Noob...I've got a full red fox hide out in the garage that I use as a background when I take pictures of my calls for sale.
All I did was skin and flesh it well, split the tail to the tip and then rub a handful of borax into the hide. Then dried it as usual. It's three years old, no hair has slipped, no bugs and it's in fine shape. I'm sure it will last for several more years. It would sure get you by until you get your next tail...
Just a thought.
