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Community => Taxidermy & Scoring => Topic started by: Pete112288 on December 21, 2015, 02:54:22 PM

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Title: Coyote tail, Question for any taxis
Post by: Pete112288 on December 21, 2015, 02:54:22 PM

So my stepson got his first coyote a couple years ago. His request was just to have the tail and he wanted to hang it off of his rear view mirror. Didn't have the time right then so put it in a ziplock and in the deep freeze. Well, I procrastinate horridly, its still there. Is the skin going to be freezerburnt to the tail too bad to skin? I am not good at skinning out more tedious areas like that anyway so I don't want to ruin it.
I did a few duck wings and a grouse tail in the past and all I did was cut the meat away and cover it in plain borax. Left it in a ventilated, dry area for a week or so, replaced the borax, left it for another week or two, replaced with more fresh borax and left it for another couple weeks. Then just shook them out and they turned out amazing. Could I do the same thing with the coyote tail? Cut a couple slits along the tail to allow the borax to get in there a little and do the same process and just leave the tail bone and such in it?
Any other ideas?
For future reference, what would a taxi charge if I were to bring in a fresh tail and just want the tail done?

Title: Re: Coyote tail, Question for any taxis
Post by: BlackRiverTaxidermy on December 21, 2015, 03:05:52 PM

Pete,
The borax method your describing wont really work. The reason why is that you MUST get the bone out of the entirety of the tail. The bone holds grease, oils, and of course flesh which is all subject to rot and eventually degrade the hide making the hair fall out, not to mention smell.
If its only been a year or two and it was put in the freezer quickly following the kill then it should be good. It needs to be completely deboned, fleshed and tanned. Bird wings/flesh is much thinner, more absorbant, and readily accepts chemical treatment such as borax. Coyotes are carrion eaters and therefore contain much more bacteria that needs treated through the process of pickling and tanning. Skinning it will be the most difficult part for you, slit it right up the middle on the underside of the tail. Go very slow, take you time and work around the bone of the tail, cutting it away from skin with a small blade. DONT try and pull the bone away when you get to the end....even tho they look like they will come away easy from the skin they will inadvertently tear and pull skin/hair away/out of the tail. Give me a call if you need any help, would gladly walk you through the process. Best of luck.
Joel- BRT