Older info, but still several good tips for you cost cutting, road kill gathering, bird hunting do-it-yourselfer’s. I have had moth infestation, mice and have had donated, uncured skins rotting. All these, although out in the garage, were a nuisance and sometimes valuable materials were lost. I have had numerous airtight bags breached by mice and entire capes fleeced for a nest somewhere. So, I make every effort to now use secure drawers and boxes with the bags. I had the stack drawers one gets at office stores etc. and although they are secure in front, the rear allows access to the critters. So, although it’s less efficient access wise, I go for more secure containers and because I am lazy regarding labeling, I have more extended searches for materials at times. No biggy. My problem for having every conceivable material sold over the last 30+ years. Feathers
I’ve stored fur, feathers and raw hides w/fur attached in borax (20 mule team in laundry section at the local Walmart) and have had no deterioration or infestation. Borax is a natural desiccant and actually is a non-toxic bug killer as it strips the wax off the chitin exoskeleton and the insects die by dehydration. It is safe around kids and pets. In my garage and storage room it kills the ants and silver fish that make their way under the garage door. I spread it along the walls and they don’t go far.
Here in Montana we have a lot of hides available so we don’t collect road kills. Establish a relationship with a local taxidermist and tie him a few of your best and he’ll save scraps and even whole capes he doesn’t use at the end of the season if he likes you.
For storing my fur and feathers I put several teaspoons in the bottom of a plastic (shoe box sized box) and then keep fur strips, scraps, and feathers in OPEN topped plastic bags. I keep the lids tight and only rarely do I find an insect husk.
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Interesting article and link Gary.Have just started to work on curing Rabbit fur for zonker strips to eventually market and have also seen that I need a drastic re think with regards to this process, due to the above mentioned problems….More on this later.
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Excellent! I wish you the very best on this new venture. The next step. Also, I have said it before but you site is really nice. Your graphics and just the energy is great. I enjoy it a lot and I am sure others do as well. It must be a busy site and that is encouraging given how much you put into it.
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