No Profanity *** No Flaming *** No Advertising *** No Anti Trappers ***NO POLITICS
No Non-Target Catches *** No Links to Anti-trapping Sites *** No Avoiding Profanity Filter


Home~Trap Talk~ADC Forum~Trap Shed~Wilderness Trapping~International Trappers~Fur Handling

Auction Forum~Trapper Tips~Links~Gallery~Basic Sets~Convention Calendar~Chat~ Trap Collecting Forum

Trapper's Humor~Strictly Trapping~Fur Buyers Directory~Mugshots~Fur Sale Directory~Wildcrafting~The Pen and Quill

Trapper's Tales~Words From The Past~Legends~Archives~Kids Forum~Lure Formulators Forum~ Fermenter's Forum


~~~ Dobbins' Products Catalog ~~~


Minnesota Trapline Products
Please support our sponsor for the Trappers Talk Page - Minnesota Trapline Products


Print Thread
Hop To
Storing carcass rat freezer question. #6724216
01/11/20 12:58 AM
01/11/20 12:58 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,947
n.e, iowa
C
coonman220 Offline OP
trapper
coonman220  Offline OP
trapper
C

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,947
n.e, iowa
Have some carcass rat from early Nov an up till now. Frozen quick with belly up ,. I skin sold some few wk ago, look ok, if let carcass. Rat go freezer till early feb they weren't wrapped an just lay belly up an quick frozen, csn they be freezer burnt ?

Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6724249
01/11/20 02:08 AM
01/11/20 02:08 AM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,323
se South Dakota
NonPCfed Offline
trapper
NonPCfed  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 6,323
se South Dakota
Good job coonmman!! I don't know how anything whole could get freezer burned in 3 months but maybe its possible...


"And God said, Let us make man in our image �and let them have dominion �and all the creatures that move along the ground".
Genesis 1:26
Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6724278
01/11/20 06:16 AM
01/11/20 06:16 AM
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,870
Mn
N
nightlife Offline
trapper
nightlife  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,870
Mn
Should be good to go, as a precaution I always snip the claws off before they go in the freezer, nothing sharper the frozen rat claws in the early morning



�Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks.�
― Robert A. Heinlein
Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6724286
01/11/20 06:56 AM
01/11/20 06:56 AM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,283
PA
L
lumberjack391 Offline
trapper
lumberjack391  Offline
trapper
L

Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,283
PA
I still have the scars, know what you mean.

Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: lumberjack391] #6724348
01/11/20 08:48 AM
01/11/20 08:48 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,947
n.e, iowa
C
coonman220 Offline OP
trapper
coonman220  Offline OP
trapper
C

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,947
n.e, iowa
Originally Posted by lumberjack391
I still have the scars, know what you mean.

I know what u mean, frozen razor sharp claws

Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6724393
01/11/20 09:37 AM
01/11/20 09:37 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,658
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,658
Minnesota
Originally Posted by coonman220
Have some carcass rat from early Nov an up till now. Frozen quick with belly up ,. I skin sold some few wk ago, look ok, if let carcass. Rat go freezer till early feb they weren't wrapped an just lay belly up an quick frozen, csn they be freezer burnt ?

I'd say no chance


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6724438
01/11/20 10:29 AM
01/11/20 10:29 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
T
The Beav Online content
trapper
The Beav  Online Content
trapper
T

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,797
Wisconsin
If It happens It's going to be the nose and face that will freezer burn. And It could happen.
I just hate skinning thawed rats. And as to those frozen claws I would just cut off all the feet before I started.


The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6725158
01/11/20 08:34 PM
01/11/20 08:34 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 937
Anchor Point, AK
trapperjoeAK Offline
trapper
trapperjoeAK  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 937
Anchor Point, AK
Have stored whole freezers before, I just dry them a bit and blow out with air compressor then cut tail and maybe front feet off. I find it annoying to do the initial cuts without the hind feet. I use a piece of cardboard to put under the currently freezing layer to keep them from freezing together then slide it out and do the next layer, this costs you some freezer space as they dont pack as well but you end up with all individual rats... Finished product won't be hurt by 5-6 months. They are much less nice to put up then fresh rats as stated. The important thing is loading the freezer at a pace that they freeze quickly, and dealing with promptly when you thaw. The freeze/thaw much more likely to damage then 'freezer burn' which pretty much just makes face harder to skin. In general they are much harder to peel because the carcass does not hold together as well. Now days I think it's quite a bit better to keep up with skinning and just freeze pelts to stretch later in my opinion but Id do this again if I just wanted to go as hard as I could for a few days and I had the freezer space, realistically you need multiple freezers to do the freezing even if you put all the frozen ones in one.

This is 300 or something

[Linked Image]

Last edited by trapperjoeAK; 01/11/20 08:45 PM.
Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6725193
01/11/20 09:01 PM
01/11/20 09:01 PM
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,945
South metro, MN
C
Calvin Offline
trapper
Calvin  Offline
trapper
C

Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,945
South metro, MN
I freeze all my rats whole until heavy winter sets up. As long as they are dry when they go in they will be fine for months and months.

And rethawed rats skin a lot better than fresh.

Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6725322
01/11/20 10:24 PM
01/11/20 10:24 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 7,630
Virginia
5
52Carl Offline
trapper
52Carl  Offline
trapper
5

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 7,630
Virginia
I'm guessing you guys are not taking advantage of the meat market on those rats. I saw a lot of dollar signs wasted in that chest freezer.

Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6725962
01/12/20 12:11 PM
01/12/20 12:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 937
Anchor Point, AK
trapperjoeAK Offline
trapper
trapperjoeAK  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 937
Anchor Point, AK
only reliable carcass market up here is beaver, although it is quite good. Ive sold a few rats for eating (like 20....) and some to a guy who used them for food for his hawks. heh. Not every place is the same.

Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: trapperjoeAK] #6726934
01/13/20 02:01 AM
01/13/20 02:01 AM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 7,630
Virginia
5
52Carl Offline
trapper
52Carl  Offline
trapper
5

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 7,630
Virginia
Originally Posted by trapperjoeAK
only reliable carcass market up here is beaver, although it is quite good. Ive sold a few rats for eating (like 20....) and some to a guy who used them for food for his hawks. heh. Not every place is the same.

Good point. I did not see the Alaska part. Definitely a shortage of clientele up there.

Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6727131
01/13/20 09:34 AM
01/13/20 09:34 AM
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,871
NNY
0
080808 Offline
trapper
080808  Offline
trapper
0

Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,871
NNY
Anyone who traps canines may want to view what Robert Waddell uses for bait in his quest for 1000 yotes.
Looks like he is the real deal with rats down a dirt hole

Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6727159
01/13/20 09:57 AM
01/13/20 09:57 AM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,405
USA-WI
K
Kre Offline
trapper
Kre  Offline
trapper
K

Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,405
USA-WI
I haven't frozen whole rats very often, but when I have, it seemed like they always had green bellies by the time they thawed...and I usually tore the guys open while skinning.

Is this typical when freezing whole rats?

Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6731834
01/17/20 12:34 AM
01/17/20 12:34 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,947
n.e, iowa
C
coonman220 Offline OP
trapper
coonman220  Offline OP
trapper
C

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,947
n.e, iowa
How long can keep un wrapped. Beaver an coon, otter, if just lay flat an freeze, with tail an head tuck in? Without trouble ? Skinned. Not carcass's.

Last edited by coonman220; 01/17/20 12:34 AM.
Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6732204
01/17/20 11:06 AM
01/17/20 11:06 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
Taximan Offline
trapper
Taximan  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,459
Montana
I would wrap them all.It varies but it will freezer burn much quicker,not wrapped.at the least,it can make animals sloer to skin.Some tails can be impossible to skin or may rip.Throwing them in a bag loosely can be as bad.The best thing I have used for rat sized animals is shrink wrap with a handle,as used in packaging.It really pushes a lot of air out and that is the name of the game.Cutting the claws or feet off is a good thing.

Larger animals can be wrapped in a bag and the shrink wrap can be used to wrap around the bag to get some air out.

I have the best luck,putting them up and when dry,bag a bundle and wrap that.They will definitely last much longer this way.Wrapped on the carcass,I might let them go 6 months.Unwrapped,I wouldn't wait too long.You can test every couple months by pulling one that has been in there longest and putting that one up.You can store it in the freezer.A monthe later,try aother one.This should tell you how your particular freezer affects them.Nice batch of rats,Coonman.

Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6732659
01/17/20 05:18 PM
01/17/20 05:18 PM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,947
n.e, iowa
C
coonman220 Offline OP
trapper
coonman220  Offline OP
trapper
C

Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,947
n.e, iowa
I mean how long ok to keep coon, beaver, otter that are skin in freezer. That are not wrapped but lay flat to freeze quick with head an tail tuck under, they are skin out

Re: Storing carcass rat freezer question. [Re: coonman220] #6732683
01/17/20 05:41 PM
01/17/20 05:41 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,093
Hathaway Montana
Cathouse Jim Offline
trapper
Cathouse Jim  Offline
trapper

Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,093
Hathaway Montana
I use to freeze them all the time as a teenager. I would dry them off pretty good with some crumpled up newspaper and then roll them up in a dry newspaper. Worked very well until my mom opened up the freezer and saw then in there. Whiskers and teeth were all she saw!

edit - Some of those rats were taken in November and not skinned till March, I never noticed anything wrong with them.

Last edited by Cathouse Jim; 01/17/20 05:43 PM.

"I've reached nearly fifty four years of age with my system."

NTA Life member
MTA Life member
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread