer, and you are low on money, why not sell the critter. Email me a price.
Bill,
Borax is a fungicide and preservative, but not a tanning agent. Yes, you could use borax or DP to mount a cougar, but you would hve your hands full and the potential for problems would increase over using a tanned hide. More than one cougar has been mounted with either Borax or DP, but I would advise against it unless you are prepared to take dozens of intermediate steps to insure quality.
Why no use the old alum tan for the process? It is cheap, relatively simple and produces a good tan in the end. Alum tanning has been used for centuries. Alum tanned leather requires oiling and breaking for use as a rug or apparell, but not for taxidermy use as long as it is kept damp until mounted.
One Pound Alum and two pounds of salt to four gallons of water. Dissolve the alum in boiling water and then add additional water and salt.......Do not store in a metal container. Ceramic or plastic only. Prep the hide by double salting, fleshing, degrease, rinse and then immerse in the alum pickle.....takes about two weeks......turn the hide from time to time and stir a bit with a wooden paddle to insure even dispersal. Check alum tan on Google search or another engine to find the finishing steps to break the hide if you desire a soft pelt.
to tan a hide.