Question about preserving Coyote Tails

U

utahheadgear

New member
So, I read a thread here awhile back about preserving coyote tails, and thought that I might like to do that. I don't really want to go so far as to start selling fur, but thought it would be nice to save the tails as a momento of the hunt. I figure the easiest way to preserve a tail is using the old Borax method so I gave it a try on my first dog of the year and it seemed to work fine. I stripped the tail, cleaned it with water and detergent, stuffed it full of borax and let it dry for a week or so, then removed the Borax. The tail is now super stiff, which is fine by me, and otherwise looks good.

I have two questions:

1. Did I miss anything in my process?

2. Will a tail done like this last indefinitely without being tanned or will it eventually go bad? I have done turkey fans and legs using just borax with good results and there is more meat on those than there is in a coyote tail, but I don't know.

Thanks for any input.

Preston
 
I did a fox tail last year.

I pulled the tail bone out, and made a slit in the last inch of the tail skin. Then I filled with salt, emptying and filling with new salt over the span of a few days.


After that I rehydrated it, then ran some tanning oil down it to tan the hide, then rolled it in my hands to soften it up. It is hanging on my gun cabinet and is floppy (NOT stiff).

Heres some pics of it:

foxtail001_(1).jpg

foxtail002_(1).jpg
 
Okay, I checked out the tanning oil and could certainly get some of that.

How is the best way to "rehydrate"? and what exactly do you mean when you say that you "ran the tanning oil" down the tail?

Just a little more explanation would be great. I've never worked at all with fur other than to skin a cape and freeze it for the taxidermist.

Thanks guys.
 
Basically you just rub the oil on the flesh side (all the fat and flesh needs to be removed first).

Pretty simple - there are some "Home Made" formulas too that work really good.
 
If you guys want a pretty foolproof system to preserve your tails, this will work for what you want to do with them.

1. Skin out the bone in the tail, and split the entire length from butt to tip along the underside.Scrape off any fat and tissue, an old tablespoon works well.

2. Lay it out flat and coat with a layer of table salt.

3. At the same time mix up a solution in a bowl or tupperware like container of 1 cup of 20 mule team borax to 1 cup of hot tap water, let it cool overnight to room temperature.

4. Day 2, Shake off the excess salt from your tail, it will likely be dry or drying depending on your humidity.

5. Mix a bath of cool water and dawn dish soap. Put your tail in there and work it with your hands. It will wash out any blood and nasties, and rehydrate your tail to a raw state.

6. Put your cleaned tail into your borax solution and leave it overnight.

7. Day 3, Remove and rinse your tail in clean water. Wring your tail out good, shake it, swab it with an old towel, or simply hang it to drain for an hour or two. You want it damp, but not dripping.

8. Take some oil, ordinary neatsfoot oil works great, as does baby oil. Heat up a small quantity in your microwave. Don't nuke it for an hour, you want it warmed, not hot enough to burn you.

9. Apply the warmed oil to the flesh side of the tail and set it aside for an hour or so. An old paintbrush works great for this,and can be rinsed and reused. Check your tail(s) and if the oil all seems to have been absorbed, you can apply a bit more.If there seems to be excess oil remaining on the skin, the hide has absorbed all it needs, and you can wipe away the excess.

10. As the tail dries over the next 18-36 hrs work it with your hands. The closer it gets to drying the more you want to work it.Simply twisting and tugging is enough to break and soften the skin.

You'll be left with tails that while not actually "tanned", are preserved, clean, smell nice and will be soft and supple. It will work on anything from weasel to wolves, and unless you continuosly take the tails out into the drenching rains, will last a lifetime.
 


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