Newbie With Many Questions

1 nobody can really say cause we have no idea on how fresh, how long it was dead prior to you getting it, temp it was killed in . Way to many variables but using stop rot extends the time. the thing to remember if you don’t have the time to do it then don’t start work unless you know you can put forth the proper amount in.
2 that is all that’s needed to get a form close or exactly to fit. Manikins already have or been sculpted to fit where the elbows etc are. You’ll know if it fits properly when you place the tanned skin over the form. Otherwise unless you’re doing a competition piece to which you’re sculpted the form or altering it’s nit needed as the skin will aid you.
3 look in many of our suppliers and look for those measurements. That’s your job not ours . It’s also hard to wrap a body without having the body to take all those measurements so don’t waste time .
4 not sure why you’re nit able to follow directions as it might be for or per gallon of water and foot an otter 2 gallon is plenty
So if it says .5 or 1/2 oz per gallon for the pickle you’ll need 1 oz of pickle and a pound of salt. Soak for three days, drain, shave, degrease back in pickle overnight.
Next day, drain, mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 8 oz of salt to two gallon of water. Soak for 30 minutes, drain, apply the tan but make sure you mix up the bottle well. If you don’t you won’t tan it properly.
5 is a given ALWAYS!! if someone says you don’t guess what they’re leading you down the wrong path!

 

Mix 1/2 fluid ounce of McKenzie Ultimate Acidand 1 pound of non-iodized salt for each gallon of water. Minimum batch size recommended is 5 gallons of pickle for each whitetail cape. (It is important to maintain the pH of the pickle solution between 1.0 and 2.0 at all times
you can use the same formula I gave you
On how to do it any other questions feel free to ask

 

Don't forget to salt after fleshing before the pickle.
1. Skin and split
2. Salt and drain
3. Pickle
4. Shave and return to pickle
5. Neutralize
6. Brush on tan
7. Rinse then freeze or mount

 

Without a carcass for reference, you have zero chance of making an anatomically correct mount. Purchase a body that is slightly smaller than your measurements. Otters are tough. If you are in a air conditioned room, you have plenty of time to flesh them. Bag and refrigerate, but I would say 48 hours is maximum refrigeration time. Skins sweat inside of plastic bags. Lay out a dry towel, lay your skin on it, and roll it up and bag when refrigerating. You have way more flexibility with an otter than a fox, coyote or bobcat. They will slip much faster...especially foxes.

 

Second 2 Nature has a nice selection of otter forms. Prices are not bad either.

 

No , 90% of the time I don’t salt small game . If I do it’s for a few hours , then into a salt brine and that’s just to get the blood out of hide , then cold water rinse squeeze out water and into the pickle . I never salt dry completely. Less it’s going to the tannery and that like never on small game and deer .

 

No don't let it dry, usually 24-48 hours depending on the hide.

 

Please tell me why you feel you have to salt ? I’m not saying your doing it wrong, I’m asking why you feel you must . I’ve been doing this longer then you’ve been alive lol and have done hundreds of small game . Never salting going straight into pickle. Point , Brian Hendrick’s , world class small game artist, thaws his fox , bobcat and such in a pickle, skins it fleshes it and back in pickle , never salting . Why salt to dehydrate , only to have to rehydrate . As I posted if your going to salt it , it should be to get the blood out and not to ruin your pickle , if you do salt , a couple hours is all that’s needed . Not busting or saying your wrong just informing and helping .

 

I was taught to do it that way and it's always worked well for me. I know a lot will throw into a pickle without salting but I was taught it helps set the hair and allows for a better penetration of pickle into the skin. Pulls nontannable fluids out of the hide.