Re: Freezing Muskrats?
[Re: Giant Sage]
#7876008
06/01/23 08:19 AM
06/01/23 08:19 AM
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Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 4,533 illinois
jalstat
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 4,533
illinois
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That is true. No more than two layers thick or you risk spoilage. Yep
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Re: Freezing Muskrats?
[Re: proratman]
#7876027
06/01/23 08:58 AM
06/01/23 08:58 AM
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,026 Wy
Giant Sage
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,026
Wy
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Is there any type of temporary spacer that you can place between each layer of rats and then remove when they are frozen like bricks? Ones you have a couple of layers frozen. You can stack those rats on end with the tails up. Now you have your spacer giving air flow. Stack more on top, as they freeze you con manipulate them to make air space.
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Re: Freezing Muskrats?
[Re: proratman]
#7876030
06/01/23 09:02 AM
06/01/23 09:02 AM
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,537 james bay frontierOnt.
Boco
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 45,537
james bay frontierOnt.
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Never had hundreds of rats in a short time,but good points from the posters so far. Too much fur packed in a freezer is risky because of the insulating properties of fur and the time it takes to freeze the interior of the pile. Rats frozen on the carcass are often a mess to skin after thawing.And if they are wet and not bagged they will be in a big frozen ice cube when time to thaw and skin. If possible it would be best to skin as you go and freeze the skins. Leaving air space between the furs or carcasses in the freezer will eliminate spoilage from overpacking the freezer with unfrozen stuff.
Forget that fear of gravity-get a little savagery in your life.
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Re: Freezing Muskrats?
[Re: proratman]
#7876031
06/01/23 09:03 AM
06/01/23 09:03 AM
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Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 799 Labrador, Canada
crosspatch
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 799
Labrador, Canada
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Skin and roll up with no leather side exposed i.e. fold so any leather side is inside. Have done that lots of times for up to a year and no problem. Will go about 6 months for skinned and cleaned skins rolled up same way before they start to show some signs of freezer drying but not a huge issue unless stored a lot longer.
Preferred way is put "put up" skins in boxes in freezer. Skins are packed nose to tail alternating and tight like crackers in a box. Got over 400 like that now and waiting for market to improve. Not worried about storage. Have few pieces of inch board in bottom of freezer, to keep boxes off bottom and away from any residual moisture, in case of break down. Not too worried about that even as skins are dried. Freezer is full with 'rats only and nothing that can thaw and produce moisture. Enough for now though and 'rat trapping put on hold until market improves.
Last edited by crosspatch; 06/01/23 09:36 AM.
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Re: Freezing Muskrats?
[Re: Boco]
#7876039
06/01/23 09:11 AM
06/01/23 09:11 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,970 New York
proratman
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,970
New York
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Never had hundreds of rats in a short time,but good points from the posters so far. Too much fur packed in a freezer is risky because of the insulating properties of fur and the time it takes to freeze the interior of the pile. Rats frozen on the carcass are often a mess to skin after thawing.And if they are wet and not bagged they will be in a big frozen ice cube when time to thaw and skin. If possible it would be best to skin as you go and freeze the skins. Leaving air space between the furs or carcasses in the freezer will eliminate spoilage from overpacking the freezer with unfrozen stuff. I have in the past frozen a few rats for whatever reason and never noticed any difference while skinning.
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Re: Freezing Muskrats?
[Re: MB Coonguy]
#7876043
06/01/23 09:17 AM
06/01/23 09:17 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,064 SE Kansas
K52
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,064
SE Kansas
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I have always skinned right away as well when I caught rats-even if there were a few hundred. I have frozen them before but never so many that you'd have to worry about what you are talking about but I am thinking that YES you could definately lose some if they are not given ample space to freeze solid. One spring when I was young and energetic I bought about 1600 beaver in the round-would green skin them and into the freezers they would go layer after layer-well I lost quite a few of them to taint because the fur insulated them from freezing for a long time-lesson learned. Just saying.
But aside from the freezing solid thing-I found that when I skinned rats that had been frozen in the carcasse-they tended to tear apart easily and would often tear the carcasses in pieces to skin the rats-tenderized in a way I guess. That's the same experience I've had with freezing rats whole, they tear easy and can make a mess. All rats are skinned and then place the skinned hides in the freezer before I'm done for the day. Not to mention all the freezer space they take up.
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Re: Freezing Muskrats?
[Re: crosspatch]
#7876098
06/01/23 11:49 AM
06/01/23 11:49 AM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 141 Belair MD
VictorD
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 141
Belair MD
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Anything frozen and thawed turns a bit mushy. Can be worked with but more trouble. Also freezing and thawing whole animals promotes taint/hair slippage. Short story: Avoid freezing whole furbearers if you can. This, I have always noticed they get soft when they thaw. You can't pull thawed rats, they come apart. skin and freeze the fur.
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Re: Freezing Muskrats?
[Re: proratman]
#7876198
06/01/23 03:11 PM
06/01/23 03:11 PM
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,899 michigan,USA
seniortrap
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,899
michigan,USA
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I found that skinning them out, stretch and place them in Vacuum pack bags and seal. I can stack 30-40 in a small area.
When fall comes and the price is up, open and let stand for 24 hours. Good as fresh. No freezer burn either.
Less chance of spoilage.
Vietnam--1967 46th. Const./Combat Engineers
"Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction." "After the first shot, all plans go out the window!"
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Re: Freezing Muskrats?
[Re: proratman]
#7876247
06/01/23 04:38 PM
06/01/23 04:38 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,866 Wisconsin
The Beav
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 23,866
Wisconsin
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Unless your running your freezer for something else you would be losing money If It's just for freezing rats. LOl
The forum Know It All according to Muskrat
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Re: Freezing Muskrats?
[Re: MB Coonguy]
#7876345
06/01/23 07:20 PM
06/01/23 07:20 PM
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,885 Mn
nightlife
trapper
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trapper
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,885
Mn
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I have always skinned right away as well when I caught rats-even if there were a few hundred. I have frozen them before but never so many that you'd have to worry about what you are talking about but I am thinking that YES you could definately lose some if they are not given ample space to freeze solid. One spring when I was young and energetic I bought about 1600 beaver in the round-would green skin them and into the freezers they would go layer after layer-well I lost quite a few of them to taint because the fur insulated them from freezing for a long time-lesson learned. Just saying.
But aside from the freezing solid thing-I found that when I skinned rats that had been frozen in the carcasse-they tended to tear apart easily and would often tear the carcasses in pieces to skin the rats-tenderized in a way I guess. That has been my finding as well I still freeze them when I have to many to handle at one time, but I also make sure to clip the toes off the feet, if you haven’t found out yet the dang claws turn razor sharp when frozen
�Everything in excess! To enjoy the flavor of life, take big bites. Moderation is for monks.� ― Robert A. Heinlein
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Re: Freezing Muskrats?
[Re: proratman]
#7876448
06/01/23 10:18 PM
06/01/23 10:18 PM
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Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,966 South metro, MN
Calvin
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,966
South metro, MN
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You can do a layer, then 12 hrs later do another layer and so on. The time between layers is time to lay them out (belly side up as fossil states) with the fan on them to get them dry. Once the belly fur is froze (don't have to be froze solid), you're good to go. Again, lay them in the freezer belly up. If you put them in dry, they will come out easily. Use gloves with frozen rats. For some reason they turn into Freddie Kruger and like to slice and dice you.
I freeze all mine carcass then take them out come January and do my fur work when the trapping is done. As fossil states, they peel easier once froze anyhow.
Having extra freezers on hand is the key, of course.
Now, I froze far more than 1 or two layers deep out in the Dakotas and had very minimal spoilage, but it's not ideal of course.
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