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Post by archeryaddict on Mar 7, 2012 11:35:11 GMT -5
This is my first year trapping and I have a few furs I wanted to tan just to hang up in the house. I have a few questions
- Most of the tanneries I looked at say the furs must be salt dried - How do I know when the fur is right to send? And if it is dried are they going to rip in route to the tannery?
- Also, is there any fixing of holes if the pelt is already pretty dry? I screwed up and didn't fix some holes in my bobcat before it was dry, now it seems like it is past the point of pulling together?
- Last question - anyone have a good site to look at pics of what my pelt should look like when shipping? Dryness, packaging, folding, etc.?
thanks, Brian
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Post by lyonch on Mar 7, 2012 11:57:34 GMT -5
Brian - The tannery will accept your fur if you were to put it up just you would to sell it. They just don't someone sending a bunch of wet furst to them. If the pelt is dry enough to sell, then it is dry enough to send to the tannery. Your pelt should not rip while in transit. Just make sure you put them in a rigid carboard box instead of any envelope.
Yes you can fix the holes in that pelt. I only recommend doing this once on a pelt, so you need to get it right the first time. You can re-wet the fur and leather, and it will turn back to just like you fleshed it. You can then sew the holes up or make any repairs. Then place back on the stretcher and let it dry. I would make sure you place a lot of fans on the pelt to dry it in a timely manner.
I do not have a website, but you can fold any pelt in half or thirds for packaging. Also all tails can be tucked in as well. The wrinkle marks you put in the leather will come out when they tan the pelt.
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Post by Law Dog on Mar 7, 2012 12:27:55 GMT -5
Could he fix the holes after its tanned and soft?
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Post by lyonch on Mar 7, 2012 12:41:06 GMT -5
Yes you can sew them up after it is tanned too. It is usually preffered that you sew them ahead of time, so that when they run the leather across there machines it doesn't make it any bigger. I have sent pelts that had large holes in them and sewed them up later, and i have had pelts there were sewn that came back with huge holes and vice versa. I think it all boils down to the operator.
brian - what kind of furs are you having tanned? A thin leather animals i would definitely sew before hand, but a thick leather animal you could probably just leave it.
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Post by archeryaddict on Mar 7, 2012 13:12:48 GMT -5
Thanks a lot for the info lyonch......I am sending one bobcat and possibly 3 coyotes, one of them had a greenish belly, so I think it may have gone bad before I got it skinned out??? Sorry if this question sounds dumb, but I have never sold any furs and you mentioned that if they were "dry enough to sell" I could send them, is there a certain texture that is dry enough or not dry enough? Again thanks a ton for all of your help, I have been reading online and any books I can find, but things get a little confusing when you don't really have a mentor or anyone to talk directly with.
Brian
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Post by lyonch on Mar 7, 2012 14:12:25 GMT -5
When a coyote or bobcat pelt is completely dry, they will sound like a paper bag crackling if you shake them. Are you stretching these furs on a stretcher?
The green belly should be ok. I have seen the green belly set in on a coyote within hours after dispatching it. As long as the actual leather portion isn't rotten, you should be good to go.
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Post by archeryaddict on Mar 7, 2012 14:28:54 GMT -5
Great, I think my cat is ready to go then, it pretty much sounds like a paper bag now. I salted it last night, I just need to get the coyotes done to send out as well. Once they are in this dry state, does it matter how long I wait to send it to the tannery? Probably going to be a day or two till I get the coyotes done and I figured I would send them all together to save on shipping.
thanks again,
Brian
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Post by lyonch on Mar 7, 2012 14:31:24 GMT -5
A day or two will be fine. It when people wait a year or better that it will hurt them. As always, the sooner the better, but you should be good to go!
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Post by fatty on Mar 7, 2012 14:42:43 GMT -5
I sent in a couple black beaver last year to get tanned, and thats what I did was just put them up till dry. We are lucky to have tannery close by so I just drive it over but they never said they wanted them any different then how I gave them.
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