How is the best way to salt a tube skinned deer cape.(STEP BY STEP )The capes
that are split down the back seem to be easier to salt on a tape
that I watched , but I tube skin my deer.The rolls on the side of
cape are hard for me to keep salt on them. The tape I watched
he salted heavy then rolled into a ball.
Rolling into a ball is wrong for obvious reasons.(not allowing fluids to drain).I also tube skin and just build up a little dam of salt to cover the sides. I also have a layer of salt underneath. It takes a little more attention cause you'll have to flip the cape over frequently and freshen the bed off salt underneath. Havent had any slippage yet.
Cant remember if this was Noonkester or McKenzie, maybe Jonas, but there was this little diagram in the catalogue to build an upright rack in the shape of a pyramid, a little less wide at the top than the bottom (no point),to stretch the cape while salting.
Thats just my opinion but what do I know?!
First rub salt ALL OVER THE FLESH SIDE OF THE HIDE. DON'T MISS A SPOT.
Salt them on the ground. Pour a very large amount of salt on the
ground. At least 2-3 inches thick. Thicker if you want. Then toss the
skin on top. You want enough on the ground to cover the hide when you
lay the skin on the ground.
Then pour salt on top of the hide. Again, at least 2-3 inches thick.
Spread the salt out so you cover everything. I would let it sit for
24 hours and then repeat the process (except for rubbing the salt in).
Don't be a cheapskate and skimp on the salt-or worst, re-use old salt.
Salt is cheap and proper salting is a key process in taxidermy. Bubba.
Dave, We have a rectangular plastic container, large enough to put a tubed cape in and with sides about 3-4 inches high. The bottem is layered with salt. We work fresh salt into the cape ( both sides ) and put the cape down into the salt and bring up salt around the cape. The fluids will drain down into the salt. We do refresh the salt after 12 hours and then we go to 24 hours. It works really well and dries the cape fast. We also use a fan blowing over it.