Anyone ever done it? In 40 yrs. I've never held fur all year, already wrapped/rolled up and zip locked rats bottom of freezer. Sold coon to a speculator (I think). Need to know bout coyotes, no clue on proper method. Anyone want to give a suggestion?
Case

Forgot to say coyotes have already been stretched will turn the last tonight or tomorrow sometime.

I think I would get rid of the coyotes. I dont see any improvement for next season. Hope Im wrong!

I would sell and take what I can get. Coyotes from your section are never going to shine. Rats are higher than the national average for the last 25 years. Unless you have walk in freezers and have a lot of fur, holding fur for another dollar does not pay.

Fold the coyote in half and put them into a feed bag. pack them tight to save room in the freezer.

AGREED!

Thanks gentleman, just moments ago read there will be one North American auction this year, think it might be later this month. No don't have a walk in and I need all the freezer space I can get. Never had to even consider keeping fur all year. Again thanks.

I can attest to leaving rats and coon in freezer for 5 years. I pulled out both from bottom of freezer last summer, thawed, scraped them and tanned them. They came out just like had been in there for 6 months.

The secret, if you can call it that... is when you skin them do not remove fat and tissue. Roll them as tight as you can, fur out. Put in zip lock or other plastic bag, squeeze all of the air out, rubber band them tight and place them in freezer. OR... even better if you one of those machines that suck the air out of bag and seals it.

Garry-

Thanks Garry, Dang fleshed'em n rolled skin out. Only got couple doz. used rats for bait. Guess it won't take long to take'em out for a while and flip'em. Thanks again.
Case

Whoops!.... If you thaw them and turn them skin on skin or fur out.... lay them stretched out flat and squeegee all of the air of them with the side of your hand... then roll tight... I always start at the head so can be sure to get all of the air pockets emptied... "AIR IS NOT YOUR FRIEND, when it comes to freezing fur. (See below how I lay them prior to rolling and getting all air out.)



Garry-

Will do, I have to go out and check on the last coyotes after a while, I'll take them out overnight that should let me flip them tomorrow. And thanks again.

I never have carried over fur. A friend of mine tried to on year and freezer stopped working. When he discovered freezer was down fur was ruined. Smelled really bad.:)

Case , I tried to post a reply but lost internet service . Flesh and dry your rats as if for sale . Put them in plastic bags and into the freezer . They stay good for at least two years (the longest I've kept them) and come out just like they went in . Ive sold them that way and had them tanned that way . NO difference from fresh .

Best to put them up and freeze. If the freezer goes out, chances are better at saving dried pelts.

My experience, fat is the first thing to freezer burn. So, do the very best fleshing job. Dry, then vacuum seal. Pretty much comes out ready to do whatever your plan is. Thaws in minutes.
Have fleshed, washed and left wet when vacuum sealing. Seemed to work o.k. but messy on the sealer. Much harder to thaw and still needs stretched.

If your rats are frozen skin side out, I would be cautious about thawing, turning fur side out and refreezing. Every time you thaw and refreeze a pelt, you increase the chance of slippage.

As others have said, put the rats up like you were going to sell them, then freeze. Pack together very tight and you should be ok until next season. With stretched and dried pelts in a freezer they won’t spoil if the freezer dies or power goes out.

The only thing I have ever held over is my spring beaver. Usually from April until January.

Only Beaver, I have