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Freezing Beaver pelt

Posted By: Rudy S

Freezing Beaver pelt - 04/24/18 02:05 PM

I know its been asked before, but cant seem to find the thread.

This is my first year trapping beaver, been successful so far.
IVE Been Skinning them and started to flesh 2 of them then came to realize i shouldnt if i am to freeze them
I dont have any beaver boards yet, and to be honest, i will not have time to bring them in to nafa for the next auction.
my question is, what will happen to the beavers ive started fleshing . ive stored them flesh to flesh, rolled them and put them in
plastic bags, put them in the freezer one at a time. im hopping to take them out in september/october to finish them up, board dryied and ready. Will they be freezer burnt, pretty sure i goofed bad buy starting to flesh them.
Posted By: acrews145

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 04/24/18 03:16 PM

I've stored mine both ways. I don't do fur market though, only tanning or mounting. Only time I have issues freezer burning is when I freeze animals whole. I sometimes start the tanning process then freeze to finish later. Make sure your bags aren't sweating. Sometimes freeze for an hour out of the bag then put in bag rolled up tight.
Posted By: Boco

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 04/24/18 04:15 PM

I clean skin and have froze beaver pelts for up to a year with no problems.
I spray the leather with water,fold skin to skin,roll up,and put in plastic bag,squeeze out the air and tie bag.I mark the bag with date,and if there are any dmgs in the skin.
Posted By: Rudy S

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 04/24/18 05:15 PM

Sounds great, thanks for the help acrew145,& Boco.
Posted By: The Beav

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 04/24/18 05:41 PM

If your rough skinning just fold up the hide so no raw edges are showing. You can bag them but It's not necessary.
Posted By: Rudy S

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 04/24/18 05:49 PM

Thanks, ive been folding them in half, then rolled making sure there is no skin/meat/fat exposed. as well plastic bagged taking as much air out,and tying off the bags then freezer.
Posted By: The Beav

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 04/24/18 05:55 PM

You have It under control and that's all you have to do.
Posted By: Rudy S

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 04/24/18 07:06 PM

sounds good, thanks The Beav.
Posted By: wissmiss

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 04/24/18 08:57 PM

No one has mentioned an important factor - check your freezer on a regular basis (at least once a week) to make sure it is functioning properly and that the pelts are still frozen.

A freezer full of accidentally thawed beaver is NOT pretty. And the smell...........
Posted By: Rudy S

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 04/24/18 09:15 PM

My wife and i normaly check the freezers often, pulling groceries out of the one, and the other is trapping ordeal, But thanks for the heads up. I could not imagine how bad it would go in a hurry. UUUUURRRRGGH. sick
Posted By: acrews145

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 04/24/18 11:14 PM

True. I had a freezer go bad last year with fox and several deer capes. I had a full body albino deer ready to be mounted. I kept it and am going to try an salvage, but the smell.... he was already tanned is the only reason he may be ok but I doubt it
Posted By: backroadsarcher

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 04/24/18 11:45 PM

I'm with Boco, usually all my spring beaver get froze until the following winter when I put up the rest of my fur. I skin then lightly mist the flesh side with water and rub it over evenly. Fold in half length wise and roll up tight starting tail end first. Done this for years with no problems.
Posted By: TD King

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 07/01/18 02:31 AM

can you flesh your hides outside during the summerwhen its 80 degrees out or should I wait until this fall when it cools down again I had saved a couple of beaver saved for my own use
Posted By: TD King

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 07/01/18 02:34 AM

I forgot to mention I wanted to flesh them and tan them to make some gloves
Posted By: Boco

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 07/01/18 03:25 AM

The flies will lay eggs on it,deep down in the fur while you are fleshing.This is hard to get out later even during and after the tanning process.
If you can do it in a basement or some other enclosed area the fly situation may be manageable.
If you are going to tan them,salt them after fleshing and roll up,set on a slant to drain the juice.The flies wont bother them once they are liberally salted.
After two days,unroll,shake off the old salt and re-salt with fresh and roll up and leave for 7 days.
Then you can unroll it and proceed with the washing,de greasing, rinsing, pickling,shaving,rinsing again, tanning, oiling, breaking,and tumbling.
Posted By: TD King

Re: Freezing Beaver pelt - 07/01/18 06:00 PM

thanks for the help
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