Hey guys,
I'm leaving Saturday to spend a couple of days hunting in Virginia. On my way back, I'm hunting for a couple in Mississippi. Should I get a buck, how do you advise that I preserve the cape. Natuarally I'll try to put it in freezer as much as possible, but I'll spend a couple of days in the truck. I don't foresee being able to aquire any dry ice. Will borax and ice work,,,,,salt,,,,,,whatta you say.

Jason,
I am no expert, But IMHO, I would just salt and perrper it(pepper keeps bugs away) and ice it. The Ice will keep it form stinking. I would also put it in a garbage bag (heavy duty) to keep it form getting messy. Good luck getting that buck. -Ben

no plastic bag. this is a big no...no. Plenty of salt,aprox 4-6 pound of salt per day on the flesh side, replace the salt after 24 hours, repeat each day, do not leave in the sun, store it in a heshan type sack. this is fine until you get it tanned.

DO NOT salt your cape unless the ears, lips and nose have been turned and ALL red meat and fat removed from the skin. If you salt a cape without preparing the skin properly all you do is salt the meat on top of the skin not the skin itself. If it's no more than a couple of days keep it on ice in a cooler and it should be OK.

It's importent to turn those ears out, or your cape is likeky to come back from the tanner with bald ears, not a pretty sight.
Grizz

Thanks for the speedy replies!! Been a big help

quote:

no plastic bag. this is a big no...no.....

I have three capes in the freezer (from Africa), that have been properly cleaned and salted.. When I received them from Africa after 3/4 year I put them in plastic bags and in the freezer. I guess it`s not a problem when they have been properly treated first..??

Well, I managed to knock down 2 deer in 2 days in Mississippi. One I froze the whole head and the other wouldn't fit in the freezer so I skinned it out. It's just starting to thaw now. I'm gonna try and flesh it tommorrow. I'm going to try and mount the big one myself. It's something I've always wanted to try, so here goes.