Squirrelhunter91 Posted June 16, 2005 Report Share Posted June 16, 2005 TO ALL TAXIDERMISTS: I have a new respect for all taxidermists out there. Today, I shot a woodchuck. I skinned him out and because I want to tan this guy, I had to flesh the skin. Fleshing the skin was a pain in the arse. I just can only imagine how long it takes for yall to do a single deer. Of course I didn't have the proper equipment, I was using a razor blade. But, I now I have new respect for taxidermists. Here is a pic of me at work on the woodchuck skin in the garage: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted June 17, 2005 Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists looks like you're doin' a good job there Joe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted June 17, 2005 Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists Go get em Joe. You are learning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artisticwhitetails Posted June 17, 2005 Report Share Posted June 17, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists shunter, let me tell you about a product that may help you greatly in the future. You are a newbie at this so naturally you will be slow at fleshing. This is one area of taxidermy where it pays to be quick as you want to get that hide salted asap. Whitetail Designer Systems makes a product called STOP ROT that should buy you some time untill you get faster. Heck, Im pretty quick and I still use it on every skin I take in. Its a wonderful product! Very easy to use. All you do is apply it to the flesh side of your skin with a paint brush. I actually start applying it during the skinning process and continue untill the whole flesh side is covered. Once you have your animal skinned, only remove the big chunks of fat and red meat. Turn the ears, lips, eyes and nose if your mounting the animal. Reapply the STOP ROT to these new exposed areas. Now you can apply your first round of salt. After 12 hours or so you can shake off the salt and do a more thorough fleshing job using a beam and knife of your choosing. At this point the salt and STOP ROT will have made the remaining flesh and membrane easy to remove. After fleshing you can now re-salt and allow your skin to harden. Stop Rot can be purchased at many taxidermy supply companies or directly from Whitetail Designer Systems. www.whitetailsystems.com Good luck, AW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted June 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists Fly, I just think it would be cool to have, how many people can say that they have a tanned groundhog skin, that they shot? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted June 18, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists That's my point exactly. I am saving the hide so I can be one of those few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists Way to go Squirrelhunter. Lookin good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
christsavedme Posted June 18, 2005 Report Share Posted June 18, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists Bud I have to say I am impressed. You are taking on a very tuff job there.....even if it is just a small groundhog. Congrats and best of luck. Looks like AW gave you some pretty good advice there. Heck I may even try it myself this winter if I take another bobcat. Wish I would have known all that last season when I shot that big one on opening day of bow season. Would have been pretty, wanted to mount him, but just couldn't see paying what everyone around here wanted. Keep up the good work....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted June 19, 2005 Report Share Posted June 19, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists [ QUOTE ] Fly, I just think it would be cool to have, how many people can say that they have a tanned groundhog skin, that they shot? [/ QUOTE ] I have. Been there done that . If I can find the pic of the little bugger, I'll post it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted June 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists I removed the old salt today and replaced it with new salt. Next, it goes in the pickling solution, correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shedhunter Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists [ QUOTE ] I removed the old salt today and replaced it with new salt. Next, it goes in the pickling solution, correct? [/ QUOTE ] Correct Joey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6sixpoint_nobrows Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists i see you have gloves on....afraid of getting a little blood on your hands boy...im just kiddin...hope your hide turns out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RTF Posted June 20, 2005 Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists Dont get too discouraged if the hide dont come out. You are tanning a very difficult animal. They are very greasy. Be sure to de-grease that bad boy before tanning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Squirrelhunter91 Posted June 20, 2005 Author Report Share Posted June 20, 2005 Re: I have a new respect for Taxidermists How do I go about degreasing it now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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