salting and rehydrating

Submitted by Cathy on 7/13/05 at 11:07 AM. ( ) 65.174.25.161

Bruce Riitle says to salt and dry rock hard to "set the hair roots". Why doesn't rehydrating losen these back up again? I am only curious because I like to know the "why" behind the method. Also, I have always skinned and frozen everthing until I get to it. Is it better to salt dry them and store them that way? How should they be stored? Hanging? In a box? I do about 25-30 deer a year and usually have 1-3 slippage problems. I wondered if salting them when I get them might help prevent this. Thanks.

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How

This response submitted by John on 7/13/05 at 5:53 PM. ( ) 68.206.85.56

have you been doing 25 to 30 deer a year and not know this? Are you using DP?


Maybe I wasn't clear

This response submitted by Cathy on 7/13/05 at 9:05 PM. ( ) 65.174.25.161

I was storing them FROZEN. I am curious about storing them SALT DRIED and wanted some input, that's all.


cathy

This response submitted by paul on 7/13/05 at 9:06 PM. ( ) 68.83.60.41

salting dry removes the soluable proteins from the skin that bacteria
needs to survive. your pickle solution if done correctly should not inhibit the growth of bacteria. if your doing things properly and still having slippage problems its probably due to not getting your capes prped and salted soon enough, this may or maynot be your problem. always check the harvest date when you check in your work
a hunter bringing in a deer thats a week old is never a good thing! im not a big fan of freezing capes before their preped, but sometimes we get that busy its a must, make sure they dont lay around too long after thawing, most of the time im working on them before their completely thawed. your salted capes are good stored in a cool dry place until ready for the tannery. i simply put them in the box i ship them in for storage


Thanks, Paul

This response submitted by Cathy on 7/14/05 at 11:12 AM. ( ) 65.161.90.203

Thanks for answering my question, no sarcasm, no accusations. I appreciate it!


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