What is the optimal temp for drying coons hangin on stretching boards?

I will have fans moving air, will a dehumidifyer help any?

Someone told me that they dry better if kept in the dark....is this true? If so, what does the light do to them?

Under the correct conditions (temp, moving air, good fleshing) how long will it take before I can take the coon off the board and use it on another coon?

Sorry for the basic questions, just trying to get prepared to finish my own fur next season.

Thanks for any help

Fans will help greatly the dehumidifer will help. your good there, I like to leave mine on the boards till they have a cardboard feel to them. Usally 3 days.

Thanks Jim, I didn't realize that they would dry that quickly! What temperature is that at?

I keep mine in the basement, I have no idea what the temp is.LOL prolly 65 degrees. You have to keep checking the leather. Some may take longer than others.

I don't get it matters if they stay on there longer does it?...dry is dry. I will probably have mine in the basement once they are fleshed and stretched....hope it doesn't smell or the wife may have something to say about that.

I freeze dry mine in out in the shop. Takes about a week depending on temps. I wouldn't keep them in the dark, you could run into a mold problem.

Dark, light, it don't make any dif. Keep the temp between 60 and 70 degrees to dry them, with lots of air blowing on them. Once they are dry, it won't hurt a thing to hang them on wires or string from a rafter or floor joist. Sometimes when you take them off of the boards, the ear lobes may not be 100% dry. If this is the case, then if you stack them, you may get mold around the ears. Also make sure your fur is combed and 100% dry before strtching them. Wet or muddy fur will also caude mold.
In my shop I dry coon in 3-4 days.

Thanks Don. Sounds like my basement will work well. I was planning on taking them off when dry and hanging them until ready to sell.

Will do on the combing and drying also.

Freeze dried....lol, interesting Bob. Thanks for the pic in the other thread. If it is below freezing, will those coons still dry out in your shed?? in a week?

Not sure where in Mo you are but up here from late Nov on will be below 32 most of the time. I'd like to have a heated drying shed but have to use what I have for now.

I am in Carroll County...about an hour northeast of KC. Probably the same weather you have.

Was just curious if those coons really dry in a week in our weather. I had always heard they needed to be warmer to dry. What keeps them from freezing?

Wish I had a heated shed too!!!!

The dehumidifer can be the most Important thing In your fur drying area. If you don't get rid of the moisture things take longer to dry.

Thanks for the well thought out answer Beav!