Re-hydrating and Washing Coyotes

[HunterDave]

Has anyone ever re-hydrated and washed a coyote pelt has has been boarded and dried?

I was behind with skinning so I decided to try a custom skinner for the first time for a dozen of my yotes. The pelts weren't washed and I can't send them in the way that they are. I'm either going to have to clean them all with Borax or re-hydrate, wash and re-board them all. I'm hoping that washing them will work but I'm just not sure if I'm risking them slipping. Thanks!

[kingrat]

You can wash them, just soak them for abit in warm water and you'll never know they were dried already. That sucks. Or use borax depending how bloody or dirty

[paulyisit73]

you can use Borax.... what will that do? I have several I was thinking about redoing also and wasn't sure about soaking them again.

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by paulyisit73

you can use Borax.... what will that do? I have several I was thinking about redoing also and wasn't sure about soaking them again.

If you rub Borax into the pelt with a brush it'll clean and whiten them. It's just a lot of work to do. I use it on red bellies to whiten them.

[paulyisit73]

what do you mean rub it in with a brush... I have borax at home but its grainular like dry laundry soap. Do you make a paste out of it Dave? Can you do it over the entire fur side?

[HunterDave]

Originally Posted by paulyisit73

what do you mean rub it in with a brush... I have borax at home but its grainular like dry laundry soap. Do you make a paste out of it Dave? Can you do it over the entire fur side?

Your Borax sounds good to use the way that it is.

Borax is a cleaning/drying agent and will absorb moisture from the air and become hard like sugar does. When it does I grind it up so it becomes more of a powdery substance. With the coyote pelt on a board I put enough Borax on it so it can be worked into the hair on the pelt. I use an ordinary bristle pet brush to work it into the hair right down to the hide using a back and forth and even gentle circular motion. Once you do the pelt you brush as much of it out as you can and flick the pelt to get it out. DON"T GET IT IN YOUR EYES! Probably not a good idea to breathe it in either. You can get most of it out but not all. Maybe a leaf blower would work well to get it out?

I don't use it as a paste and I generally use it on dry pelts but it can be used on wet ones as well. Try some on one of your red bellies and see how it whitens up the fur. Doing 12 whole pelts with it is a PITA and time consuming so I'd much rather just wash the pelts.

[tomcat]

Originally Posted by paulyisit73

what do you mean rub it in with a brush... I have borax at home but its grainular like dry laundry soap. Do you make a paste out of it Dave? Can you do it over the entire fur side?

When using borax simply hand wash excessive blood clot areas, wiped the area as dry as possible with a rag then board the pelt as usual. Once the skin as dried and the fur turned out work/rub considerable DRY borax powder into the stained areas, let set for 10-15 minutes and then comb, brush, and shake the borax out. Using this borax treatment method works extremely well. As well as removing blood stains the borax also cleans and brightens the fur.

For before and after pics go to https://trapperman.com/forum/ubbthre...ar#Post6662655