Salted Capes

[easttex]

How long will a properly fleshed salted cape keep, assuming it is fully dry and is kept at room temperature? Everyone always says "get it to your taxidermist ASAP". Sometimes ASAP is not very quick.

 

[S-3 ranch]

I was in the bush for 5 days with salted moose and caribou hides , kept cool and dry under the tarp vestibule, but we froze them asap afterwards for the trip
Back to Texas,
Pronghorn get them capped and blood off hair asap and salted and in a ice chest with frozen jugs to keep them dry and cold asap

 

[BBob]

How long will a properly fleshed salted cape keep, assuming it is fully dry and is kept at room temperature? Everyone always says "get it to your taxidermist ASAP". Sometimes ASAP is not very quick.

Well judging by my taxidermist friends actions, if a cape is properly fleshed out, salted and dried it'll sit there for months on end while they collect enough hides to send in to the tannery. Properly fleshed means all remnants of fat was removed (the salt won't penetrate through the fat and into the hide and the cape will rot in that spot if it wasn't) and the ears turned. Did you or are you turning and salting the ears?

 

[Bubblehide]

I had a bear hide I fleashed properly, ears turned... for over 5 years before having it tanned.

 

[go_deep]

If it's properly fleshed, salted and dried, indefinitely, as long as no bugs get to it.

 

[easttex]

When Covid hit it had a negative impact on all aspects of international permitting, Cites, import and export permits. There was a huge backlog of capes that were awaiting permits, some for years. Most taxidermist advise to not freeze salted capes.... salt or freeze not both.

 

[TaperPin]

Properly salted and fleshed capes last as long as needed, the problem is hardly anyone knows how, even professionals who should know often don’t. It’s a lot of work and judging by the large number of hair slipping stories told every year not done well on average. It’s hard enough to get guides to make cuts in the correct places and not cut off portions of eye lids, lips or screw up the ears. When a hunter is going to cape their own trophies, the time to practice isn’t with an animal down trying to google instructions.

 

[svivian]

Properly salted and fleshed capes last as long as needed, the problem is hardly anyone knows how, even professionals who should know often don’t. It’s a lot of work and judging by the large number of hair slipping stories told every year not done well on average. It’s hard enough to get guides to make cuts in the correct places and not cut off portions of eye lids, lips or screw up the ears. When a hunter is going to cape their own trophies, the time to practice isn’t with an animal down trying to google instructions.

Nice