Preserving a Fox Tail:

[popgun]

I have a really nice fox tail that I'd like to keep. At the present time it is in the freezer. I planned to use a razor-blade box cutter and split the skin down the underside and remove the tail-bone. What do I do next to keep it flexible, and preserved?

As much as I hate to admit it, time is of the essence. My wife tells me the tail has to be out of the freezer "by yesterday". .....popgun

[huntinsonovagun]

Re: Preserving a Fox Tail:

You should be able to cut the hide all around the base of the tail and then skin off the first part of the tail, after that, it should slide right off!!

[artisticwhitetails]

Re: Preserving a Fox Tail:

The only way to truly get it "flexible, and preserved"

is to tan it. Since time is a factor you could use a dry preservitive from a taxi supply company. Some will say put borax on it and while this may work it is not the same thing as dry preservitive. Whether you choose salt, borax or dry preserve, you still end up with a preserved tail for the time being, unless you want to go through the trouble of tanning it. Good luck, AW.

[popgun]

Re: Preserving a Fox Tail:

Thanks for the help guys, but I guess I'll have to try again some other time. I split the skin down the bone and the bone was coming out real well until the last 3 inches. The skin is very thin and tender and while removing the bone the skin split apart leaving me holding two separate pieces of tail.

I hope I can do a better job if I ever get another one. Maybe I should just leave that last few inches of tail bone in it next time. .....popgun