I just received an Alaskan brown bear that was fleshed very nicely, but closely, with a Ulu knife. When dry, the hide looked great, but when rehydrated and placed in a pickle, the fat that was left turned orangish brown. Does anyone out there know what kind of interaction that is occuring between the fat and the acid? I use a standard formic acid pickle?
Knute
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Thats normal. Its the bears metabolism, digesting fish oils, that produces the color. Dont try to remove ALL that orange, or you will be sorry! The hair root is deep, and so is the fat penetration.