10 year old cougar hide..

[elkhunter1]

Just brought out a cougar hide from a friends freezer that had been frozen for ten years. I just recently started my own taxidermy business and was wondering how you guys think it will turn out? There seems to be no hair slippage or anything to that end. Also, i bought some stop rot to see if this will help keep the hide in at least an ok condition. pictures to follow this weekend...

[Red leaf 67]

Unless the skin is severely freezer burned,You should be fine. You may want to try a relaxing agent when you rehydrate only because of the length of time it was frozen. Slippage is usually caused by bacteria... that being said try not to soak it too long . Will you be tanning it yourself or sending it out?? I have tanned bears that had been 8 - 10 years frozen, but they had not been fleshed ( the fat protected the skin some from freezer burn). Your cougar probably doesn't have much fat on it. Hope you can salvage a nice animal. Dry the ears & face as well as you can after tanning or soaking (helps prevent slippage)

[huntnnw]

the biggest issue will be how the head was frozen. If it was not covered or wrapped up in the freezer that long the nose,eyes and ears could be damaged