how long can I leave a hide in the freezer?

[high country]

how long can I freeze a unsalted bearhide with claws and head still on? I have this habit of shooting them, eating them and throwing the hide in the freezer......I need to start thinning.

[Kuduman]

High Country:
 It would all depend on how well it was packaged prior to freezing. With the head still on I recommend to customers to leave the head on the outside of the hide preventing slippage from taking too long to freeze. This will however cause the ears to freezer burn faster than if the head was on the inside of the hide. I recommend that if your bear is to be in the freezer linger than 8-12 months than you will want to finish caping and insulate the packaged bear protecting it from freezer burn. Contact the taxi you want to do your work and consider having them flesh and salt the bear that way freezing is not an issue.
Either way, I have successfully thawed and tanned bears that have been in the freezer for 2-3 years.

Good Luck

Kuduman

[pjb3]

I'll take one if you really need to thin them out

[high country]

Don't be surprised if I give you one

[longstevo]

That's an excellent question.  I have a hide that's sitting in the freezer right now. 

[BLKBEARKLR]

I just did a cougar that was in the freezer since 07, only thing I could not get turned was about a 1/2 inch on one ear. Get it back from the tannery and should be able to turn it the rest of the way.


Joe

[Black Ghost]

I just did a cougar that was in the freezer since 07, only thing I could not get turned was about a 1/2 inch on one ear. Get it back from the tannery and should be able to turn it the rest of the way.


Joe

Joe, did you try using a syringe and salt water injection to rehydrate the freezer dried/burnt area?  I have found that to be a useful technique.

[BLKBEARKLR]

I just did a cougar that was in the freezer since 07, only thing I could not get turned was about a 1/2 inch on one ear. Get it back from the tannery and should be able to turn it the rest of the way.


Joe

Joe, did you try using a syringe and salt water injection to rehydrate the freezer dried/burnt area?  I have found that to be a useful technique.

Yep, it was curled up into a lil ball on the end of it. I pressure wash. so I know enough water was getting on it.

Joe

[junkyard]

If ya find ya have too many and would like to donate it for hunter ed pm me.