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Long term fur storage? #6160517
02/17/18 11:20 AM
02/17/18 11:20 AM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 87
West Virginia
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AppalachianTrapr Offline OP
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AppalachianTrapr  Offline OP
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West Virginia
I have looked around for this but haven't found exactly what I am looking for. I'm sure this has been covered and if anyone can point me to it, that would be great so I don't waste anyone's time. My predicament is I don't catch a lot of fur. I don't want to take in a tiny lot of finished fur so I am hoping to accumulate some from a season or two and take it in. Not to look like I had a better season than I did, I would just rather have some amount of fur worth selling before I take it in. First problem is the only "storage" area I have for finished fur would be my garage. Finished garage, attached to house, but not conditioned. I know finished fur isn't going to keep forever. Could I flesh, dry, stretch and carefully freeze it again if it is laid flat? Or should it just be frozen initially all the way up until it is all fleshed, dried, and stretched at once? What would be the best solution? This is a stupid question I think, but I really don't want to screw up and waste any fur. Thanks guys.

Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6160530
02/17/18 11:29 AM
02/17/18 11:29 AM
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,270
james bay frontierOnt.
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james bay frontierOnt.
The safest way to hold fur over is to stretch,dry and keep in a frost free freezer.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6160534
02/17/18 11:35 AM
02/17/18 11:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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The Beav  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
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Wisconsin
It Isn't a stupid question.



If It were me I'd finish what you have and sell It. Lots of things can go wrong by sitting on finished fur.

But If you are bound and determined to sit On It then I would do this. Skin your catch roll It up and bag It and then freeze until next season. Don't flesh any of It. roll so the nose Is inside. And try and keep all raw edges rolled or folded Inside so you can protect against freezer burn.
Then about a month before you start trapping start putting up what you have. No need to keep It In the freezer any longer then necessary.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6160657
02/17/18 02:18 PM
02/17/18 02:18 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 170
Eastern Montana
Rebel Rider Offline
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Eastern Montana
What about seeing if there's a furbuyer coming through your town? The one I sold to doesn't care how many coyote hides I bring. I'm sure a middleman means you take a cut, but a little cut probably costs less than having a freezer going all summer.

Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6160713
02/17/18 03:31 PM
02/17/18 03:31 PM
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 5,851
perry co.Pa
wetdog Offline
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wetdog  Offline
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perry co.Pa
There is no sure way.
Power goes out for a few days,fur is wasted. Best bet is finish it and sell it. Even a little fur sold buy's a few things for next season.
Rotten fur buys nothing

Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6160729
02/17/18 03:49 PM
02/17/18 03:49 PM
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,794
100 Mile House, BC Can
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100 Mile House, BC Can
^^^^^^^


The only constant in trapping is change so keep learning.






Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: The Beav] #6160842
02/17/18 05:33 PM
02/17/18 05:33 PM
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,581
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ebsurveyor Online mad
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Originally Posted By: The Beav
It Isn't a stupid question.



If It were me I'd finish what you have and sell It. Lots of things can go wrong by sitting on finished fur.

But If you are bound and determined to sit On It then I would do this. Skin your catch roll It up and bag It and then freeze until next season. Don't flesh any of It. roll so the nose Is inside. And try and keep all raw edges rolled or folded Inside so you can protect against freezer burn.
Then about a month before you start trapping start putting up what you have. No need to keep It In the freezer any longer then necessary.


The Beav method has worked for me. I have kept 'coon, 'cats, coyotes that way for a long time. When putup they looked like fresh caught. Recently I've only held beaver & coyotes & skunk for a year & then scrape & stretch, can't tell them from fresh caught.

Last edited by ebsurveyor; 02/17/18 05:34 PM.
Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6161003
02/17/18 08:29 PM
02/17/18 08:29 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 87
West Virginia
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AppalachianTrapr Offline OP
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AppalachianTrapr  Offline OP
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West Virginia
I see what you guys are saying. Thanks for the info. How long can finished fur hang in an unconditioned garage with a fan going. I know humidity and temp plays a role in the equation too. The garage is unconditioned but generally stays pretty cool until it gets really hot outside. The only issue would be that it is humid in there at times but I will get a dehumidifier. Just looking for a ballpark on this one. Thanks a lot for the help.

Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6161022
02/17/18 08:58 PM
02/17/18 08:58 PM
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james bay frontierOnt.
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Boarded and dried fur in the freezer has a few advantages.It protects the pelts from bugs and other vermin.It slows down oxidation of the fur and leather,and if the freezer goes out the pelts wont spoil(frost free wont have melted ice in bottom).Another advantage is the pelts are ready to sell as soon as you have an opportunity,or offer without rushing to thaw and finish for a deadline.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6161027
02/17/18 09:01 PM
02/17/18 09:01 PM
Joined: Sep 2011
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ebsurveyor Online mad
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Originally Posted By: APLCN Trapper
I see what you guys are saying. Thanks for the info. How long can finished fur hang in an unconditioned garage with a fan going. I know humidity and temp plays a role in the equation too. The garage is unconditioned but generally stays pretty cool until it gets really hot outside. The only issue would be that it is humid in there at times but I will get a dehumidifier. Just looking for a ballpark on this one. Thanks a lot for the help.


I hung about a dozen coyotes & one 5x coon in a building here in SE PA for 13 months. I then send them to a tannery except about three of the coyotes that I sent to NAFA. NO PROBLEMS at NAFA or at the tannery.

Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: ebsurveyor] #6161077
02/17/18 09:51 PM
02/17/18 09:51 PM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 87
West Virginia
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AppalachianTrapr Offline OP
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West Virginia
Originally Posted By: ebsurveyor

I hung about a dozen coyotes & one 5x coon in a building here in SE PA for 13 months. I then send them to a tannery except about three of the coyotes that I sent to NAFA. NO PROBLEMS at NAFA or at the tannery.


Holy mackerel my ignorance is becoming more and more apparent! I would’ve guessed people would say like a couple weeks. Thanks for the response!

Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6161146
02/17/18 11:12 PM
02/17/18 11:12 PM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 6,547
NC, Orange Co.
QuietButDeadly Online content
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I would not be pushing my luck, especially with the possibility of insect damage. There is plenty of oil left in dried pelts to attract wild dermestid beetles and they can make a mess of your hard work pretty quick.


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Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6161245
02/18/18 03:12 AM
02/18/18 03:12 AM
Joined: Sep 2011
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Originally Posted By: APLCN Trapper
Originally Posted By: ebsurveyor

I hung about a dozen coyotes & one 5x coon in a building here in SE PA for 13 months. I then send them to a tannery except about three of the coyotes that I sent to NAFA. NO PROBLEMS at NAFA or at the tannery.


Holy mackerel my ignorance is becoming more and more apparent! I would’ve guessed people would say like a couple weeks. Thanks for the response!


The reason for the furs in my shed; I was going to try to home tan them. I have a few coyotes & coon that I fleshed then salted about five years ago. Those hides look like they would tan-up OK.

Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6161703
02/18/18 03:28 PM
02/18/18 03:28 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
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The Beav Offline
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But you don't want to salt any hides you intend to sell for the fur market.
And I can see salted hides hanging like that for awhile but not just dried furs.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6162049
02/18/18 08:39 PM
02/18/18 08:39 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
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james bay frontierOnt.
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Dry salted hides will keep for quite a while,as long as the humidity is low.But there is a bacteria,called the halophilic bacteria that will attack dry salted skins.You will know it when you see pink in the skin.The spread of the pink discoloration is the live halophilic bacteria.


Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
Re: Long term fur storage? [Re: AppalachianTrapr] #6162512
02/19/18 10:21 AM
02/19/18 10:21 AM
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 87
West Virginia
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AppalachianTrapr Offline OP
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West Virginia
Thanks for the replies everyone. I will go ahead and do my best to finish what I have. I may end up just tanning some and keeping them. I have never even handled fur so I dont want to take in any bad work. Going to the March auction in WV. Never been to one of these either so I am hoping they have a demo or something.

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