I am a commercial taxidermist with a shop in a tourist area. I have a drying rack outside where I hang salted elk capes. A taxidermist on vacation told me that the sun would be harmful to the capes. I use a commercial tannery and have done this drying method for a couple of years...with no problems and no comment from the tannery. Can anyone else see a problem with hanging capes in the direct sunlight, with little or no hair exposed to the sun (hair down on rack)? I have received many great tips from taxidermists who have stopped by on vacation and am always ready to learn more. I really like hanging them outside in the 15% humidity and breeze but also want to do the best that I can...
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The only adverse effect that I see is that the sun could possibly bleach the hair, but for no longer than it takes to dry a hide, I'll still do it. Did you ask this guy how he supposed the Indians did it with buffalo? In Africa, "flint dried hides" are the norm. That's drying without salt in the sunlight.
......Since most tanners, at least the ones I use, say to keep them out of the sun, I wouldn't. This time of year our temps are down and we have a moderate humidity I prefer to use salt in a shaded area. Remember, heat + humidity = bacterial growth. If you weren't salting first, I'd say you're flirting with disaster. I've always had more slippage on air dried skins that I have on salt dried skins, but since you do use salt I think you're speeding up the process. George is right about the African skins being dried in the sun, but then I've seen a lot of slippage on African stuff, too. Since you haven't had any problems and your tanner doesn't complain, why not keep doing it. And since you are talking elk, I am going to assume you are in the west, the humidity isn't a big factor. I would also venture to say that the low humidity and the breeze are a bigger factor in your drying than the sun is.
Thanks for the input fellas! I think I will figure out an awning some day if I get some time...you know how that goes. I have thought about the sun bleaching the hair but I've got that facing down and believe it or not about 2/3 of the time I'm doing a short insicision so I really like the breeze and air movement and don't have to worry about bleaching the hair. I can get my elk capes boxed w/in a week or so and off to the tannery. Shade is a great idea though. Thanks!
If you create a short cut, well you would figure that something has to give ( stretch ), but why go into so much details on this matter and just say, if African skins are having so much trouble with slippage and lack of stretch do to short cuts do to drying in the SUN you may take the time and invest in a salting room using a dehumidifier to eliminate the problems of moisture. And the ability to dry your skins in a more effective way with a salting room.