|
Post by buckhunter649 on Oct 16, 2007 20:23:58 GMT -5
I plan to put up my own fur this year, with the much appreciated training and tips from Jim D. I hope to do a good job. Time is always a concern with working 8-10 hours a day and running a small line early. So I would like to freeze whatever animals/pelts I can't get to right away and peck away at them as the season winds down. Any tips or tricks so that they don't get ruined would be great.
|
|
|
Post by Itrapny on Oct 16, 2007 20:35:43 GMT -5
Freeze them separately and if you have a vacuum packer use that. The main reason that fur spoils is that it doesn't freeze fast enough or it gets freezer burn. By only putting one fur per bag and then sucking all the air out, you should have solved both problems. You can freeze the critters whole, but that takes up a lot of freezer space.
|
|
|
Post by buckhunter649 on Oct 16, 2007 20:42:15 GMT -5
I have several freezers I can plug in....is it better to freeze them whole/unskinned? Or skin them and freeze just the pelt? Fur side in? Fur side out?
|
|
|
Post by Itrapny on Oct 16, 2007 20:50:39 GMT -5
I've always skinned first and then froze them, even 'rats and other small stuff. I skin and freeze then fur out but I know a few that just throw the whole animal in the freezer and skin them as time allows. The biggest problem I see with freezing them whole is it takes a lot longer for the critter to thaw to be able to skin them. It doesn't take very long to unthaw a skinned critter.
|
|
|
Post by Spikehorn11 on Oct 23, 2007 14:18:27 GMT -5
I freeze everything. I take roll them up and then put them in a big zip lock bag, I usually fit about 8 rats to a bag and 1 beaver to a bag. I burp the bag to get all the air out. haven't lost one yet.
|
|
|
Post by Itrapny on Oct 23, 2007 18:04:52 GMT -5
If you can help it, try not to roll the fur up. By rolling it you are taking a chance that the fur will spoil in the center as the fur is a great insulator. Best way to freeze them is to fold the head & tail in then fold in half again, no more. It unthaws much quicker that way too
|
|
|
Post by coonhunter92 on Oct 29, 2007 17:39:12 GMT -5
When we dont get caught up on yotes in the winter.. We put them in the snow and bring them in like 5 a day and skin em
|
|