saving hides

[Steel foxin]

hello, Im new here and new ta trappin, I was just curious on how to fix hides to keep them til the next year. I also curious on tanning, is it hard? How is the best way to keep hides until you get enough worth taking off too the sale or buyer?
"my wife says if i set one more trap she's leavin 'DAMN' im gonna miss her"

[Multidigits]

It's against the law to hold them till next year.

[Steel foxin]

Ok, multi thanks a lot for the info. i will get rid of what I have soon acording to what I read we have til march 29th, Is that correct? I cant wait til next season, im already buying traps and lure's. Seems like a nice site here, glad I found it!!!!

[warden310]

You can ship those hides to sell, or have them tanned and keep them. The law only regulates raw fur, and once tanned they are considered a finished product. You only have until the 20th.[:)]

[Valley Station]

310,
What meets Depts. definition of "tanned"??[?]
Chemically treated?? Sodium chloride? "Brain" tanned , O.K.
Have to be leather with fibers broken and neatsfoot oil??
Treated with "instant tan" and dryed hard, O.K.?
Will it be legal sitting in a bucket of tanning solution come March 20th??[:)]

[Steel foxin]

Hey valley, How do you store hides throughout trapping season? Its a long time from the beginning to the end, I heard of freezing and stretching. Bout 7 years ago I had the big idea I would skin every coon I treed that whole season, I took the time to stretch em,hung em in the barn, and at the end of season I had 90 some coon hides, (I was only 17 at the time not real smart). I took my hides off to nancy Ky to some place dont remember the name,its near alligator boat dock on cumberland, anyway I ended up with 80 dollar's. You talk about one dissapointed young man!!!! pissed off too!!! the guy said they were junk. I had stripped the tails but didnt split em. I still think I got burnt even if they wernt perfect. Sorry to babble but thats why I ask these questions about hides. What county are you from? Im from whitley county, right on the tennessee line. Nobody around my area trapps and the varmits are takin over so I decided to give it a whirl. We dont have any beaver or many coyotes here but plenty of fox,coons,possumns,mink,muskrat,and skunk. I notice your a 10 pointer so give me some hints on how to outsmart the reds and grays. Thanks

[warden310]

Don't think it matters Valley, just some kind of finished state.

Steelfoxin, just skin the coons, roll them up fur side out and put in the freezer until you have time to flesh and stretch. Be sure to pull the tail bone and split the tails or they usually slip hair.
If you skin, flesh, and stretch when you kill them they should keep just fine. Keep hides away from mice, and sunlight.

[Multidigits]

Some buyers would prefer to buy green, and you'll get just as good of a price for a lot less work on your part. Check with your buyer.

[Steel foxin]

Thanks guys for all the information. Im fired up and waitin on next season,it'll be here before we know it!! Not bein nosey or nothin but how many traps do you guys usually run at a time?

[warden310]

I have to check traps before work in the mornings, so I usually have only 8-10. I'm primarily coyote trapping so I check most by driving.

[snareman]

I agree Multi, my furbuyer tells me he will pay me the same for skinned furs as he will for one that is stretched and finished. Hard to believe but an experienced buyer is amazingly quick at fleshing and stretching and can stretch them the way they want them.

[Multidigits]

Mosr buyers have a flrshing machine and they don't gamage the pelts. In the long run, they'll amke more from the buyers they deal with.