Many guys on here are saying that slipping fur cannot happen as a result of the tanning process...that it can only be caused by the taxidermist or "improper handling". This is simply not true, it can very definitely happen as a result of the tanning. Don't get me wrong here, I am not siding or taking up for or against anyone. I don't even know these folks. Bacteria causes fur to slip and so does the tanning chemicals themselves if they are not adjusted properly. Black bear ears and bobcats in general are especially troublesome. I always tell guys to carry denatured alcohol with them and get it in those ears as soon as possible. It does not hurt to spray down an entire animal while the hide is still on the carcass. This is just one of those ounce of prevention things.
It can also happen as a result of tanning and that is why I prefer to do my own. I can control the chemicals and make certain they are adjusted properly. Big tanning houses use a big vat and do many hides at a time. Yours gets thrown in with all different hides both for tanning and relaxing a salt dried hide. If they are left in the relax for too long, the temperature gets a little too high and/or there is other hides in there with bacteria it can make an otherwise properly handled hide slip. Sorry this has cost you some really hard to get hides, but I would suggest next time you take them to an outfit that does it all in house. At least you wont have two guys blaming each other.
Best advice for handling:
1. Do not allow the animal to get warm.
2. Get it sprayed down good with denatured alcohol asap.
3. Skin the animal within 8-12 hours {cooler temperatures allowing} of the kill and wash it in Dawn dish detergent.
4. Flesh off as much if any fat from the inside when you skin it and apply lots of salt.
5. Flesh it again the next day {no more than 24 hours}.
6. Once skinned {same day} salted and fleshed twice get it in the freezer immediately.
7. Give it to the taxidermist or tannery still frozen if at all possible.
I would never take an unskinned animal whole to anyone and leave it for them to do. Unless you really know the guy and know that he will do it immediately. You just have no way of knowing when he decides to finally get around to it. That alone is the most likely cause of slipping hair, unless it is very cold out as in almost freezing at least. Better luck next time.
It can also happen as a result of tanning and that is why I prefer to do my own. I can control the chemicals and make certain they are adjusted properly. Big tanning houses use a big vat and do many hides at a time. Yours gets thrown in with all different hides both for tanning and relaxing a salt dried hide. If they are left in the relax for too long, the temperature gets a little too high and/or there is other hides in there with bacteria it can make an otherwise properly handled hide slip. Sorry this has cost you some really hard to get hides, but I would suggest next time you take them to an outfit that does it all in house. At least you wont have two guys blaming each other.
Best advice for handling:
1. Do not allow the animal to get warm.
2. Get it sprayed down good with denatured alcohol asap.
3. Skin the animal within 8-12 hours {cooler temperatures allowing} of the kill and wash it in Dawn dish detergent.
4. Flesh off as much if any fat from the inside when you skin it and apply lots of salt.
5. Flesh it again the next day {no more than 24 hours}.
6. Once skinned {same day} salted and fleshed twice get it in the freezer immediately.
7. Give it to the taxidermist or tannery still frozen if at all possible.
I would never take an unskinned animal whole to anyone and leave it for them to do. Unless you really know the guy and know that he will do it immediately. You just have no way of knowing when he decides to finally get around to it. That alone is the most likely cause of slipping hair, unless it is very cold out as in almost freezing at least. Better luck next time.