I spent about 5hrs skinning 2 coyotes a few weeks ago, and i salt dried them, and then pickled them after i soaked them in water, just today i pulled them out and couldnt help to notice a lot of fur on my hands. I didnt know where it was coming from then i got down to the tail and ALL of the fur on the tail is just pealing away, like not even attached. For future reference i would like to know what i did wrong so i dont waste as much time as i did on these. i dont even think it is worth tanning them if they dont have any tails so i probably just throw them away. Any way any tips or suggestion are greatly appreciated
Thanks,
Erik
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Erik;
Did you debone and split the tail, and salt that too. Also when you rehydrated the skins, did you add salt to the water. Did you salt the skins and let them sit for 24hrs. shake off the salt, then resalt again with new salt.
Coyote
Coyote is right ,most amateur don't give the importance to the small areas , I salt the area and rub in salt just like the face and ears , don't forget to use a bacteriazide when you resoak.
Tails can be purchased fairly cheap around $7, just sew one on if you think the coyotes are worth keeping. Email me if you have trouble finding them, I know of a fur seller that might have some.
All of the above is important. My suggestions with yotes, fox and cats is salt them as yote says AND keep in mind that because of bacteria, the tail especially near the anus and ears are easy to slip. This is what I try to do. Rough flesh salt 24hrs. Get salt to tail area ears. Rubbing alcohol is a good bacteria killer to apply directly to areas suspect to slip., before or after tan. Next after 24 salt, rehydrate half hour and go directly to acid pickle. ( Do not leave in pickle more that 3 days!) Nutralize and tan. Leave in tanning solution 12hrs only, not more.
Also, as a trapper I can tell you that I have found some yotes have rotting patches on fur,to back especially. I don't know exacly why but snared or trapped yotes can build up a lot of heat, sweat and stress when fighting holding devices...and given a little hot damp weather...the grim reaper starts his work before life is extinct.
You have to split the tails, at least partially, to remove fat/grease from them, and get salt down into it. I make a wick from a heavy yarn or string going down the tail and through the tip. Salt and pickle goes through, as does degreaser. Did you forget a few things? Try it next time.
that you soaked in water after salting and before pickling. This could have been your problem; if you rehydrated with plain water. You should have salt in your rehydrating solution or if they weren't completely dry, you could rehydrate directly in your pickle.
If the hide isn't thoroughly fleshed to allow salt to penetrate and cure, you'll get plenty of bugs growing fast. Salt won't reach down to the hair root so the bacteriacide is nearly a must unless you work fast. Good tip on the alcohol.