when to buy animals

Hello, I am just starting out in Taxidermy and had a few questions regarding animals. I am just now starting to get some tools and reading books and watching how to videos. And my question is what time of year is best to get nice animals for mounts? Does it matter? Is one season better than another are they available year round or is now the best time to stock up. Also how long can you keep an animal frozen whole before you skin it? How long after you skin and salt do you have to tan? Any feedback would be great.

Thanks

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Now

This time of year is the beginning of the fur season for Winter. If you are looking for good quality fur buy from now until about April. You can get fur year round however.
I have kept animals frozen up to a year as long as they are protested and not left to the open freezer. I would send it the tannery as soon as possible after drying but in a dry climate like Wyoming they will last a while.

thanks

Thanks for the information, but if have skinned and salted the hide do you have to tan within hours/days or can it be stored until you have a few hides to tan? Like maybe a month or so?

Thanks again

You can wait

till you have several hides to send. As long it is completely dry and kept in a cool dry space.