Expert: chris stockton - 6/5/2009

Question
Hey
Today i shot a chip munk, and i decided to taxidermy it.
So i skinned it and i used salt to dry out the skin
What else can i use for the future animals i shoot?
I dont want to buy special things, as i might not be getting alot of animals

I heard i can use powdered borax?
That you can by at a store

Answer
Hi Alex, The cheapest way to tan a hide for mounting s buy some dry tanning powder. Borax is good for fish or snakes, birds, it does not tan, it just keeps bugs and parsite away from the skin. If you are wanting a pliable skin, and something soft, you need to take to a tannery. if you want to mount it, you can use the dry preserves, but as the skin drys, it will get very hard, which is what you want in a mount.  Hope this helps, and thanks for writing in. Chris.     PS>>If you are looking for a cost affective way to do this , the dry preserves are very cheap, about 10.00