Cape Advise

[C-Money]

After a few scheduling conflicts since 2013, I requested the Taxidermist to send me my cape and I will have my mount finished up locally. I took the rack home after 2013 season, and was to get the rack to him after the hide was back from the tanner. I tried to get the rack back to him a few times but could never connect. He advised the hide is tanned, but is in the freezer, so it would need to be thawed out before he could ship it. He said Monday would be the earliest it could go out. So...what do I do with the hide when it shows up? Back in the freezer? I have a person in mind to do the work, but I am waiting for the cape before I contact him.

[jackelope]

Why is a tanned hide in the freezer?
(there may be a good reason, I just don't know. I thought a tanned hide didn't need to be frozen)
My friend just had a frozen raw hide shipped to him in PA from a member on here. No problems.
I can't help but wonder if there's something funky going on with your taxidermist.

[C-Money]

I wondered that as well... This mount has been in a holding pattern for to long....I just want my fur back so I can get it done. The buck was uniquely colored. Very light blonde hair, not like I can get another like it very easily.

[Rainier10]

Why is a tanned hide in the freezer?
(there may be a good reason, I just don't know. I thought a tanned hide didn't need to be frozen)
My friend just had a frozen raw hide shipped to him in PA from a member on here. No problems.
I can't help but wonder if there's something funky going on with your taxidermist.

Seems odd to me that it is frozen but I am no expert. I would love to hear what the reason is.  Hopefully one of our taxi's on here will chime in.

My wife shot a cougar 25 years ago and she just had the hide tanned.  It sat in her hope chest for 20 years.  I took it to Cedar River 5 years ago and he mounted it.  It is the cougar in his add at the top of the page.

[C-Money]

I was able to get ahold of him in 2014, and the cape was back from the tanner then. Every time I am going that way I try to get ahold of the taxi to drop off antlers, and schedules do not line up. I think he is a honest guy, but I will probably not feel right until I see my fur. I also requested a dollar figure to even up with him, shipping/tanning...still waiting on that. Guess I will drop him text and see whats up.

[BlackRiverTaxidermy]

When you tan/or have a hide/cape/project tanned you can either choose to do 'dry' tan or 'wet' tan. The wet tans are used for animals that are going to be mounted soon on forms. Drying them out shrinks them and therefore you have to re-hydrate them in order to re-stretch so it will properly fit on the form and it can be molded. The cape you referring to was obviously wet tanned and unless its being used immediatly it needs to be put in the freezer for storage. If you leave it it will start to mold due to the condensation as well as dry out and shrink up and become tough to work with.
I guess I dont understand why the guy cant send it to you frozen, that's how i send them when people buy capes from me. But yes, when you get the cape, put it back in the freezer until you can get it to your local taxidermist. Frozen tanned capes have an incredible shelf life if properly rolled and provided it does have a ton of extra moisture. A good friend once used a tanned cape from a Kudu that was in the freezer for 2 years and you would have never even known it.
Hope this helps...
Joel- BRT

[Rainier10]

Thanks for the information, you learn something new every day.

[C-Money]

Thank you! Great info!

[blindluck]

I heard of a guy who had a full body mt goat hide in the freezer for 20 years then had  it tanned and did a full body mount and it turned out great.

[BlackRiverTaxidermy]

oooh, yeah, I wouldn't trust a green cape in the freezer for more than a year or two. Tanned can last quite some time, but Ive had customers bring in 'green' bear hides that were in a freezer for about 3 years and they can and do start to get freezer burned, especialy 'fured' vs. 'haired' animals. But, its possible I suppose

[C-Money]

Wife said the cape came today!! Guess we better make room in the freezer.

Any guess on a fair price to finish up the mount? A semi sneak, left looking shoulder mount.